Distinction Whangarei Hotel & Conference Centre

Hotels
7.7 (1737 reviews)
9 Riverside Drive , Whangarei , nz
+64 9 430 4080

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Convenient location
Cons:
Issues with room temperature
Amenities not fully functional

Categories

Cleanliness
6.94
Some rooms were tidy, but there were mentions of facilities being dated and cleanliness issues with carpets.
Service
8.91
Consistently praised across multiple reviews for friendly and efficient staff.
Location
8.45
Various reviews mention convenient and central location, making it easy to access local attractions.
Room Quality
7.4
Rooms were reported as modern and comfortable, but some were too hot and had issues like cramped bathrooms.
Amenities
6.93
Mention of cold pools and spa not functioning well, though some amenities were appreciated.
Value for Money
7.39
Comments on pricing suggest it might be a bit high for some rooms, impacting perceived value.
Food and Beverage
7.94
Positive experiences with meals, though some mention that dinner quality could improve.
Overall Experience
7.61
Overall enjoyment was indicated in multiple reviews, despite some noted drawbacks.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 20:32

Property Description

Luxurious Amenities
Indulge in the indoor pool, fitness centre, and hot tub for a relaxing stay at Distinction Hotel Whangarei.

Convenient Location
Situated opposite Hatea River, our hotel is a short walk from Town Basin Marina and Claphams Clock Museum, offering easy access to nearby attractions.

Entertainment Options
Unwind in our shared games room with billiards or explore the variety of shops and cafes nearby. PAK'nSAVE and Serenity Café are just a stone's throw away.

Book your stay now at Distinction Hotel Whangarei for a perfect blend of comfort and convenience.

Important information:

Please note that all credit card transactions incur the following processing fees: 2%Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: WRE

Location

Guest Reviews

7.7
Based on 1737 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.94
Service: 8.91
Location: 8.45
Room Quality: 7.4
Amenities: 6.93
Value for Money: 7.39
Food and Beverage: 7.94
Overall Experience: 7.61
D
Danica • couple • nz
8
Lovely friendly staff, large spacious room. Comfy bed and pillows.
Pros:

Central to Whangarei and our event. Spacious room and good value for money

Cons:

Little bit of road noise but less than I expected. Spa bath did not work

2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
G
Geoff • couple • nz
7
Excellent personal service from Holleh and Paige both nights of our stay in the dining room
Pros:

Location was great for as for walking the pier

Cons:

Wallpaper in the entry hall was patched and lifting . The hall carpets looked like they had gone past there use by date. Suite carpets great.

2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
J
Juanita • couple • nz
7
2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
K
Katana • family_with_children • nz
9
2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
K
Katana • solo_traveller • nz
9
2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
D
David • solo_traveller • nz
6
Apart from the Gym which is being neglected by you, the hotel is acceptable value for money
Pros:

The brick fist was of acceptable quality at an acceptable price for a hotel.
The rooms are of a reasonable size and clean although very tired.
The staff are always pleasant and helpful.

Cons:

It is high time more attention was paid to your Gym – a facility appreciated by an important minority of your customers.
Specifically:
On two occasions last week, there were no clean towels available for Gym users. It is not the first time I’ve struck this problem. This is inexcusable from a hygiene perspective.
Secondly, the cross trainer is badly in need of a decent service. It creaks noisily when used.
Thirdly,the treadmill closest to the door either needs a proper service or replacement. It is very noisy when used – there is clearly something wrong with it. It has been this way for a long time.

2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
S
Sara • solo_traveller • nz
7
Perfect location and standard for a work trip with no hassel
Pros:

Spacious room with nice view out to marina

Cons:

could have had more milk in fridge

2026-08-09 • via Nuitee
K
Kirstin • couple • nz
8
Good stay in Whangarei
Pros:

Ideal for an overnight getaway. On-site restaurant is a bonus and the spa and swimming pool give a point of difference to other motels.

Cons:

Tiny shower was cramped but at least the water pressure was good.
Sound proofing is not good so we were very pleased we didn't have noisy neighbors!

2026-08-09 • via Nuitee
J
Jeannie • couple • nz
10
2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
T
Torina • family_with_children • nz
7
2026-08-07 • via Nuitee
S
stephen • solo_traveller • nz
5
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Interior old ,tired and smelly. Certainly not a 4 star complex. Needs up grading. Rooms clean and tidy. Restaurant food tasteless

2026-08-07 • via Nuitee
J
Justin • couple • nz
7
Room was comfortable enough and walking distance to where we needed to go.
Pros:

The room was big enough and had the balcony as requested. Bed was comfortable and shower was good.

Cons:

The building and room was dated. Cooridor felt like a dorm or camp. It was a cold day and the a/c was set on 18. Took ages to heat the room and the heater seemed to only have one temperature and speed. We had to stream from our devices and volume was quite low on some and had max volume.

2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
A
Annika • family_with_children • nz
7
Great stay with kids, good location .good breakfast
Pros:

Things are getting pretty dated , stained carperts, pool area is pretty dirty.food was great but very understaffed, waited for ages for our desert and drinks but the waitress tried her best to accomodate an almost full restaurant mostly by herself

Cons:

It should be cleaner !

2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
E
Ella • family_with_children • nz
10
Pros:

The buffet breakfast was delicious

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • solo_traveller • nz
9
Pros:

Access to pool and spa

Cons:

Food was great, service was gr8. Room was clean a d tidy.

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
W
Wes • couple • au
1
Cons:

The shower didn’t work. Fell to pieces and they were not able to fix nor did I get a refund

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
R
Rewha • solo_traveller • nz
8
Pros:

Close to CBD all within walking distance and convenient for what we wanted.

Cons:

N/A

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
E
Emma • extended_group • nz
8
2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
N
Neville • solo_traveller • nz
10
Pros:

I liked the way this property was open for check-in til 12am or we would not have had a bed for the night... loved it👍
And fantastic service and assistance as we were in an emergency at local hospital and staff was very welcoming to us...champions🏆🏆🏆

Cons:

Nothing!!

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
D
Duncan • solo_traveller • nz
4
Pros:

Food was very good,

Cons:

Hotel is very outdated, rooms very noisy from rooms upstairs.

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee