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Overlooking the shore of one of Tauranga’s beautiful natural inlets, yet situated just a few hundred metres from the Tauranga CBD, the iconic Tauranga on the Waterfront motel offers luxurious accommodation for discerning travellers, as well as affordable accommodation for both the Corporate Traveler or Families on vacation. The tranquil cul-de-sac location ensures Guests enjoy a peaceful night's sleep while being right in the heart of the vibrant city that is Tauranga. Conferences and business meetings can be held in our air conditioned, state of the art, Conference Centre. The accessible and central location of the Conference Room, ensures the utmost convenience to Downtown Tauranga, while being only steps away from guest accommodation.
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
Bay View
Marina View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
1 Second Avenue, Tauranga 3110 New Zealand
The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
4.5 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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we were super stoked with our stay here. We always take our own pillows however they weren't needed here with comfy pillows, very comfy beds, SO CLEAN actuallycleanest ive ever stayed and we travel ALOT both national and internationally evey detail was squeeky clean hats off to the cleaners attention to details. Great location, Close to town but no so close you hear the bars etc late at night. Great layout, the most gorgeous shower wash, shampoos and body lotion - absolutely beautiful scent! We loved our stay here - highly recommend 🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Absolutely loved it, built in ceiling fan is amazing too!! Very clean. No tips as they have...
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 Nikki Pridgeon, General Manager at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 20 Jan 2025
Hi Sandra, thank you for the wonderful review. We are so thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with us! We will pass your awesome comments to all our staff! We look forward to seeing you again.
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We stayed 2 nights. Rooms are spacious and clean. Very good shower and spa bath. Large comfortable bed. Good linen. I really liked having coloured flannels and hand towels because i always feel bad staining whites with my makeup. This hotel offered high quality nz made complimentary accessories, which always rates highly with me. Milk came in reusable glass bottles. The complimentary tea was nz made chainui. The coffee was ground plunger Tuatara which is fair traded.. complimentary nz nuts and biscuits. All the shampoo, conditioner and washes were made in nz , Matakana.
We had a room with a little balcony over looking the estuary, on the ground floor. We paid extra, but feel it was worth it. A bonus was being able to watch a kotare come and go as it fed it's chicks in the palm tree outside our room. There was access to the water via steps leading down to the estuary. Staff were friendly. Easy parking pretty much outside our room. I would be very happy to stay again.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip 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.
Response from Nikki Pridgeon, General Manager at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 26 Jan 2023
Wow what an amazing review :) We are so happy that you enjoyed all that our property has too offer. We look forward to seeing you again.
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We bagged ourselves a super spacious room with patio and water views, shame the weather didn’t allow us to make full use of these. The room was clean, well equipped inc a kitchenette and a very comfy bed. Good size bathroom with plenty of space to put our toiletries and decent fluffy towels. Parking for the car was right outside the front door. The staff were very friendly giving plenty of advice on local eateries most of which are a short walk away. The Strand is the usual recommended street but plenty of places before that. This property is a bit away from the beaches of Tauranga and the Mount but more than adequate if needing to be close to town. Only wish we had stayed longer which is always a good recommendation.
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Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Location
Service
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.
Response from Nikki Pridgeon, General Manager at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 1 Dec 2022
Hi Twixle,we are so happy you enjoyed your stay with us! We hope to welcome you back again soon!
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My partner and I stayed here for six nights while on a tour of New Zealand with a sports travel firm, watching Test cricket.
The motel is on a high area overlooking the beautiful estuary and just a short stride uphill from the many shops, bars and restaurants of Tauranga. It was only a few minutes’ drive each day to the Test cricket ground and nearby (and much more crowded) Mount Manganui.
We were lucky enough to have room 6, a front facing room with a patio and beautiful views out over the estuary to wake up to at sunrise. Having breakfast in our room with the patio doors flung open taking in those views will live in the memory.
My partner went down the wooden steps you can see in our photo for a swim in the estuary, another unexpected treat. Beach towels were available at reception.
We were not familiar with the self catering motel concept and we were not sure what to expect, but found the kitchenette was equipped with everything we needed: fridge, toaster, kettle, sink, etc. Tea, coffee and milk were provided. We soon stocked up from a local store and had all we needed and we enjoyed not having to go ‘somewhere else’ for breakfast.
If travelling and running out of clothes, there is a laundry room with a washer and dryer and a washing line, etc, which we made good use of.
The owners and staff were warm, welcoming and helpful.
This hotel proved the perfect base for this part of the trip - and we’ll be recalling the views for a long time.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
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.
Response from Nikki Pridgeon, General Manager at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 27 Mar 2023
Hi Jo, thank you for the beautiful review. It was an absolute pleasure having you stay with us and are thrilled that you enjoyed the stay. We look forward to meeting again :)
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The Tauranga was absolutely for my stay, quiet, safe, the unit was excellent, very clean and really comfy pillow and bed. The Tauranga is very central and well located and my room was spacious with a sea view. Staff were very helpful and obliging, I would highly recommend.
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Date of stay: November 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
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 Nikki Pridgeon, General Manager at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 5 Dec 2024
Thank you for your review . We have to agree that the views are absolutely stunning and pleased you were comfortable during your stay. Look forward to seeing you again
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Tauranga On the Waterfront– picturesque trains cross the inlet, down steps to shores of inlet; gorgeous waterviews from our room, airy, spacious, even own coffee-maker pods - rooms very well appointed. (I have gait/walking challenges (stroke), wear a legbrace.) Fab stay, quiet, great service.
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Date of stay: December 2021
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 Nikki Pridgeon, General Manager at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 1 Dec 2022
Hi , We are pleased you were satisfied with our luxurious facilities and sea view! We hope to greet you again soon.
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We checked into a waterfront view unit for three nights. Newly refurbished, these are spick and span and had great views of the estuary. Shops and restaurants are an easy stroll from this motel but you will need a car to go over to Mount Maunganui. Staff are very friendly and welcoming and I loved the local toiletries in the bathrooms. Its good to see these showcased in lieu of generic products. The kitchenette is ok for very basic self catering only which makes them perfect for a short stay.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Get a unit overlooking the estuary.
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 Nikki Pridgeon, General Manager at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 25 Feb 2024
Hi Casa, thank you for the detailed review.
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We had a lovely stay here - we had an upper room overlooking the bay, full plate glass windows to catch the view, and a room with a king bed and two singles, should we have needed them. Reception staff were so welcoming and friendly, and it’s situated not far from the Main Street, which was useful for restaurants and shopping. It’s still a drive to Mount Maunganui and the beaches, but do-able except in rush hour over the bridge.
The bed was comfortable, and the room was quiet, with lots of space. So, really, nothing to complain about except the weather! The first of the Auckland storms came through whilst we were there, and affected Tauranga. Nothing like sheeting rain and high winds belting against the plate glass windows!
Seriously, though, everything was good - the guest laundry machines were clean and efficient, and respectably priced as well, compared with some hotels. Thank you for a great stay.
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Date of stay: January 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.
Response from Nikki Pridgeon, General Manager at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 21 Feb 2023
Hi Tadley, thank you for the detailed review. We are pleased that even through the storm you had a wonderful stay with us! We cannot wait to welcome you again.
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We stayed for one night in unit 7. Friendly reception. The unit was absolutely spotless, the bed really comfortable and the neighbourhood quiet. We had the best night’s sleep - had to scramble to make checkout on time in fact. I loved the Matakana Botanicals toiletries, not often I can use hotel shower gels etc!. The only thing was that there weren’t enough EB teabags for two, but that was balanced by the fact the Plunger coffee was delicious. Other than that, perfect! We recommend!
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip 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.
Response from Bryan Pridgeon, Owner at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 14 Mar 2021
Hi Macclass53, thank you for your in-depth review. We're very happy you enjoyed your stay in our spotless rooms, with comfortable beds and quiet neighbourhood. Also glad you liked the Matakana body products and the plunger coffee. Hope we see you agin some time soon.
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I did enjoy my stay. It's a lovely spot. However, after spending $250 for one night, I was surprised about how dusty it was. I have stayed in a lot of Hotels/Motels this has never happened before. It was on February 18th. The day after Level 2 lockdown. When I checked out the following morning, I just gave a friendly heads up to the lady in the office. I said I enjoyed my stay and it wasn't a complaint. I wasn't asking for anything. She was quite defensive and showed me a spray bottle of something and said every two weeks they thoroughly clean the rooms. They just do the touch top areas in between. I said hasn't anyone else been in the room, she said yes. I said even if it wasn't required, it would be nice to have a dust-free room considering the cost. If she had sincerely apologised and been receptive to the feedback I would have been satisfied. I felt her manor was quite patronising.
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Date of stay: February 2021
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 Bryan Pridgeon, Owner at The Tauranga on the Waterfront Motel
Responded 21 Feb 2021
Hi Susan, I'm sorry to hear you had a negative experience at our place. We genuinely take pride in our cleaning regime and on this occasion our team dropped the ball. I am having a meeting with all our staff and will use this as an instructional opportunity for us to sharpen up our game. I hope we see you back again soon and that we meet your expectations.
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There are more places to choose from in the Tauranga area.
PRICE RANGE
$209 - $224 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the hotel tauranga
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandBay of Plenty RegionTauranga
NUMBER OF ROOMS
28
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.
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