Delamore Lodge — Hotel in Waiheke

The agenda: celebrate 35 years of wedded bliss with a trip of a lifetime down under… the Delamore Lodge was the final stop and boy did they over deliver! From the first greeting upon arrival, to our final parting… the hospitable staff was warm, welcoming and went out of their way to ensure our needs were met. Really fantastic people!||The gorgeous setting served as a backdrop for a serene getaway that was well appointed; having anticipated what most guests would need. The views are stunning and invited many moments of silent awe and appreciation. Delamore Lodge is a quiet place where you can engage or hideaway however you desire. ||The dining at the Delamore is phenomenal. We chose to dine in during our multi-night stay and had the privilege of Chef Sean’s culinary wizardry. The lamb? Best I have ever had… which is also true for the duck. Don’t even get me started on the falafel canapé because it was so deceptively simple looking/sounding that I totally underestimated how mind blowing it could be. Seriously - I am still salivating over it. Everything we ate was delicious… Chef Sean is incredibly talented and someone in the culinary arts to follow.||We had an amazing time. The Delamore Lodge, its staff, accommodations, and food exceeded all...

We arrived by helicopter, and received a nice tour by the pilot which oriented to the area. The caveat to the helicopter is that it is not located at Auckland airport, but instead it is 20-30 min drive toward Auckland. Also, there are also limited timeframes within which you can land at the hotel instead of at Waiheke’s airport. |The lodge has gorgeous views over the ocean. It is situated within a few minutes drive to town, but far enough away to feel remote. It was easy to get taxis and the lodge would drive you to places on the island and pick you up if it was before 9 pm. |There are a couple of very nice hiking trails within walking distance of the lodge. |Our room had a large common area with kitchenette and two bedrooms. The main bedroom was fairly large and had a fabulous balcony. The other bedroom was quite small and did not have an en-suite bathroom. The large jacuzzi for the hotel was interesting, but more of a large very warm pool with few jets. |The staff were attentive and very responsive to requests. |The tasting menu and wine pairing was truly exceptional. I would return for that alone. Breakfast was good, but not nearly as good as the tasting. That said, the pastries...

We had an exceptional stay here. Initially we had trepidation around the price. |The personal service from the manager (Anna) was professional & unobtrusive, which we appreciated, as we came to relax. | |Our room was amazing. We loved the view and the space. |We also appreciated the bar fridge & snacks. (Although more snacks would be good!) |We felt that the yukkas obscured some of the view in our chalet, but we loved the outlook & the little bunny rabbits (unwelcome as they are in terms of being introduced). |The facilities were great! |We appreciated being collected and dropped off at the local vineyards etc - that was a nice touch also- thank you. |The breakfasts were wonderful (5 star) - and the variety very good. |The meal we had one evening there was pleasant, but not overwhelming. ||We only dined in once, and enjoyed a meal at Mud Bricks the second night which was lovely.|Suggest you hire a car and see the island. It’s a lovely place for scenery. |All in all we feel it is deserving of 5 star. |I really hope the new manager will be as good as the exceptional staff we met - big shoes to fill! |What a beautiful place. |We...