Mt. Eden Accommodation

So during our mid-winter getaway, we split our time between four different sleep-spots. The first two were discussed here and here, the third was my sister's flat (but I'll spare her an accommodation review), and finally this very sweet little bookabach in Mt. Eden. We stayed here with some friends of ours, another little family of four, and it was the bestest! So comfortable, convenient and pretty.

This was such perfect, lovely and well-priced accommodation for our little group (it worked out at $100 per night per family), so for anyone planning a few nights in Auckland, here's another option for y'all to throw into the mix.

Included were: heaters, firewood, (huge) flat screen TV, DVD player, wifi, laundry, (real) coffee + chocolate  (I think you just won my heart), BBQ and a big basket of toys to keep our babies entertained. The rooms were cosy, with plenty of storage space for bags & clothing, and the kitchen was well equipped with every possible thing you might need. We were warm. We lounged.  We ordered in pizza. It. Was. Heaven.  

While we do have friends and relations to stay with in Auckland, it's still nice to know there are other options. In this instance we wanted to share our holiday with some of our fellow, country-bound pals. It felt a little risky picking one of the cheaper options, but it sure paid off!  

I intended to share this post months ago, but I didn't love the photos, so I delayed. However, hols are coming up soon, they have a few nights still available, and I thought some of you would appreciate a heads-up. Here's the link if you'd like to check them out. Happy-almost-school-holidays!

Nope, not an official review this time :-) Just a great place to stay, Auckland-side.

Bolaven cafe

*Sigh* Bolaveeeeeen.  This one was a regular treat for us these holidays.  With my sister managing there, and our final accommodation just around the corner, we ended up in and out of Bolaven a couple of times a day.  I was looking forward to visiting, based on all the amazing reviews it's been getting, and honestly it was even nicer than I pictured.

Bolaven has such a great, low-key vibe, with a restrained colour palette and simple, earthy decor.  This suited us perfectly as the kids never felt overwhelmed or out of place, making our visits all the more relaxing.  In fact, they spent a good amount of time playing under the huge communal table, leaving us free to do what we love best - drink coffee and catch up with our favourite peeps.

Most people visit Bolaven for the food, a beautiful menu filled with Laos-unfluenced items, and everything we tried was reeeally good, though I'm kicking myself that I didn't try the Pho :-(  I will say this, the coffee is epic!  During my first visit (a bloggy meet-up with some lovely peeps - and some of their cute babies) I went ahead and ordered two, and well, I think I may have found my coffee limit at this particular venue :-P  Crazy times, crazy times...

See you next time, Bolaven x

Wynyard Quarter

Wynyard Quarter has become a go-to holiday spot for our family.  We probably travel to Auckland about twice a year, and naturally we try to cram as much in as we can.  WQ has appeal both in terms of what it gives, and how little it takes.  There are so many pretty spots to rest in, and plenty of space to play (the playground is quite beautiful), and of course there is so much to take in, visually.  It's pretty spectacular.  

It's also free, and the parking (next to Silo Park) is accessible and cheap (and depending on the length of your stay - free).  So really, win-win.  The perfect place to stretch legs and catch a breath of salty air.

During this visit there were free outdoor activities (see above) and a pop-up book swap library.  So, so cool.

The Spencer on Byron

The Spencer on Byron is a hotel located near Takapuna Beach, Auckland.  The hotel is a grand high-rise, one of three that can be seen from the highway, and has an old-school glamour that immediately gives off a "I'm-staying-in-a-hotel-y'all" vibe, which for country-bunnies like us, is a little bit of a thrill. They bravely agreed to a Golden Adventures review, so my hooligans and I headed up the elevator to suss out just how family-friendly these guys are.  And just fyi, the best photos in this post were taken by clever Miss Rosa-May.

1. Breakfast of champs.  2. Investigation (heads up - it's a wall).  3. Toiletries.  

The Rooms:  Both in size and layout, the rooms at The Spencer exceeded expectations.  We had a two-room suite which was more like a small apartment.  This amount of space was a real bonus for us, especially as we had my sister staying too, and more space meant less crazy.  The master bedroom featured the hugest bed I have ever slept on.  SO comfy.  We also had surround views and heaps of wardrobe space. 

Between the rooms was a spacious lounge which easily fit a rollaway bed, and a fully equipped kitchen and laundry.  It's probably not the done thing to get super excited about a laundry when you're staying in a hotel, but after storms and power-cuts and fair bit of traveling, boy oh boy.  It felt like luxury.  It also proved immeasurably helpful to have our own kitchen, kitted out with every kitchen utensil and appliance we needed.  

Probably the most appealing aspect of these rooms were the views.  I actually opted for a lower level apartment, despite being offered one on the 16th floor.  I have an aversion to heights, but these rooms were situated at just the perfect level of non-panic-inducing elevation, while still retaining that amazing view of Auckland.  I have to admit that we decided against the curtains in the evening, because I do love a nighttime cityscape.

Decor-wise these rooms featured dark carpet, light walls and heavy wooden furniture.  The decor neither added nor detracted and I think it would suitably serve both families as well as corporate guests. All items were in very tidy condition, but nothing felt overly precious.  If you're the parent of little people, I think you're hearing me on that last count.  I will also add that in my opinion, white tiled bathrooms scream luxury.  We *may* have made ourselves a huuuuuuge bubble bath.  Heaven.

1. That view.  2. Hotel lobby.  3. Climbable furniture.  4. Breakfast buffet.  5. Shiny white bathroom, post bubble bath.  6. Dusk.  7. Frosty morning.

The Facilities: This hotel stay turned into a bit of a working holiday for Rosa-May and I (but seriously, what nicer workspace can a girl have?), so we didn't get a chance to try out all The Spencer Hotel facilities.  We did go and take a look around though, and aside from anything, I would love to return to The Spencer purely to use that tennis court, because WOW!  Especially on our final morning, when it was shrouded in mist.  So amazing.

The gym, which I'd hoped to visit, was very well equipped and they even have personal trainers available for guests.  But of course if there's one facility we won't miss out on it's the pool, and this one was a beauty.  I actually don't know that I've ever swum in a rooftop pool (it was around about parallel to our level 3 suite).  They had a cooler pool for lengths, but we stuck to the warm one and stayed in long enough for the skies to clear and a rainbow to appear.

1. Baby girl, dreaming.  2. Restaurant chandeliers.  3. The library.  4. Thyme Restaurant.  5. Breakfast buffet.  6. Furnishings.  7. Argh!!!  Gigantic tea-cup!!  Be still my beating heart...  8. Contemplative.

The Food: We dined at the Thyme Restaurant for breakfast both mornings of our stay.  The restaurant definitely didn't have that buffet/cafeteria feel, despite it being a buffet meal.  The decor was elegant and classic, though it was relaxed and friendly enough to suit small children.  There was a good selection of breakfast foods, with an emphasis on quality over quantity.  Our kids graduated from weet-bix to Nutra-Grain, while we opted for Bircher muesli and Zan's usual choice of big breakfast.  The food tasted good, and the environment was really lovely.

1. Holiday reading!  2. Thyme Restaurant.  3. Little and Friday cafe.  4. The library.  5. Tennis court.  6. Little and Friday cafe.

The Service: The staff at The Spencer on Byron were super polite, friendly and helpful.  Mostly they just let us do our thing in peace and quiet, making our stay feel very private and undisturbed. Really, the only time we had much interaction with staff was when our room was made up.  I instinctively veer away from the idea of my rooms being serviced, but under duress/peer pressure I gave it a go, and um wow.  That was amazing.  All evidence of crumbs and crumpled sheets, vanished, and without me lifting a finger #fistpump #letsdothatagain.

1. The view.  2. Sister time (this one's for Mama).  3. This girl melts me.  4. The view.  5. Tennis court.  6. Pool.  7. Coffee at Little and Friday.  8. Second bedroom.  9. The view.  10. Pool.  

For Families:  While The Spencer on Byron is perfectly geared towards corporate guests, it really catered well to our little family.  The sense of privacy meant that we could totally relax and make the apartment our home, without worrying that we were disturbing anybody.  There was so much space, we could have stayed there much longer without getting sick of each other!  And the facilities in the suite: fully equipped kitchen(s), two bathrooms and a washing machine and drier, made such a difference to a travel-weary family.  Our kids were made to feel very welcome in the dining area, and of course having a heated swimming pool handy provided that extra special element to our winter stay.

1. Little and Friday.  2. Pool.  3. The view.  4. Fluffies at Little and Friday.  5. The view.  6. Juice bar.  7. Counting her pocket money.  8. Little and Friday.  9. Moody morning.  

Overall we had a really comfortable stay at The Spencer On Byron Hotel.  Our highlights included the beautiful, constantly changing view, our rooftop swim, and dining in the lovely Thyme Restaurant (and shhh, just quietly, using the drier).  We were also situated super close to the now-famous Little and Friday cafe.  I'm pretty sure I'm the last person in New Zealand to visit there, but it was worth the wait! Also handy is the beautiful Takapuna Beach, and the Sunday Flea Markets which are amazingly still running!  Takapuna is a really nice shopping area too, and just around the corner is Devonport, with a whole host of lovely things to discover.  Boom!  Everything!

The Spencer on Byron Hotel offered us complimentary rooms and meals in return for this review.  All opinions expressed are totally my own :-)