Castaways Resort
685 Karioitahi Road Karioitahi Beach, Waiuku, Auckland 2341 New Zealand
Lowest prices for your stay
US$205
Fully refundable before Fri, 15 Dec
Breakfast included
Get rewarded with One Key
US$205
Fully refundable before Thu, 14 Dec
Breakfast included
US$179
Hotels.comUS$205
PricelineUS$205
Agoda.comUS$204
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About
#1 of 2 small hotels in Waiuku
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Situated on the wild coastal cliff tops of Karioitahi Beach on the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand, Castaways Resort is perfect for an effortless escape, a one-of-a-kind wedding location, or a distraction-free conference venue. Dine at Castaways Restaurant & Bar and enjoy a blissful experience at Bersantai Day Spa. All of this is within an hour’s drive from the Auckland CBD or airport - so close to Auckland, yet a true escape from the ordinary.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Bar / lounge
Beach
Hiking
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Spa
Car park
Internet
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Meeting rooms
Full body massage
Head massage
Massage
Neck massage
BBQ facilities
Non-smoking hotel
Sun terrace
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Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Safe
Seating area
Coffee / tea maker
Kitchenette
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Telephone
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Microwave
Refrigerator
Kitchenware
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Ocean view
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Languages Spoken
English
Location
685 Karioitahi Road Karioitahi Beach, Waiuku, Auckland 2341 New Zealand
Getting there
Car HireSee all Waiuku car hire
372Reviews3Q+A81Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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This is a hard review to write as there is good and not so good. The check in was coldly efficient......the man behind the desk needs a charm course , even a hello , how are you, hope you have a nice stay would be good. The villa we booked was great....new and well equipped, magnificent views...only downside is that it was a long way from the car park so you need to book a golf buggy to get to it. The restaurant describes itself as dining in paradise....its a bit tired though. Food was both good and terrible.....rib eye steak was worst for the year....doublt it was rib eye anyway. Other options were good. Needs to put a dress code in place urgently.......say smart casual. One guest was in a singlet and gumboots...not a good look for a resort that should be better than that!
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: dont expect world class resort service and you probably will be ok
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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.
Helpful
My partner and i stayed for a night in a chalet. Honestly was the perfect getaway for us!! We absolutely adored the view, restaurant and room itself! The lady’s in Reception were lovely and the customer service in the restaurant was amazing the staff were so polite and tried really hard accommodating for my wife who has allergies! I personally would recommend the Lumina Lamb Rack with the Red wine Jus! We Will definitely be visiting again :)
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
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.
Helpful
Unfortunately, the dingy coastal tent was a bit of a disappointment. If this is your first experience of “glamping” or haven’t stayed anywhere comparable, then maybe this place would impress? Unfortunately, it reminded me of a budget hotel room inside a dark, semi-permanent tent structure with a poorly designed en suite and smelly eco toilet. Not really the promised 5-Star glamping haven. The alleged “delicious gourmet dinner” was average. The first night, the potatoes weren’t properly cooked and had to be thrown away, and the burger buns appeared to have been defrosted for the occasion (they just fell apart). Desserts were bland, premade supermarket quality. Fine, but not gourmet. The soup starter on the second evening was quite good but overall, the food was disappointing. For the price we paid – around a $1000 for 2 nights – I expected to experience something a lot better. Other similar accommodation in New Zealand offers far better experience for a fraction of the cost. If you're considering the Castaways resort or their Glam Camping for a special occasion, be prepared for disappointment, especially if you've stretched your budget. The receptionist who checked us in was friendly, but the housekeeper and other staff we ran into around the resort weren’t particularly warm and in all honesty the overall vibe was a bit bleak. Castaways Glam Camping isn’t awful. I've read some online reviews indicating people have actually packed up and left; it wasn't that bad. The views and setting reflect what are shown in the photos and if you get good weather a stay will be lovely. Unfortunately, at this price point the food, facilities and professionalism is disappointing. …
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Date of stay: August 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.
Helpful
+1
Excellent resort. Stunning view from our little cabin. Watched the sunset. Great little cabin close to the beach. A bit of noise from a dirt bike on the beach, but to be expected as there was a lot of cars and bikes there on a Sunday afternoon. Our cabin was warm, clean, eco friendly. Surprisingly quiet considering there were people in the units attached. TV’s have the volume turned down so you can’t disturb others. Great little kitchenette which we didn’t even use as the restaurant serves good food. Free breakfast was excellent. A great buffet including bacon, eggs, hashbrowns… yummy. We will definitely be back and stay longer next time.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Bring your own pillow. Free breakfast is excellent.
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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.
Helpful
First of all, they take days to reply, if they reply at all. The rooms are quite far from the carpark or the restaurant. We called for a pickup to the restaurant at 7:30, and they showed up at 10:30. The "hot" breakfast was stone cold. We had a power cut for nearly three hours, and nobody came to tell us what was going on. We had no water or heat in the dead of winter. We had a very loud motor going on and off and on and off right outside our room, which kept us up at night. When I checked it, the girl refused to give me a receipt, saying she'd email it. She never did. Then I discovered they charged us for a three bedroom when it was a two bedroom, and it took weeks to get any action on this error on their part. Even though the advertised winter rate on a weekend for a two bedroom was around $400 a night, they charged me $550 and night and refunded me only a portion of what I feel I was due back. This is so dishonest to overcharge my card and then refuse an honest and fair refund of their mistake. I am so angry with these people; don't go there!! I have emailed all of this to the manager with zero reply. …
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Make sure you get a receipt when you pay or they will overcharge and refuse to give you your...
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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.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
The accommodation is run down and dirty, definitely not worth the price you pay. The service is even worse! They charge a premium for the location and a view that is a dime a dozen in New Zealand and could experience elsewhere in this beautiful country. They market their offering as 4 star which is far from it!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Service
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.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
+1
I attended a wedding at Castaways. An absolutely spectacular setting. The views here are outstanding. Castaways is about an hour's drive from Auckland, but it is worth it. Very quiet and private with stunning views from every room. We had a one bedroom suite that is bigger than my actual apartment back home. Huge bedroom, big bathroom, very spacious living/dining/kitchen. A nice verandah with gorgeous views of the sea, the cliffs, the rolling hills. It's so peaceful here. We didn't want to leave. We woke up to a clear day with little rabbits out front who hopped away when we opened the door. There is plenty of parking. In my opinion, the only thing holding this resort back from excellence is ... the kitchen. We had breakfast in the restaurant and were not impressed. the table was dirty, there was a long hair on the breakfast meats, and the selection wasn't exciting or that fresh looking. Also, the service was very average for such a beautiful resort. There is also no room service. The dinner at the wedding was tasty but nothing too flash. I would suggest bringing your own food to cook in the kitchen in your room, if you have one. If they invest in a five star chef to go with their 5 star property, it would be an unbeatable experience. …
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Take your own food and drink!
There is only one restaurant and there is no room service.
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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.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Terrible experience! Where do I start.... Room was dirty, furnishings broken, heatpump was not working and room was cold. Bed was dressed as if it was summer and yet it is winter now, no electric blankets on the bed. Informed reception and she gave us a couple if blankets to keep warm. Dinner was below standard, we waited over 1hour and 15 minutes for our entree (unsure how long it takes to heat a garlic bread) and over 2hours for our main to arrive. Our main was very disappointing - cold and dry. We asked for our dessert to be takeaway as we were completely over it and tired. And that was a little messy and bland. I was given my chillout package as a birthday gift and if I knew it was going to be this disappointing I would of asked for a refund.... I also still had to pay a $300 bond for the dirty room when we checked in and i was told at the time that money would be credited back to my account within 7days, and that didn't happen either. The room should have been inspected after checkout and I would expect the money to be credited straight away to my account. I will never return or recommend Castaways to anyone.…
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip 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.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
I arrived at the Castaway Resort in Waiuku to find power outages, waited 3 hours, and still no power and no communication. I left the resort after handing over the room key to the staff. The Castaway resort did not contact me until I followed up three days later. They refused to issue a refund, and their credit offer was no longer applicable to my current schedule and situation. When I contacted them multiple times, they tossed me back to booking.com, where I originally booked, and when I contacted booking.com, they claimed that it was the resort's responsibility to refund the money. Both parties are unwilling to accept responsibility, and this is not a fair trade to charging customers for services I did not receive and refusing to pay back. I value fair trade, and this is appalling customer service from a five-star hotel.…
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Service
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.
Helpful
Response from Gary Hyde, General Manager at Castaways Resort
Responded 1 Jun 2023
Dear Traveltheworld0522, Thanks for your feedback. While power outages are few and far between and can happen at any hotel they are an inconvenience for our guests and our team. The power was initally supposed to be back by 4.30pm, I do note this was restored at 5.30pm only 30 minutes after you chose to leave. Of course if the power had of been out for a length of time affecting our guests comfort we most certainly would of offered a refund or a credit. After speaking with you I am glad you have chosen to use the credit for a future stay and I hope you do take the time to enjoy the complimentary Balinese Stone bath for any inconvenience caused. Warm Regards Gary Hyde
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
I don't know where to start with this place to be honest. The "villa" is dated, dirty and unmaintained! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. The restaurant staff couldn't care less, when asked what a dish contained the answer was "I don't know". Not, "I'll check for you" just simply "I don't know" and this was from the more senior looking member of the team that night, not one of the young ladies. The food at dinner was under seasoned and under cooked, the breakfast is what you would expect from a motel, not a "luxury" resort. The whole thing just felt like a hostel experience, which is kind of unfair to hostels as I've stayed in a few that gave more of a S than this place. There are plenty of places like this around that actually care about your experience, so don't wait your time on this one.…
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Don't bother, find somewhere else.
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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.
Helpful
Response from Gary Hyde, General Manager at Castaways Resort
Responded 5 Jun 2023
Dear Safari07976231380, I am very sorry your experience sounds like a complete let down, we clearly dropped the ball here big time. I am having trouble locating your contact details as I would like to call and discuss your stay with you personally. Please email me when convenient manager@castaways.co.nz
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
US$139 - US$232 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandAucklandWaiuku
NUMBER OF ROOMS
33
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Claim Your ListingCASTAWAYS RESORT - Now $234 (Was $̶3̶9̶6̶) - UPDATED 2023 Hotel Reviews & Price Comparison (Waiuku, New Zealand) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Castaways Resort
Which popular attractions are close to Castaways Resort?
Nearby attractions include Kariotahi Beach (4.8 km), Kariotahi Beach (0.2 km), and Waiuku Museum (7.5 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Castaways Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and a spa.
Which room amenities are available at Castaways Resort?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Castaways Resort?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Castaways Resort?
Yes, free parking and a parking garage are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Castaways Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include Nicks Cafe, The Shires, and Cafe Karma.
Does Castaways Resort offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Does Castaways Resort have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is Castaways Resort accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.