The Grand Hotel
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The Grand Hotel

Corner St. Hill & Guyton Streets, Whanganui 4541 New Zealand
Balcony furniture
Traveller (63)
Inside of shower
Room & Suite (16)
A great burger. A definite must.
Dining (3)

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Avg. $117 /night, 2/10 - 2/11
$134
per night
$123
per night
$111
per night

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About

#22 of 25 hotels in Whanganui
4.4 of 5 bubbles
Location
3.5 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
3.8 of 5 bubbles
Value
3.8 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
3.8 of 5 bubbles
Service
3.8 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality

Welcome to The Grand Hotel, your Whanganui “home away from home.” The Grand Hotel aims to make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, which is why so many guests continue to come back year after year.

For those interested in checking out popular landmarks while visiting Whanganui, The Grand Hotel is located a short distance from St Mary's Catholic Church (0.2 mi) and St Paul Putiki Church (1.0 mi).

Rooms at The Grand Hotel offer a flat screen TV and a refrigerator providing exceptional comfort and convenience, and guests can go online with free wifi.

24 hour front desk, room service, and a coffee shop are some of the conveniences offered at this hotel. Free breakfast will also help to make your stay even more special. If you are driving to The Grand Hotel, free parking is available.

While in Whanganui be sure to experience local bento favourites at Japanese Kitchen WA.

Should time allow, Durie Hill Elevator, Kowhai Park, and New Zealand Glassworks are some popular attractions that are within walking distance.

The Grand Hotel puts the best of Whanganui at your fingertips, making your stay both relaxing and enjoyable.

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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Bar / lounge
Game room
Billiards
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Non-smoking hotel
Wifi
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Meeting rooms
Room features
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family 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.
3.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Classic
Historic Hotel

Location

Corner St. Hill & Guyton Streets, Whanganui 4541 New Zealand
Getting there
Good for walkers
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.
Grade: 86 out of 100
86
Wanganui Airport
Palmerston North Airport
64.9 km
See all flights

Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
GreyMarl wrote a review Sept 2022
Australia
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Many hotels are a trip down memory lane in New Zealand - often for the wrong reasons. Lack of investment or interest in maintaining, let alone upgrading, properties mean entering the room is to step back in time.

The Grand is an impressive building in a lovely town full of character.

The room was OK for the cost but more than a little TLC is definitely needed.
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Date of stay: September 2022
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
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.
CIMG wrote a review Feb 2020
Wellington, New Zealand
3.0 of 5 bubbles
On the plus side, the hotel rooms are very reasonably priced (including breakfast), the staff were all very friendly and nice (including in the ground floor Irish Pub restaurant), it is in an excellent location (with parking), and it has a certain old world (faded) charm.

Although the food at the popular and atmospheric Irish Pub restaurant was simply competent, it shone on the steak sauces (especially the pepper sauce) and a truly extraordinary deep dish apple pie, which looked like one grandma had crafted with love, sultanas, cinnamon and about four apples per gigantic slice.

On the negative side: cleanliness. From the cigarette butt-filled pasta sauce jar on the balcony, and the hair in the shower drain, to the carpets in the rooms and the hallways which don’t appear to have been vacuumed since the 1990s (let alone a deep clean) this is an establishment which could learn that antique doesn’t need to mean dirty. The view from the balcony of the car park was pretty grimy too. Also, the free breakfast was truly sad - muesli, Weetbix and tinned fruit with white bread toast, vegemite, marmalade and raspberry jam sachets ... Better to leave out the breakfast (and lower the price even further).
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip 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.
Alan P wrote a review Jan 2023
Wellington, New Zealand
3.0 of 5 bubbles
They were hard to deal with on the phone, Had to call back multiple times to get contact and then change my sleeping arrangements. Guy on the counter needs to listen more than thinking he knows what im going to say. Stayed here a couple of times this time was the most disorganised. Would probably stay here again as it serves a purpose with the bike racing....... Maybe
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Date of stay: November 2022
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
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.
Redheaded2 wrote a review Apr 2023
Avondale, New Zealand
1.0 of 5 bubbles
What is a beautiful classical building with obvious historical colonial history has been allowed to run down nor just in presentation and comfort but also in hospitality. Purchased by the new owners over a year ago their service was pitiful to non existent. There was noone in the reception when we left and the lovely elderly gentleman who attendes us advised he is regularly asked to come in by staff to attendthe reception on top of the room cleaning he does. In the disused dining room which has beautiful character antique ambience were half empty boxes of pizza and drink cans - clearly left by the stsff we saw in the area the night before.
The room was reasonably comfortable but dated and overpriced with a big grubby handprint left on the mirror! Never again though I wouldve loved to have experienced the hotel in its heyday.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip: Avoid staying there
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.
Ken M wrote a review Mar 2024
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Disgusting! I booked a room that they don't even have but they have advertised on booking.com. The rooms were very unclean and the extremely basic!! I had to ask for heating (the room had none!). despite repeated calls they have not reimbursed the $40 booking fee that they said they would. I would rather sleep in my car than ever sleep here again, it'd be warmer and cleaner.
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Date of stay: March 2024
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
1.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: I'd rather than sleep in my car than ever stay here again. If Wanganui had not been booked out...
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.
Anna wrote a review Jan 2022
Christchurch, New Zealand
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Disgusting service at check in, no hello no nothing other than eftpos?
Room noisy, only a door onto shared balcony that seems too unsafe to stand on, no windows to crack, if you opened the door the noise from outside at night made it impossible to sleep. Took 7 mins for hot water to start flowing in shower. Only 1 power point in corner behind bed so basically useless. Lugged bags up stairs because we didn’t trust the lift.
Curtains so thin they provided zero darkness
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: Avoid this place at any cost
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.
Companion01171961894 wrote a review Jan 2025
+1
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Where to start with the ironically named 'Grand'.....
Front door was locked when we arrived. After the 3rd try at ringing the number displayed on the front door, a man answered my call and said 'just a minute' then hung up on me. Eventually a man came and opened the front door. He didn't speak to us during the check in process, then proceeded to take us to a room with 1 double bed, even though I had paid the extra for 2 separate beds for myself and my adolescent son.
The room was dirty, the wallpaper had large tears in it, and the 'furniture' on the balcony was rusted and broken.
I was expecting budget accommodation but this place is awful.
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Date of stay: January 2025
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
1.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
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.
Alan P wrote a review Dec 2024
Wellington, New Zealand
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Stayed here a few times for the motorbike races, Rooms are a bit dated mine had problems opening the digital door, The door catch was broken on the deck. Shower was missing centre drain. Beds were nice and you could park your motorcycle in the garage out of view. Lacks barstaff who dont listen, Food is bland and just thrown together. Eat somewhere else. The management don't seem to get how kiwi hospitality works.
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Date of stay: December 2024
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: Eat somewhere else
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.
Maria T wrote a review Mar 2022
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Went to Andrew Lundon show last night at the Grand Hotel which included buffet meal. Show was good. Food was disappointing, roast potatoes seemed to be reheats, Yorkshire puddings we’re rock solid and variety of food was poor. Very overpriced for what was on offer. Maintenance on the hotel is lacking and place is shabby. No lock on cubicle door in gents so had to hold door closed with foot. Staff behind bar had no idea of what they were doing and drinks poor quality and also overpriced. At $65 for a buffet meal I was not impressed . Will not be back.
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Date of stay: March 2022
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.
Katherine P wrote a review Feb 2024
1.0 of 5 bubbles
My 81-year old mother and her friend arrived to dirty rooms and a filthy toilet. They weren’t prepared to stay in rooms with such a low level of cleanliness so found alternative accommodation. They asked for a refund but were refused. Would not recommend.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip 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.
Alan P wrote a tip Dec 2024
Wellington, New Zealand49 contributions1 helpful vote
2.0 of 5 bubbles
"Eat somewhere else "
Read full review
frankiethe wrote a tip Jul 2024
Auckland Central, New Zealand314 contributions82 helpful votes
2.0 of 5 bubbles
"Food is available at the bar. I had a burger, which was reasonable."
Read full review
Ken M wrote a tip Mar 2024
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"I'd rather than sleep in my car than ever stay here again. If Wanganui had not been booked out I'd have transferred to another hotel. "
Read full review
Companion27854519791 wrote a tip Nov 2023
1 contribution1 helpful vote
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Do not stay here it's terrible "
Read full review
Frank wrote a tip Jul 2023
Marton, New Zealand3 contributions1 helpful vote
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Don't waste your time or money... stay away "
Read full review
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Whanganui area.
PRICE RANGE
$113 - $118 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandManawatu-Wanganui RegionWhanganui
NUMBER OF ROOMS
53
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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THE GRAND HOTEL - Updated 2025 Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions about The Grand Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to The Grand Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Whanganui Regional Museum (0.4 km), Te Whare O Rehua Sarjeant Gallery (0.4 km), and St Mary's Catholic Church (0.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Grand Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at The Grand Hotel?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at The Grand Hotel?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Grand Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Japanese Kitchen WA, Rutland Arms, and Mischief Cafe.
Is The Grand Hotel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.2 km away from the centre of Whanganui.
Does The Grand Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Are there any historical sites close to The Grand Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Durie Hill Memorial Tower (1.2 km) and William Birch Pools (3.6 km).
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