Auckland's Waitakere Estate

Nice staycation over here

I booked a last-minute stay here for my birthday and was looking forward to treating myself to a relaxing night away. The standout of my stay was the gentleman at reception. He was incredibly kind and accommodating. I had originally booked a package that included a set dinner menu and continental breakfast, but asked whether the value could instead be applied towards my room, with the remaining balance used as food and beverage credit. He was happy to arrange this and also kindly placed me in a room with a better view, which I really appreciated. The location itself is beautiful. The views are stunning, the setting is peaceful, and it feels like a true escape from the city. Unfortunately, the dining experience was rather disappointing. I ordered the fish of the day ($41 NZD), which was rather over cooked, only slightly warm, and the meal was much smaller than expected. The menu also described it as being served with a creamy risotto, however there was very little evidence of that on the plate. For dessert, I ordered the coulant au chocolat tarte ($19 NZD). It looked quite different from the photos advertised and, unfortunately, didn’t deliver the quality or flavour as described in the menu. The following morning, I ordered a cheese and mushroom omelette ($22NZD) for breakfast. It arrived with a small slice of bread and no butter, which felt underwhelming. The accommodation, views, and service from reception were the highlights of the stay. What’s disappointing is that the food didn’t reflect the quality of the location. When you’re staying at a resort and spa especially to celebrate a special occasion, you naturally expect the dining experience to be one of the highlights of your stay too.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our recent stay at Waitakere Resort & Spa was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. The location is breathtaking, surrounded by beautiful native bush with stunning views that create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. The staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive, making us feel valued throughout our stay. Our room was spotless, spacious, and very comfortable, with everything we needed for a perfect getaway. The food was delicious, and the facilities were excellent. We especially loved the tranquillity of the resort and the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Every aspect of our stay exceeded our expectations. We left feeling refreshed, relaxed, and already planning our next visit. We highly recommend Waitakere Resort & Spa to anyone looking for a memorable and relaxing retreat. Thank you to the entire team for such a wonderful experience!

Visited for lunch. Lovely food with spectecular views.

Celebrated friends and mine birthdays there, in February this year, had the Deluxe high tea with a glass of bubbles,, well we made a booking in advance, still had to wait like an hour for the high tea to show up on our table, party of only 4 people which wasn't good, then seeing another table came after us and their High tea was served before us?! Poor customer service, and couple of bite sized items were cut in half.. looked like they ran out of some snacks?? It's a shame because its a beautiful venue with beautiful views but that's about it.

We had a spa day and went for lunch. The location is stunning with a very pretty walk. The sauna and pool was very nice. The food was ok- the sauce on the carbonara was nice however there was a pesto drizzle which was unexpected and overpowered the rest of the dish.