Arrived late but were warmly welcomed and made to feel at home. Off the beaten track which was an absolute delight to be in the countryside away from the hustle and bustle. Rooms were warm and spacious and amenities in top shape. Great showers with plenty of water and pressure. Recommendation for local restaurant and drinking hole was spot on and proved a real hit with our group.
If you want to go somewhere to feel welcomed with open arms, podges place is the place to be. If you had to compare it to any ole pub in New Zealand it wouldn't stand out by looks alone. But stop here and have a beer, and be expected to chat it up with the locals, a be treated like a dear friend. Me and my husband happend upon this place while doing the Te Araroa hike across New Zealand, they offered us free camping in the back yard area, and pizza to fill us up for days. I felt like I was family, they even took us on a tiki tour all the way to Rotarua. Now, while they can't do this with everyone who walks through their doors, expect for them to try and reach above and beyond to make you feel welcome. What they lack in "luxury" accommodation, they make up for in heart. So like the wise ole people say, don't judge a book by its cover.…
Stayed here for a couple of nights whilst working. The rooms we got were below average. TV was ancient, fridge seal was broken, lamp didn't have a bulb, shower drain was blocked and no wifi. The list goes on. Do not recommend.
I stayed in a cabin costing $50.00 per night which consisted of a double bed, an old T.V. and a chair. Toilet facilities were along way away with communal showers (2 available) and toilets. I can only describe the outside cabin as a square potable box with windows in it. Suitable for backpackers possibly. Access to the adjacent tavern was easy and accessible, and entertainment was the attraction for the overnight accommodation. Staff at the tavern are friendly and welcoming.
My boyfriend & I had just finished a hard days hike in the Hunua Ranges when we stumbled across Podges Place(Mercer Motel). The people who run it now are so friendly & gave us the warmest welcome :) We stayed in a basic cabin in back that provided everything we needed. The tavern adjacent has amazing pizza. Also just a 2 minute walk away is a gas station and Mcdonalds.
Stayed in April 2014, rooms were basic but had everything we needed. Would have been great if the TV worked! We arrived by bus and there are no attractions or shops within walking distance but the host kindly helped us with transport and did his best to help us with whatever we needed. Definitely recommend driving here, the long distances require a car. We are aware that the ownership has recently changed and that the new owner is keen to make some changes, such as renovating and reopening the little pub next door. The staff was very friendly and curious, thank you!
Very basic furnishings in this motel - with a cardboard box....covered with an old pillowcase to elevate the freeview TV receiver. Dust and cobwebs around the unit. The TV was not tuned correctly and did not work. The pillows were so thin we had to fold them in half to sleep properly. Generally way too expensive for the tarrif charged.
This is probably the worst place in NZ to stay :( We stayed a night only because we didn't want to drive from Auckland North Shore to the race track early in the morning. We got there and they had to look for our room key.....I thought the room is nice and comfy as it's only for one night's stay and I'm not a fussy person. On inspection though, there was some white substance on my pillow case. It didnt look like an old stain, it seemed like the linen wasn't clean. On further inspection we found something that looked like dried blood on the sheets. Not saying it was, but again it wasn't only a stain so obviously they couldn't be bothered changing the linen after the previous people stayed there. Also they had a band playing but we were told we won't hear it from our room. Now, I love local NZ music, but not when I want to sleep! Yes, we heard it, loud and clear, no need to go to the bar for that. All in all, it really was the worst place I have ever stayed. And more depressing, my husband wrote an email to the people with our complains and sadly, they didn't even feel like responding or apologising or anything like that.…
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