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Crows Nest Villas
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About
#1 of 1 villa in Opua
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Crows Nest Villas is an Exclusive Accommodation perched on a cliff top overlooking the beautiful Bay of Islands and the Opua Harbour. Each 2 bedroom villa has amazing sea views and is for the discerning traveller. The stunning panoramic views allows for a birds-eye perspective as you watch the sails boats pass leisurely below.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Boating
Canoeing
Highchairs available
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Internet
Complimentary tea
Golf course
Hiking
Fishing
Board games / puzzles
Sun deck
Sun umbrellas
First aid kit
Umbrella
Private check-in / check-out
Self-serve laundry
Washing machine
Room features
Bathrobes
Dining area
Safe
Sofa
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Electric blanket
Walk-in shower
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Iron
Private bathrooms
Kitchenette
Dishwasher
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Electric kettle
Kitchenware
Radio
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
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
Mid-range
Ocean View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
20 Sir George Back Street, Opua 0200 New Zealand
Getting there
Car recommended
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: 47 out of 100
47
94 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.
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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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Detailed Reviews
This place is amazing with views to die for. We recently stayed at Crows Nest over Easter and the property is superb. The amenities are first rate, extremely clean and plenty of space to sit and admire the views. It was also a great location to explore the Bay of Islands from. Thanks for a great stay.
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Date of stay: April 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Cleanliness
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 GailThom, Manager at Crows Nest Villas
Responded 8 Jun 2019
Thank you for choosing to stay at Crows Nest Villas. Hosting you was a pleasure. So pleased that you had a great stay, would love to see you in the future if ever to come this way again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed in the villas on our recent holiday to NZ and they are lovely. Very clean with all the amenities you need. The balcony and views over the water & marina are nothing short of breathtaking. Our favourite spot after a day exploring the bay.
A welcome bottle of wine most appreciated.
Highly recommend dinner at the local Opua Yacht Club, very nice meal with a beautiful outlook.
Paihia is only a 5 minute drive. Oxley’s pub is a great spot to dine. A must visit is a quirky little eatery in a side lane called Third World Vending, great coffee, beautiful freshly made food, the vanilla slice is to die for. Run by a lovely friendly couple. Omata Estate Vineyard & Kitchen is also highly recommended, their grazing plate is amazing & delicious wood fired pizza. Take the ferry across to Russell it is a beautiful little town worth a visit.
We had the most memorable stay at The Bridge Deck - Crows Nest Villa in the beautiful Bay Of Islands.
A welcome bottle of wine most appreciated.
Highly recommend dinner at the local Opua Yacht Club, very nice meal with a beautiful outlook.
Paihia is only a 5 minute drive. Oxley’s pub is a great spot to dine. A must visit is a quirky little eatery in a side lane called Third World Vending, great coffee, beautiful freshly made food, the vanilla slice is to die for. Run by a lovely friendly couple. Omata Estate Vineyard & Kitchen is also highly recommended, their grazing plate is amazing & delicious wood fired pizza. Take the ferry across to Russell it is a beautiful little town worth a visit.
We had the most memorable stay at The Bridge Deck - Crows Nest Villa in the beautiful Bay Of Islands.
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Date of stay: January 2019Trip 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 GailThom, Manager at Crows Nest Villas
Responded 11 Jan 2019
Very pleased that these guests had a brilliant stay in the beautiful Bay of Islands. We have great many diverse activities which will cater to all tastes. It was a privilege to host these guests and look forward to seeing them again if ever they visit the Bay of Islands in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We booked six days at the Sails Villa - one of the two villas in Upua, Bay of Islands. Marj, the Manager, met us when we arrived in Upua on a horrid day of unseasonal torrential rain and took us through all the facilities which was very helpful. We were delighted with our first impassions and it got even better each day as we fully appreciated all that the villa and the locale had to offer. - so too did the weather. The villa is situated on the cliff top above Upua and hence the views from the deck are wonderful - we would sit there watching both sunrise and sunset sipping a glass of wine and watching the boats and the ferry move around the bay at a leisurely pace. The location is such that you do need to have a car - we had not fully appreciated this from the webite details but were fortunate to be able to book a car hire from Keri Keri airport in advance of our arrival (they appear to need at least two days notice). Having the car allowed us to take in many of the key sights around the Bay of Islands. Whilst there are some restaurants in Paihia 5 kilometres away, these were not all to our taste but the villa had everything required to cook your own meals and there were good supermarkets in both Paihia and Upua. A fantastic property, a great location and very highly recommended.
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Date of stay: September 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Arrange to hire a car at least two days before you arrive.
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.
Many years ago our family counted itself lucky to come across this gem of a hideaway in Opua. We absolutely loved the design features which were created to make you feel as though you were in a sailing vessel looking out onto the stunning Opua Harbour.
We marveled at the curved walls, the portholes for windows, the imaginative use of timber and blues of every hue, and a hundred other little decorative features which were clearly the product of a creative mind. But beyond that, the property itself was spotless and the reception was flawless - both crucial aspects of a quality stay.
This time around- what a disappointment! Most of the architectural specialties have been "refurbished" (not by an architect is clear to see), port holes have been "replaced", one of the fridges was not cooling, there were cobwebs in the corners, the linens badly needed a refresh.
And we could have dealt with all those things had the attitude been as warm and welcoming as our first, but sadly, this too had vanished under new management. Our queries were met with curt retorts, which we felt were unnecessary especially given the price we were paying- approx 400/night NZD. Prior to our time of departure our hostess just sat outside waiting with a surly expression for us to leave. Conversation does not seem to be a strong point.
Fortunately the view is still top notch and good weather meant we had a very lovely time in the BoI but we will not be returning to Crows Nest Villas. There are many properties nearby in similar price range that are outstanding in both presentation and service.
We marveled at the curved walls, the portholes for windows, the imaginative use of timber and blues of every hue, and a hundred other little decorative features which were clearly the product of a creative mind. But beyond that, the property itself was spotless and the reception was flawless - both crucial aspects of a quality stay.
This time around- what a disappointment! Most of the architectural specialties have been "refurbished" (not by an architect is clear to see), port holes have been "replaced", one of the fridges was not cooling, there were cobwebs in the corners, the linens badly needed a refresh.
And we could have dealt with all those things had the attitude been as warm and welcoming as our first, but sadly, this too had vanished under new management. Our queries were met with curt retorts, which we felt were unnecessary especially given the price we were paying- approx 400/night NZD. Prior to our time of departure our hostess just sat outside waiting with a surly expression for us to leave. Conversation does not seem to be a strong point.
Fortunately the view is still top notch and good weather meant we had a very lovely time in the BoI but we will not be returning to Crows Nest Villas. There are many properties nearby in similar price range that are outstanding in both presentation and service.
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Date of stay: December 2020
Rooms
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.
We stayed in the Sails Villa for three nights just before the Queen's Birthday weekend.
Originally, I considered some of the hotels / resorts in Paihia, but my wife suggested we stay at Crows Nest again because it would be much, much quieter. We needed a good rest, so it didn't take much to convince me and I booked the Sails Villa for us.
Our reception was very friendly and efficient. And the area, as always, was stunningly beautiful.
The villa was very well equipped and had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. There were even some fruit and a bottle of wine for us to enjoy.
The beds, which are apparently fairly new, were very comfortable and linens of excellent quality.
So ... friendliness, efficiency, convenience, AND stunning views. What more could you want?
Why, then, the average rating?
This is, perhaps, splitting hairs. But we felt there were just too many cobwebs throughout the house. My wife had been bitten by spiders on a few occasions in the past, so she becomes a bit "itchy" if there are spiders in the vicinity. The presence of cobwebs in various places inside the house was enough to make both of us feel slightly uncomfortable.
Other than that one point of criticism, the place was very good.
Originally, I considered some of the hotels / resorts in Paihia, but my wife suggested we stay at Crows Nest again because it would be much, much quieter. We needed a good rest, so it didn't take much to convince me and I booked the Sails Villa for us.
Our reception was very friendly and efficient. And the area, as always, was stunningly beautiful.
The villa was very well equipped and had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. There were even some fruit and a bottle of wine for us to enjoy.
The beds, which are apparently fairly new, were very comfortable and linens of excellent quality.
So ... friendliness, efficiency, convenience, AND stunning views. What more could you want?
Why, then, the average rating?
This is, perhaps, splitting hairs. But we felt there were just too many cobwebs throughout the house. My wife had been bitten by spiders on a few occasions in the past, so she becomes a bit "itchy" if there are spiders in the vicinity. The presence of cobwebs in various places inside the house was enough to make both of us feel slightly uncomfortable.
Other than that one point of criticism, the place was very good.
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Date of stay: May 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â This is not a hotel at all, it's a villa with two bedrooms, each with its own ensuite.
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.
This was a great start to a wonderful vacation in New Zealand. While we were at the Bay of Islands (February 21-24) the sun shone and we enjoyed perfect conditions for time on the deck of Bridge Deck Villa. We found the villa very comfortable, clean, there were basic groceries in the cupboard and Marj provided good advise to get us started. We unfortunately had a problem with biting insects because we had the windows open for fresh air. That aside we definitely recommend this lovely accommodation.
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Date of stay: February 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.
I thank my lucky stars I clicked on these villas in my search for the perfect (non-bank-breaking) accommodation in the Bay of Islands. They were not that easy to find because they are listed as located in Opua, although it is a five minute drive from all the Paihia action. Instead of being just the place to stay on the trip it became a highlight of the whole thing!
Imagine opening your eyes to the sun streaming through the huge nautically themed windows, going out onto the wooden deck before the kids wake up, wrapped up in a thick soft robe because it is still deliciously cool, the morning mist just curling away like smoke from the islands' peaks and hollows, savouring that 180 vista of dozens of pristine white yachts, sleepy fishing boats and the ferry purposefully chugging back and forth between Opua and the Russell harbour - all to an accompanying tui birdsong! You get the idea.....
Other than that we enjoyed the attention to detail. This is no afterthought of a property. From the rear porthole windows, to the underwater motif on the walk in shower glass wall, to the gentle curve of the interior space (a curved wall - now that's much more interesting), to the ocean blue, coral and seafoam green colour theme, the villa has been completed with comfort and enjoyment in mind which shows.
Kudos to the architect/s for the vision to perch these properties literally on the edge ...among all the native shrubbery which reaches right up to the windows ... and making it feel like absolutely everything was planned to be just that way- a crow's nest indeed.
Thanks Marj for the restaurant tip and for all your helpful advice on planning activities - you certainly have done this before!
Imagine opening your eyes to the sun streaming through the huge nautically themed windows, going out onto the wooden deck before the kids wake up, wrapped up in a thick soft robe because it is still deliciously cool, the morning mist just curling away like smoke from the islands' peaks and hollows, savouring that 180 vista of dozens of pristine white yachts, sleepy fishing boats and the ferry purposefully chugging back and forth between Opua and the Russell harbour - all to an accompanying tui birdsong! You get the idea.....
Other than that we enjoyed the attention to detail. This is no afterthought of a property. From the rear porthole windows, to the underwater motif on the walk in shower glass wall, to the gentle curve of the interior space (a curved wall - now that's much more interesting), to the ocean blue, coral and seafoam green colour theme, the villa has been completed with comfort and enjoyment in mind which shows.
Kudos to the architect/s for the vision to perch these properties literally on the edge ...among all the native shrubbery which reaches right up to the windows ... and making it feel like absolutely everything was planned to be just that way- a crow's nest indeed.
Thanks Marj for the restaurant tip and for all your helpful advice on planning activities - you certainly have done this before!
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Date of stay: April 2011Trip 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.
We stayed at Sails Villa for 2 weeks, had two lots of friends to stay and what a joy it all was. It was money so well spent Views were amazing day and night. Stars at night, sea glistening with loads of sailing boats bobbing up and down, ferries transporting cars to Rusell and the occasional helicopter landing on its lovely cruiser. The villa was fully equipped, so we cooked and stayed in, we barbecued and we just did nothing. Gail was so kind and it was like meeting a friend. Not the cheapest but in every aspect the best. Val and John Cambridge UK
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Date of stay: March 2016
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 GailThom, Manager at Crows Nest Villas
Responded 25 Feb 2018
Thank you for your feedback. The villa is well positioned with views that you cannot get tired of. We certainly try to make your stay with us as memorable possible.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at the Bridge Deck villa for 3 nights and totally loved it. Marj was very helpful with explaining how everything works in the villa and made us promise to call her up if we needed anything. The villa itself overlooks the Opua bay and I never got tired of seeing the car ferry shuttling people back and forth to Russell. It did rain a couple of times during our stay but since we only planned on vegging out anyway, it was perfect for us! We even got to see the "long white cloud" which was very memorable. The villa is less than ten mins from Paihia town center, where there are many restaurants and activities. Its also nice to just hang around with an ice cream.
Overall, we loved the stay here and if we ever do come back to this part of the world, we know where we will be staying. Thank you, Marj!
Overall, we loved the stay here and if we ever do come back to this part of the world, we know where we will be staying. Thank you, Marj!
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Date of stay: April 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Bridge Deck Villa. You get a more wider picture of the entire bay.
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.
We stayed here for a hol within the hol for my birthday treat and it was exactly as described on the website. It was a great place to stay to be away from the crowds of Paihia but close enough to get to easily.
The villa has a great view over Opua harbour just watching the sail boats come and go was just great to see and enjoy with a glass of wine.
There are a lot of great touches with a folder of all the treats to do and enjoy and resturants to visit. Marj the owner will only be to happy to help and answer your questions.
Taxis are not too expensive to get to Paihia but a car would definatly be helpful for day time activities.
The villa has a great view over Opua harbour just watching the sail boats come and go was just great to see and enjoy with a glass of wine.
There are a lot of great touches with a folder of all the treats to do and enjoy and resturants to visit. Marj the owner will only be to happy to help and answer your questions.
Taxis are not too expensive to get to Paihia but a car would definatly be helpful for day time activities.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2011Trip 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.
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"This is not a hotel at all, it's a villa with two bedrooms, each with its own ensuite."Read full review
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandNorthland RegionBay of IslandsOpua
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, 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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Frequently Asked Questions about Crows Nest Villas
Which popular attractions are close to Crows Nest Villas?
Nearby attractions include Pompallier Mission and Printery (5.3 km), Waitangi Treaty Grounds (5.9 km), and Flagstaff Hill (6.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Crows Nest Villas?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free parking, a golf course, and free internet access.
Which room amenities are available at Crows Nest Villas?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Crows Nest Villas?
Guests can enjoy complimentary tea and free instant coffee during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Crows Nest Villas?
Conveniently located restaurants include Third Wheel Coffee Co., Terra Restaurant, and Sage @ Paroa Bay Winery.
Is Crows Nest Villas located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.3 km away from the centre of Opua.
Are any cleaning services offered at Crows Nest Villas?
Yes, self serve laundry and a washing machine are offered to guests.
Does Crows Nest Villas have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.