The Sands

Hotels
8.7 (470 reviews)
623 Rocks Road , Nelson , nz

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Invoice provided
ATM/banking
Free wired internet
Golfing on site
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly staff
Spacious units
Awesome views
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Noisy environment
Uncomfortable bed

Categories

Cleanliness
7.91
Room was not clean with unpleasant smell and the absence of provided toiletries was disappointing.
Service
9.38
Friendly staff and generally positive interactions with hotel personnel.
Location
9.42
Great proximity to the beach and stunning views.
Room Quality
7.37
Some discomfort mentioned regarding the bed and outdated amenities.
Amenities
8.9
Well-equipped apartments with good facilities, though some furniture was dated.
Value for Money
8.86
Prices were justified by the location and amenities, despite some negatives.
Food and Beverage
8.91
Standard quality for this hotel tier.
Overall Experience
8.88
Overall enjoyable stay with a few minor issues, but excellent location and service.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-16 02:30

Property Description

Luxurious Apartments in Scenic Tahunanui Area

Panoramic Views and Modern Amenities
Enjoy private balconies with stunning Tasman Sea views. Each apartment is well-equipped with a flat-screen TV, washing machine, and kitchen facilities including a dishwasher and microwave.

Convenient Location and Easy Access
Just a 5-minute walk to Tahunanui Beach, cafes, and restaurants. Explore the Tasman Region with ease - only a short drive to Nelson city centre, Richmond, vineyards, and the Abel Tasman National Park.

Free Parking and Nearby Attractions
Benefit from free private parking and discover nearby golf courses and shopping options. Book your stay at The Sands Nelson for a perfect blend of luxury and convenience.

Important information:

This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 4 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for NZD 40 per person per stay when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 0 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for NZD 40 per person per stay when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.7
Based on 470 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.91
Service: 9.38
Location: 9.42
Room Quality: 7.37
Amenities: 8.9
Value for Money: 8.86
Food and Beverage: 8.91
Overall Experience: 8.88
P
Philip • couple • us
4
This is a do not stay due to filth and trip hazards in the lose floor in bathrooms.
Pros:

Location was great.

Cons:

This place is aged and the maintenance has been deferred. There are also serious issues with the cleanliness. The 2 bedroom apartment was filthy!

2026-04-21 • via Nuitee
R
Rutchelle • couple • nz
10
Very comfortable stay for even just 3 days
Pros:

Very spacious room, close to the activities! Go carts, mini golf, beach, trampoline park etc.

Cons:

for an apartment complex its pretty decent!

2026-04-19 • via Nuitee
C
Clare • extended_group • nz
9
2026-04-10 • via Nuitee
H
Herman • extended_group • nz
7
Pros:

Good view, location

Cons:

Certain things in the unit not functional, tons of storage space but no shelves, no curtain at bathroom window.

2026-04-10 • via Nuitee
J
JODIE • family_with_children • nz
8
Pros:

Good location to beach and resturants/take aways near by

Cons:

Internet didn't work for most of stay.

2026-04-10 • via Nuitee
W
Wayne • family_with_children • gb
10
Another Great Stay
Pros:

3rd stay. Consistent standards. Great location, with bus routes nearby, restaurant/bar underneath, together with coffee shop in same building. Our apartment was a good size, with a balcony overlooking the beach.

2026-04-10 • via Nuitee
M
Michelle • couple • nz
8
Good location
Pros:

Great location , kitchen facilities and outside deck with a view.

Cons:

Room with no windows to outside view (back onto carpark building)
Wind tunnels through the corridor/buildings and whistles under the door so a bit noisy.

2026-04-08 • via Nuitee
J
Jordan • family_with_children • nz
9
It far exceeded expectations
Pros:

Lots of storage. Two bathrooms..

Cons:

Second bathroom needs more privacy on external window. No curtain or frosting on window.

2026-04-07 • via Nuitee
S
Sam • couple • nz
8
Super-comfortable and a great location. A bit of road noise to consider and balconies not private
Pros:

Lovely spacious apartment. Very comfortable and good facilities. An issue with the toilet was sorted very professionally - impressive considering it was Easter Sunday.
Great location for beach lovers.

Cons:

Road noise was quite high and car wash across the road was noisy.
Balconies were spaciouis but not very private.

2026-04-07 • via Nuitee
C
Claire • couple • gb
7
Very enjoyable stay over the Easter holidays.
Pros:

Great location and nice apartment, with a good coffee shop and pub on site.

Cons:

The chairs on the balcony were mostly broken and we had difficulty with the door lock, but everything else was fine.

2026-04-06 • via Nuitee
W
Wendy • couple • nz
6
Pros:

Location to the beach was great

Cons:

The traffic noise
Kitchen cooking supplies was lacking
Noises behind the bedroom every morning

2026-04-02 • via Nuitee
C
Carmel And Craig • solo_traveller • nz
9
We really loved staying here
Pros:

We loved the location, the view, the clean linen. The range of facilities in unit,the spacious feel, the secure parking, cooking facilities.The large balcony. It was a great stay

Cons:

Each unit is individually owned so varies in standard, ours was good, but some maintenance required, a little tired but nothing that spoilt our great stay.

2026-04-02 • via Nuitee
S
Sean • couple • au
4
Pros:

Close to park. Ocean view

Cons:

Very rude reception. We had requested in writing 2 beds. 4 months ago. Says did not get message. Showed him printed proof. Blunt Denial. No apology. Booked out can't do anything. Not good enough. Would like to give 0 stars

2026-04-01 • via Nuitee
B
Barbara • couple • gb
7
A great stay, very relaxing.
Pros:

The reception staff were very welcoming. Most helpful.
The apartment was large and well equipped.
Convenient for beach

Cons:

A few instructions would have been useful. Couldn’t find any for dishwasher and couldn’t get it to work.
Honestly that’s the only thing.

2026-03-31 • via Nuitee
C
Carole • couple • nc
8
2026-03-30 • via Nuitee
L
Leeanne • solo_traveller • nz
7
Pros:

Great location, well equipped kitchen, washing machine, dryer was handy. Safe and secure car park and I lovely view

Cons:

Carpets are filthy, shower leaks over the bathroom floor, rooms are not serviced and it is not advertised, I had to wash and dry towels due to needing them to shower and mop up the floor. Bed is very uncomfortable and the bedding is to small so it doesn't cover properly. Plug doesnt hold water in the sink, door to deck is very difficult to lock. For almost $300 per night I expected better

2026-03-29 • via Nuitee
N
Natasha • extended_group • nz
8
Brilliant for a weekend in Nelson
Pros:

Fantastic location across the road from the beach. Great deck out the front.

2026-03-29 • via Nuitee
D
Dhinakar • couple • au
8
Cosy, convenient and affordable, in a well located part of Nelson.
Pros:

Beautiful Location with great views of the beach. Very pleasant to watch the sunset from the balcony, good and allocated car parking slots. Well furnished and equipped kitchen. Clean and fresh linens. Spacious bedrooms and living areas. Well maintained ensuite and bathrooms. Easy check in and check out. Neville the property manager was helpful and available for any troubleshooting or queries.

Cons:

The Aircon was playing up a bit, had to switch on and off the main switch which was next to the unit in the balcony, to get the right ambient temperature. The interiors can get very warm on a sunny day and if the aircon is not getting you the right cool temperature then it can be uncomfortable..

2026-03-29 • via Nuitee
W
Wayne • couple • nz
8
2026-03-28 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • couple • nz
6
2026-03-24 • via Nuitee