群島灣假日公寓及房車公園

Disappointed in the lack of communication after our ute broke down with a serious engine fault the day we left and we were unable to make our booking as we could not tow the caravan 8 hours with no vehicle. We notified them immediately, the day before we were due to check in. I understand losing the deposit and that the terms say full payment will be taken, however there is such a thing as goodwill under the circumstances.

The actual camper van site was OK with the normal holiday park amenities, but we were disappointed by the exceedingly loud road noise with no sound breaks from the very busy adjacent highway and with the lack of cleanliness of the shower areas (e.g., the pull-down seat in the larger shower units were covered in black mold...yuck); the grilling area is lovely but the grills were so dirty with long-built-up grime that we decided against using them. It seems like these are easy things to fix, but it would deter us from returning unless there were no other options in the area.

We really valued our stay at BoI Apartments. From the start Jan was helpful and took great initiative to ensure that our trip would work as planned. We were doing a combination of boating and cycling the Twin Coast with three kids so we had a lot of gear and a lot of questions. The family apartment we had was spacious upstairs, and had the amenities we needed. The downstairs was fine for our kids, it’s a small room with three single beds but we were prepared to be sharing one large space so it was a bonus for us. Being amongst the trees is fab and we used the bbq and the balcony. Bonus that Woolworths is across the road. We are hoping to stay again in the future.

We rang Jan direct and received a better deal than had we booked online. From the very first contact, Jan was helpful, friendly and a wonderful host. The apartments support eco ideals so are set amongst the trees and each unit cannot really see the other units which is peaceful. The park is a 900m walk to town and the wharf, mostly along the ocean front, (should you want to leave the car at home) and a Countdown (Woolworths) is conveniently two mins walk away plus a large service station selling fuel, essentials plus a mechanical workshop. The apartment has been renovated tastefully and for two people is large, roomy and well stocked with all utensils you need to cook, prepare and eat at home. We were very happy to have good sized coffee mugs unlike the last few places we have stayed! The bed is huge, very comfortable and the bathroom is spacious, renovated: great shower. Comfy two seater lounge but also a window seat that you can stretch out on and look at the lovely trees outside your window. A washing machine and dryer for exclusive use of the five apartments is situated near the office. A deck, bbq and outdoor setting that could be used inside for dining complete the package. We felt it was very good value, having stayed in Hotels for the past 2.5 weeks and it measured up extremely well for price and has been the best for host service. The apartments are advertised as not serviced daily but we were pleasantly surprised to have fresh towels and a clean when we came back after our second day sightseeing. We were so happy here we booked a further night and it was a great base to explore all that this area has to offer. We wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again and recommend it highly.

Staying in a camper van, this was probably the worst of the 16 sites we stayed at in New Zealand. The facilities were very limited, with showers charged extra. There were only three standard toilets and two disabled ones for a site of so many pitches. Two standard showers and two disabled ones were again not really sufficient for so many pitches. The toilets were not clean and had been constructed of bare wood that was now showing signs of rot setting in. The catering facilities consisted of two barbecues which we were told didn't work properly and three sinks in the open air. It is convenient being about a 10-minute walk into town, but that was its only benefit.

What a lovely site and such a lovely owner. I would highly recommend this site to people who want a no fuss, quiet site with the very best access to the beach and the town. Our host booked out boat tour for us and we received a discount because of that. I love the eco credentials of this site. The facilities are cleaned 4 times a day and are very clean. The pitches are grassy and very even. We are from the UK and were made to feel very welcome indeed. This site is an absolute must but don't tell too many people as we want some room for the next time we come back.