The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast
Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast
259B St Heliers Bay Road St Heliers, Auckland Central, Auckland 1071 New Zealand
Full view
View all photos(9)9
Did you already book this hotel?
Tell us so we can help you plan.
About
#2 of 10 guest houses in Auckland Central
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This multimillion dollar palatial home in one of Auckland's finest suburbs has been occupied in the past six years by the Consul General of America to New Zealand. An opportunity now exists to stay where Presidents and Prime Ministers have visited,and where American Ambassadors have slept. Stay and enjoy the luxury, and relax both inside and outside of this lavish home in uncompromising style. Play tennis, swim in the pool, enjoy the games room or just collapse in front of the fire and large screen TV. Discover Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand with almost one and a half million residents. Enjoy the near by famous beaches and restaurants of St Heliers and Mission Bay. Take a cruise to Waiheke Island. See Kelly Tarlton's underwater world. Take the Explorer bus to see Big 14 Attractions.Plus many more exciting adventures. Don't delay. See you soon at The Consulate Luxury B&B Auckland.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Pool
Free breakfast
Game room
Tennis court
Baggage storage
Newspaper
Laundry service
Special diet menus
Table tennis
Non-smoking hotel
Sun terrace
Room features
Bathrobes
Seating area
Telephone
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Romantic
Location
259B St Heliers Bay Road St Heliers, Auckland Central, Auckland 1071 New Zealand
Getting there
Auckland Intl Airport
17.1 km•
See all flights
Car Hire
2,464 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
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.
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.
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.
Traveller rating
- 30
- 8
- 0
- 0
- 1
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Sort by:
Detailed Reviews
Fantastic experience. Sheer luxury and wonderful hosts in David and Averill. Excellent location near to the delightful St Heliers and Mission Bays, and so convenient for the city.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
In addition to the beautiful accommodation, what defines this property as unique is the "generosity of spirit" that the hosts offer. From a practical viewpoint, the standard of the rooms is extremely high, the breakfast food is fresh and there are a diverse range of choices. The location of the property enables quick access to the city (if necessary), and high calibre restaurants and cafes at the end of the road - not to mention the walk along the magnificent bay area. I would have no hesitation in recommending this accommodation to anyone travelling on either business or visiting Auckland, particularly those who are looking for something different (and better) than the usual 5 star hotel experience. Thanks so much Averill and David for making my stay special. Kris (Melbourne, Australia).
Read more
Date of stay: October 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: First floor room the better option (particularly for couples)
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 wonderful luxury b&B. And that term does not really do the house justice, it is more like a boutique hotel. Rooms are spacious and comfortable. Guest living room spacious and elegant. David and Averill are great hosts with the elusive balance of ensuring you have everything to make you comfortable and giving you plenty of privacy.
We hope to be return guests.
We hope to be return guests.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from David A, Owner at The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast
Responded 5 Aug 2013
Louise-Thank-you for your quick response in posting a review on Tripadvisor.It is very much appreciated. Averill and I very much enjoyed you and Eugene staying with us.It's great that your Mum is doing well,and that your sister is also close by to help. We very much hope to see you over Xmas when you plan to have Xmas in Auckland.There are still a lot of great restaurants and walks along the beach at Stheliers Kohi,& Mission bay that are well worth visiting. Kind Regards David & Averill Archer @ "The Consulate Luxury B& B Auckland.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed in several B&Bs in New Zealand and we were really excited when we booked The Consulate, especially since we love to play tennis. From the beginning we ran into issues. Money was asked for upfront months in advance of our travel dates. They do not take credit cards, so the only way that we could get money there we were told was to wire it. We are from the US and went to our bank to inquire. The account # that we were given was wrong so even when we got the right number our bank would not send it for our protection, because they thought it was a scam (which it was not) We explained this to David and he was good about it and said that we could pay upfront when we arrived at the property. We said ok, but found this odd as we had at least 3 other B&B reservations in New Zealand including another one in Auckland that all collected payment at the end of the stay. So, sight unseen we had to pay immediately upon arrival. When we arrived the property was not at all what we expected. It is in St. Helier's Bay which was beautiful, but the property was very tired and had not been maintained well since it was an actual consulate. The "luxurious cream carpets" as advertised were stained and so was some of the furniture, there was food under the bed. GROSS. We had to do laundry, because we had been traveling for a few weeks and I purposely picked this accommodation, because it had laundry facilities. I have never been in a dirtier laundry room in my life. There was literally dirt caked on the floor and it looked like it had not been cleaned in years. The pool was dirty as well and I would have never gone swimming in it. There were also several things listed online on the website that we considered false advertising. For example, they advertise top quality rackets and balls. The rackets may have been quality back in the 1990's or early 2000's but certainly not now. We were also offered dirty, old shoes to use on the courts. No thank you! They also say wireless internet access, but we stayed in the ruby room and got absolutely no service. The only place that we could use the internet was in the family room and there were other guests staying with us, so it did not make Skype conversations with our family back home very private or easy. The "large private game room exclusive to guests" is not really exclusive to guests. The first night we arrived my husband and I decided to check it out after our hosts said good night and we found David down there laying on the couch watching TV. Not exactly comfortable for us to hang out in! Lastly, the guest fridge with snacks is a tiny refrigerator with a small bowl of about 4 chocolates and 3 nutrition bars. This was the most expensive B&B we stayed in and the amenities and hospitality were far less superior than the other places we stayed. We are not picky guests as you can see from my past reviews (rated 4's and 5's) but we did expect to get clean accommodations and amenities as advertised for the amount of money we paid. We didn't feel like guests in the house, we felt like they were doing us a favor by letting us stay with them and we had to pay for it. We know this does not line up with the other reviews of the B&B, but we felt that we had to share our experience as we booked "The Consulate" off of these reviews and were very disappointed that we ended up staying here.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from David A, Manager at The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast
Responded 6 Jul 2014
We find the above criticisms from this American woman very concerning and unfounded, as shown by all of our previous feedback. There was no complaint from this woman before she arrived, while she was here, or as she left, so this review was a shock. All of our previous reviews have averaged 9.8 out of 10. This couples stay must have been at least 3 months ago when we last accommodated USA guests. It could not have been 20.6.14 as claimed. Our B&B was closed between 20-22nd June as we were holidaying out of Auckland. As our business is very small (maximum 2 sets of guests at a time, each with their own private luxury bathroom and fresh white towels) we do not have facilities for credit card payment. This is an uneconomic system to run with so few rooms. The fact that we do not accept credit cards is shown in our conditions on our web-site & with booking.com. This is the first time in 3 years of operation where anyone has raised problems with payment as an issue. We are open and honest and are happy for payment on arrival, or departure if customers would prefer. We do not seek deposits in advance of arrival. We offer the alternative of bank payment before arrival, as some guests feel more secure about their booking if already paid for. We believe our property is stunningly beautiful and clean, just as our web-site photos imply. The carpets and floors are kept very clean, as indicated in previous guest comments. The luxurious thick mattresses bases, almost to floor level, are always clean as is the tiny gap under the bed. There was definitely no food under the bed, although something may have fallen from the guest’s pocket while sorting their clothing, as they claim they arrived for their stay with a pile of soiled washing. Their above comment: “We had to do laundry, because we had been traveling for a few weeks...” We happily washed it for them, free of charge. The laundry is very clean with washing machine and dryer being purchased new when we arrived here three and a half years ago. There is no dirt caked up on the floor of the laundry. That is ridiculous. The swimming pool and tennis court are well maintained for guests. People usually have their own tennis shoes, but we lend shoes (always clean) if desired. We cannot provide new shoes, as such are expensive. The rackets, although not new, are titanium, and of high quality, the newest being 2 years old and valued at around $400. The balls are high quality Challenger balls; better than Wilson balls used at Grand Slam tournaments. Our Wi-Fi is very accessible and free. The large private games room, with full sized tennis table, is exclusive to guests. It does not have a TV – not possible for David to be watching TV in there as claimed. Our complementary snacks are free to all guests and always well stocked. We additionally serve all guests with a glass of bubbly and cheeseboard on arrival – again at no extra charge. For longer stay guests, and those of whom we know are celebrating a special occasion, we offer a surprise baking treat. Our guests are usually surprised and delighted that we never charge extra for the special services provided – in this case, snacks, cheeseboard and bubbly, plus attending to their backload of dirty washing. Although we hope people will appreciate this, we certainly don’t intend them to perceive that we’re doing them a favour and certainly don’t expect unkindness from them. We appreciate that our previous guests have loved their stay with us and we look forward to sharing this beautiful home with many lovely guests in the future. If you would take a moment to review all our other 26 reviews you will see we average a 9.8 out of 10 on these. It is therefore not acceptable that a malicious review rating 3 ones, 2 twos, & 1-four out of 5 be considered in any way accurate. It is a deliberate attempt to undermine the high standard we provide, as recognised by all guests except for this woman. She acknowledges that her review “does not line up with the other (26) reviews of the B&B” She should have at that realisation known that she had something terribly wrong. Her review is false in all aspects and is damaging to our reputation. It is malicious and unfair both to us and to Tripadvisor, when one person out of 27 can report such falsehoods. To allow over 3 months passing and then lodging this review is odd in itself.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Our holiday started in Auckland and we chose to stay at a beautiful place called St Helliers. It is a beautiful suburb and not too far out of Auckland. On arrival to The Consulate we were warmly welcomed and shown to the most beautiful room we have ever stayed in. A king size bed that still gave you plenty of space, a very large bathroom with double shower. David and Averill are the perfect hosts and we enjoyed sitting down with a glass of champagne and cheese on arrival. This B & B has everything you could imagine and we were treated to 4 very special nights. The local restaurants are all exceptional and we would definitely go back. If you want to relax and read in the large sitting rooms, play tennis or swim in the pool you can do it all here. We were treated like very special guests and it was a real privilege to stay at The Consulate. Sincere thanks to David and Averill.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
I only stayed one night due to no hotel availability in Auckland centre. After staying at the Consulate I'm so happy I didn't end up with boring sterile hotel with corporate fake character.
The Consulate is absolutely lovely accommodation, very tastefully decorated and furnished with more of a home from home feel. David and Averill are a lovely couple who manage the place perfectly.
Well received warm greeting from Averill and David and was made to feel very welcome.
Large Bedroom very comfortable. Best sleep of my entire trip.
Large Living room with comfy furnishings and huge TV and refreshments.
Large Shower room.
Beautiful Dining room.
Breakfast was amazing!
The Consulate is absolutely lovely accommodation, very tastefully decorated and furnished with more of a home from home feel. David and Averill are a lovely couple who manage the place perfectly.
Well received warm greeting from Averill and David and was made to feel very welcome.
Large Bedroom very comfortable. Best sleep of my entire trip.
Large Living room with comfy furnishings and huge TV and refreshments.
Large Shower room.
Beautiful Dining room.
Breakfast was amazing!
Read more
Date of stay: February 2013Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from David A, Owner at The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast
Responded 14 Mar 2013
Thank-you so much for your wonderful review. David & Averill Archer @ "The Consulate Luxury B& B Auckland"
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is a lovely house with great living spaces for guests and terrific beds and bathrooms. But what really sets it apart is the extraordinary hospitality of the hosts. When we found we had to stay on an extra night, being a night on which this B&B (along with the rest of Auckland) was booked out, these wonderful people moved out of their own room so that we could stay on. How special is that? They let us take over the dining room so that we could work through the night, and taxied us to the local restaurants so we would get some dinner before the kitchens closed. We had a great time with them and their other guests. We highly recommend it.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2013Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Regretfully, only a one night stay in this gracious, tranquil and spotless house. Averill and David have clearly aimed for excellence in both the environment that they have created for guests and in the service that they offer - and they have certainly succeeded in achieving it!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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 place of unsurpassed tranquillity amidst the chaos of Auckland. Peaceful and Luxurious. From the personal welcome, complete with Bubbles and nibbles, to the fond farewell you will not find more Amazing Hosts - David and Averill. A restful pleasant escape from reality.
A scrumptious breakfast cooked and served by a man not afraid to show off his pinny ;) and/or fresh and fabulous continental style prepared by the Lady of the Manor.
Excellent restaurants nearby, thanks for the great advice on dinner arrangements.
Will definitely return when next able to escape.
A scrumptious breakfast cooked and served by a man not afraid to show off his pinny ;) and/or fresh and fabulous continental style prepared by the Lady of the Manor.
Excellent restaurants nearby, thanks for the great advice on dinner arrangements.
Will definitely return when next able to escape.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Responded 12 Jul 2012
Sean and Sue. Thank -you for your review which we very much appreciate. It was also a wonderful time for us to have your company and have you stay. Averill and I do hope we will see you again. Many Thanks.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
..... to lounge in the pool, have a game of tennis - the proper thing or table tennis. We have just had two nights of luxury at the Consulate and could have stayed longer - just to relax and enjoy. We were a little earlier than our appointed hour - it's hard to judge timings when you're coming a long way but we were welcomed in by Averill and shown around the beautiful home. No one else was staying and we had the run of upstairs (bedroom and shower), the lounge and huge dining room and then downstairs, rumpus and table tennis. We were greeted with a glass of bubbly and a cheeseboard and a bit of a natter hearing the great history of the house then left to our own resources. We were meeting family so they all came for a drink and we sat and enjoyed more drinks before we all went out for a meal. Whilst the B&B is not really walkable to restaurants, that was fine by us - nearby Mission Bay had a huge variety. We had the best night's sleep ever and have vowed to buy a new bed at home - then up to the sound of bird song and a beautifully cooked breakfast with fruit and yogurts. The property is very secluded, down the end of a long drive and you look out onto the tennis court and surrounding trees. No wonder the Americans loved it.
We can fully recommend the Consulate - definitely home from home and we were made so welcome. It's the little extra touches - very nice not to be handed a bill for the chocolate or fruit bar we helped ourselves to, as you would in a motel. Slippers and robes were provided, it's the sort of place you take your shoes off, one would certainly not want to dirty those beautiful carpets.
We can fully recommend the Consulate - definitely home from home and we were made so welcome. It's the little extra touches - very nice not to be handed a bill for the chocolate or fruit bar we helped ourselves to, as you would in a motel. Slippers and robes were provided, it's the sort of place you take your shoes off, one would certainly not want to dirty those beautiful carpets.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Ask for the Royal Room, upstairs, light and airy, lovely views of the gardens from above.
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.
No results found. • Try changing or clearing your search to read questions and answers.
"It's a B&B and has only 2 rooms available. The upstairs room was fabulous."Read full review
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandAucklandAuckland Central
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingTHE CONSULATE LUXURY BED AND BREAKFAST - Guesthouse Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions about The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast
Which popular attractions are close to The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast?
Nearby attractions include The Antique Possum (1.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast?
Conveniently located restaurants include Khana - Indian For Food, Masa Japanese Restaurant Bar, and Browns.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are there any historical sites close to The Consulate Luxury Bed and Breakfast?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Howick Historical Village (6.6 km), Parnell (6.2 km), and Eden Garden (7.7 km).