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GEMS Seaside Lodge offers the discerning traveller exceptional lodgings in the jewel of Ahipara, at the base of the 90 Mile Beach. Begin your adventures to Cape Reinga, the Bay of Islands, the Hokianga, and other treasures of Northland, from here. However, there is actually a wealth of activity in Ahipara for you to enjoy. World class surfing at Shipwreck Bay, fabulous fishing (both chartered and surf casting), board paddling, horse-treking, 4 Wheel Driving and Sand Duning are just a few of the many activities available. For those who wish to enjoy a more leisurely experience, there is golf, beach walks, and visits to our very own award-winning vineyards. If you simply prefer rest and refreshment with book in hand, then absorb the beauty of this magnificent beach paradise, with crashing waves, beautiful birdlife, and stunning sunsets, from the comfort of your lodge, as part of your ‘seaside therapy’.
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We arrived at the apartment tired after a long journey and drive and immediately felt very, very comfortable. The apartment has two very nice bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and a view of the sea. In between is the kitchen-living area. We particularly liked the absolutely well-equipped kitchen - with coffee machine and pads - as well as the Weber grill on the terrace.
Everything was clean and in excellent condition.
We have never had much nicer accommodation. Great!
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were there for a wedding and could not have asked for more.
Great location, expensive for the area but worth it.
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Date of stay: February 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Been in new zealand for close to 4years now. This accomodation has been the best we have rented so far. Great friendly couple managing the property. Stayed here for two nights in Jan 2015, given the upstairs rooms. Beautiful, light, airy and spacious with great views over the beach and ocean.( see the pic attached) highly recommended...
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Date of stay: January 2015
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Excellent 2 days stay at Ahipara beachfront. The apartment was elegant, functional and very well thought. The views were dramatic, the internet fast, the landscaping beautiful. There were books to read, and cold wine and beer in the fridge to buy, for the thirsty travelers. We got there late after a long drive and Paul thoughtfully immediately arranged for our dinner at the local cafe- the dinner opportunities are a bit limited. He also arranged for an excellent and affordable bus tour to Cape Reigna which allowed us to see everything and take a break from driving. His recommendations were all excellent and they made our visit better.
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Date of stay: November 2014
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gale force winds were forecast for the day that we were due to drive from Russell to Ahipara Beachfront Accommodation. It didn't feel safe to drive there so we checked with the facility if they would enforce the 100% cancellation penalty in the circumstances. They said that they would and that "the forecasters always over dramatise our weather". The drive there was horrendous and when we stopped for lunch in Kaitaia at 3pm the power went out. The power was still out when we arrived at Ahipara half an hour later and did not come back on till 7:30pm that night, just as we were on the verge of going to bed early in the absence of any other real option. We had at that stage already had a dinner of precooked sausages bought from the local store that we barbequed, because as far as we could tell all food establishments were closed, due to the power being out. That wasn't the dinner we planned.
The next day we took a bus tour along ninety mile beach to Cape Reinga. Although Paul from Ahipara Beachfront Accommodation was very dismissive of them, we found Cape Tours Petricevich to have a very comfortable bus and provide as good a tour as they could to the Cape. The conditions weren't right to go sand boarding unfortunately. The day before Petricevich's apparently lost a bus when a tree branch crushed the cab, during the gale force winds which hit 168km/hr at the Cape. That night the power was again out at Ahipara for most of the evening. With the power out the taps don't work and the toilet doesn't flush. We therefore asked for a bucket in case we needed to get water to flush the toilet with. Paul seemed to think that that was unnecessary (being as dismissive as he had been about the weather) but eventually relented and provided a bucket.
On our 2 night stay there was no heat, no light, no running water and no flush both evenings, with no expectation of power being restored, though fortunately it eventually was restored on both nights.
When I paid for the accommodation Paul charged me $10 more than the price on my confirmation. The confirmation was from the booking system on the Ahipara Beachfront Accommodation web site. Paul said that the booking system was wrong and added up a series of numbers on a calculator to show me that the booking system was wrong. I disagreed with the idea that Paul's calculator trumped his web site's booking system. Eventually Paul unhappily refunded me the $10 difference. The only reason that I got the refund was because I had my booking confirmation with me and stuck to my guns. If you do choose to stay here, do bring your booking details.
That still meant that we paid full price to stay for two evenings where we had no power for a big chunk of the time, when our better judgement would have had us not there at all. Almost all roads were closed when we tried to return home. It was only by driving through flood waters that we got through before all roads were closed. Far from the weather being over dramatised, Kaitaia's chief fire officer Colin Kitchin told ONE News: "It's like a war zone, it really is." http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10256405/Northland-on-brink-of-more-severe-floods
The unit was nice and well appointed, with a great view. It is not huge but both bedrooms have a nice en-suite, the fridge is a good size and there is a smallish but effective barbeque available. There is a modest size kitchen/lounge separating the two bedrooms. Those were the saving graces of this establishment and the reason that I've still given it 3 stars despite our enormously disappointing experience.
Clearly Ahipara Beachfront Accommodation could not not control the weather or the power. They did however have the ability to recognise that our somewhat involuntary stay with them was in almost every way less than ideal. They could have been less patronising about basic needs like a bucket to flush the toilet, or they could have offered some sort of discount as a sign of good will. Instead they tried to charge us more than the agreed price. Our experience was poor.
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Date of stay: July 2014
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My only regret was not finding this place earlier .. I have stayed at a few similar priced units before and they were literally dumps compared to this place .. it's not just the great location .. but all the little things .. from quality body wash to a real coffee machine with real milk etc .. fast wifi .. I was on business and appreciated it ... I never met the owners or anyone else in the 7 days I stayed .. I like my privacy .. definitely staying there again
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Due to scheduling requirements we arrived at Gems after a marathon 5 days of travelling. Within minutes we had been greeted by Ray and Vili, shown to our wonderfully appointed room (Treasure Trove), and then received an invite to join them for a dinner they were having with friends.
This welcome set the tone for our 2 day stay and we made great use of Gems as a base for exploring the local area. Downtime was complemented by easy access to the beach and a self contained room that has all you need for an extended self-sufficient stay. You may wish to stop at the Kaitaia Pak and Save for provisions and fuel before hand but nevertheless it is an easy jaunt back there if needed. As we did, aim to maximise your down time at this accommodation as it provides a rare opportunity to unwind and simply watch the waves and sunset.
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Date of stay: October 2017
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A fantastic apartment in a tranquil stretch of Ahipara. About 4 hours from Auckland, you can leave the daily grind behind and be refreshed at the seaside. Apartment well equipped with all you need (kids 12- 9 enjoyed the board games and bathrobes- making them feel extra special). A wade across the inlet to the beach, a 5min drive to Shipwreck Bay for surf (or in our case- picnic fish and chips on the beach- purchased from local Bidz takeaways). Great for those wanting to "getaway", or as a base to explore all the Far North has to offer. Fantastic hosts while there. Highly recommend
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Date of stay: October 2017Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fantastic location with direct access to Ninety Mile Beach. Beautiful, clean and highly maintained property run by wonderful hosts Paul and Jenny. Will definitely be returning for as long as property is a rental.
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Date of stay: December 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A beautiful respite right at the edge of Ninety Mile Beach, clean, modern and wonderfully serviced. Outdoor patio overlooks the ocean, or step across and within a minute you're on the beach enjoying a stroll. The unit itself is spic span clean and up market, great care is taken to keep it clean daily and all the basic comforts are provided for. A booklet with local restaurant and cafe menus is available making travelling super easy. Perfect holiday spot.
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Date of stay: December 2016
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Choose the beach access room or upstairs with expansive sea views, both are good.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Ahipara area.
PRICE RANGE
$225 - $344 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Ahipara Beachfront Accommodation
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandNorthland RegionAhipara
NUMBER OF ROOMS
2
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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