Whangamomona Hotel — Hotel in North Island

Poor service - Well, it all began at 10:05 when we walked in and was met by the local Maori barman who told us we are not open yet- walked back out the door and turned around and said we are open now- Sign said open at 10:00. We asked for menus and ordered breakfast, I told him my order - the 1st item on the menu - eggs, toast and bacon & a blueberry mudffin. He asked 4 times what I wanted- he was answered 4 times.My husband gave his order- another muffin and the large breakfast. We paid and sat down. He brought my husbands muffin. Asked him where mine was? He said I never ordered it. and did not pay for it. My husband then had to go and pay for the 2nd muffin. Then they brought out my husbands breakfast. but Not mine. We had to ask for it- they said oh sorry, must of missed it. Then the owner brought out the eggs much later- without bacon. I asked where the bacon was? he said"over his shoulder" I didn't order it and walked off. I asked the barman what happen to my order and I was told I was being RUDE! are you kidding me- The manager came over and said she was sorry. I'm sorry too- should never of came in here. She told the barman to apologise and he just walked off. The barman needs to clean out his ears- loosed the attitude and do his job! We thought maybe this was a one off -but after reading the reviews it seems like a common occurrence. Being the only place in town they do not give a hoot about their customers. We would recommend passing right thru this hole in the wall. Perhaps the barman is Anti-Americian, as he asked me if I was American ( my husband is Kiwi and we live here). It's a good thing that in NZ service does not rely on tips like in America. They would be out of business .|Not to mention being over priced- $86 for 2 breakfast and the worst service.|Would of been better off going to the hotdog vender...

Poor service - Well, it all began at 10:05 when we walked in and was met by the local Maori barman who told us we are not open yet- walked back out the door and turned around and said we are open now- Sign said open at 10:00. We asked for menus and ordered breakfast, I told him my order - the 1st item on the menu - eggs, toast and bacon & a blueberry mudffin. He asked 4 times what I wanted- he was answered 4 times.My husband gave his order- another muffin and the large breakfast. We paid and sat down. He brought my husbands muffin. Asked him where mine was? He said I never ordered it. and did not pay for it. My husband then had to go and pay for the 2nd muffin. Then they brought out my husbands breakfast. but Not mine. We had to ask for it- they said oh sorry, must of missed it. Then the owner brought out the eggs much later- without bacon. I asked where the bacon was? he said"over his shoulder" I didn't order it and walked off. I asked the barman what happen to my order and I was told I was being RUDE! are you kidding me- The manager came over and said she was sorry. I'm sorry too- should never of came in here. She told the barman to apologise and he just walked off. The barman needs to clean out his ears- loosed the attitude and do his job! We thought maybe this was a one off -but after reading the reviews it seems like a common occurrence. Being the only place in town they do not give a hoot about their customers. We would recommend passing right thru this hole in the wall. Perhaps the barman is Anti-Americian, as he asked me if I was American ( my husband is Kiwi and we live here). It's a good thing that in NZ service does not rely on tips like in America. They would be out of business . Not to mention being over priced- $86 for 2 breakfast and the worst service. Would of been better off going to the hotdog vender...

We enjoyed everything about our stay but were disappointed that it's a hotel and not a motel. We were reminded of this halfway through our dinner by the manager who informed us he would have to add corkage ($15) to our bill because we retired to our room and had a glass of wine on the balcony. "We are a hotel not a motel" he lectured us while we were still eating.

We felt we had violated some unwritten house rule or had offended him in some way. I've stayed at hundreds of hotels across the planet and many "pubs" in NZ. I've never heard of corkage being charged on drinks you have in your private room. We would have been fine only ordering from the bar or paying the corkage had we known. All we saw was a "No Smoking" sign.

Later I asked if we could get actual wine glasses (rather than the dusty cordial glasses that were in the room) with the corkage to which he repeated "the corkage is just for your booze, we are a hotel and not a motel."

We spent $280 on a bed, two burgers and four beers at the bar. Was that not enough to be welcome (albeit "motel class") guests?

At least the cat liked us.

Definitely stop in for a burger or a beer but if you are staying the night but be warned that this is not the relaxed, easy going place you were expecting. (and hide...