This is a beautiful lodge, the attention to detail is noticeable, everything has been thought of. Pip and Andy are fantastic hosts, the breakfast each morning was excellent, a very nice vibe.
Excellent B&B in Waiheke
We’ve been traveling for 4 weeks in NZ, and the Waterfront Lodge was the best accommodation of our trip. The hosts (Pip and Andy) were extremely helpful and friendly. The ocean view was incredible as were the gourmet breakfasts prepared by Pip. The room and bath were very spacious and well laid outThey even drove us from and to the ferry marina.
Just great!!
Date of experience: 17 March, 2026
This property is listed as a lodge, and the views are lovely, but my experience was overshadowed by the owner’s awful behavior. We booked two rooms for 3 nights for a family of 4. This was supposed to be the tail end of our wonderful trip to New Zealand.
On our first night, we returned from dinner about 8:45 pm and decided to all sit in the living room/lounge area to continue enjoying each other's company and the place. It was very cold (see the picture of the actual weather that evening), so we looked around and turned on the floor heating and the fireplace. There were no signs to do so anywhere. Three of us went to bed about 9:30 pm, and my sister stayed up to finish a chapter in her book before going to bed.
At 9:55 pm, the owner (Pip) came by and then told her she was turning off the fireplace and floor heating. She then berated her for being disrespectful and turning these on. My sister was caught off guard and apologized (6 times, the owner later told me when I spoke to her about how my sister was treated). The owner told her that there was a gas shortage. My sister told her that she was unaware since we live out of the country. Either way, she stood looking at my sister with her hand on her hip while my sister teared up as she continued to profusely apologize. Only after this did it become clear to that this was also the owner’s personal home (who live upstairs) and that guests were expected to treat it that way.
There is also a small window in the corner of the 2nd floor that looks down into the lounge living room from the upstairs living area. Because the property was listed as a lodge, I felt this was not made clear before booking. If I had understood that we were renting rooms inside the owner’s home, I would not have chosen to stay here.
Because of this unkind confrontation, we were asked to leave early and requested a refund for the remaining two nights. We were told a refund would only be given if the rooms were rebooked. I did not find that to be a fair or practical solution, given that we had booked two rooms. We were also afraid of being berated for committing a faux pas and using anything else, like the hot tub or other amenities, because of what occurred, so we would stay in our rooms after we got back from day trips on the island.
The owner also said she would apologize to my sister, but didn't. The website promises tranquil comfort and warm hospitality. But if you are cold and want to be in the common area, dress very warmly or stay in your room. According to the owner, the fireplace is just for display, and she said she should tear it out to prevent future incidents. I suggest she tear out the unkindness from her cold heart.
For the price, I did not feel this stay was worth it. In my opinion, the property is beautiful, but that did not make up for what I experienced as poor communication, a misleading setup, and dismissive, abusive treatment of guests. I would not recommend staying here.
*** Update - March 13th
Pip, your response confirms our family's experience. You did not apologize to the person you mistreated in person as you said you would. Sending me an email after we had already spoken about your treatment of her does not count as an apology.
The only bizarre thing here is that you told me you did not care if we wrote a review about our stay, yet here you are. It is clear you are not used to guests pushing back and holding you accountable for your behavior. The world does not need any more mean or rude people, especially in a field centered on hospitality.
I stand by my review. I would not recommend this place. I want guests to know they are renting a room in someone’s personal home, and to be aware of the treatment we received.
I hope this helps other guests.
Sorry Saray, but as we have already said it was not our intention to upset your sister.
Your reactions at the time and your review really do seem quite bizarre.
MrsVilleana2026.03.13
Verified
Terrible experience
We did a lot of research because we wanted to visit during the best weather so we came during summer. We arrived on 3/3 and departed on 3/6, on the first night there was a cold spell. We looked at the weather app and it said it was 12° outside, but it said that it was more like 2° because it was very windy. We were in the living room area and it was very cold. I even had a wool sweater on. We turned on the floor heating and wall fireplace. Nowhere were instructions not to turn anything on. In fact, the switches to both had the names of them. I was reading a book when the owner, Pip passed by and told me she was turning off the fireplace. She looked mad and told me in a mean tone that I was being disrespectful to those that lived there and to the other guests. It caught me off guard and I apologized several times. She got closer and then proceeded to tell me about the gas shortage on the island and that if I was cold, I should’ve told her. We didn’t even know she lived on site. Second, we’re adults. Who asks permission to turn on the heat, especially when you’re paying top dollar for a room? I apologized again and again. I hung my head and put my hands up to my face. I went to the room upset. I couldn’t sleep and neither did my sister. The rest of the stay was very uncomfortable for all 4 that stayed in 2 rooms. She could have used kind words and tone and achieved a better outcome and not ruined our stay or had this negative review. Do Not Recommend.
Misleading and uncomfortable stay
We stayed here from March 3rd to 6th, booking two rooms for a family trip and to celebrate my birthday on March 5th. The property itself is beautiful, with spacious rooms and lovely views, but the experience was completely ruined by the owner’s behavior.
One of my biggest issues is that this property is presented on the website like a hotel or lodge, but that is not how it felt in reality. During the incident, Pip, the owner, made it clear that this was her home and that guests were expected to treat it as such. We also saw two dogs on the second-floor balcony, which further confirmed that the owners live on site. Guests are essentially renting rooms inside the owner’s personal home, and that was not made clear before booking. Had I known that upfront, I never would have stayed here, no matter how luxurious it looked.
On the first night, we returned from dinner and sat in the shared lounge area since we had booked separate rooms. It was cold, so we turned on the fire pit and floor heater. There were no signs, written instructions, or communication telling guests not to use them. Later, Pip said there was an electricity shortage and that nothing should have been turned on. Had that been clearly communicated, we never would have used anything. The issue was not the rule itself, but the complete lack of communication and the way it was handled.
My sister stayed behind to finish reading and planned to turn everything off before returning to her room. Instead of addressing the situation politely, Pip came out and aggressively berated her, telling her she needed to respect other people’s things and home. My sister apologized repeatedly, but Pip kept going. She came back to the room extremely upset and shaken. It felt hostile and like outright bullying, and from the way she handled guests, it gave the impression that this is behavior she has gotten away with before.
My sister also observed Pip being rude and dismissive to two other guests during our stay when they were excited about seeing the lunar eclipse, which made it seem like this was not a one-time incident.
That same night, we emailed asking for a refund for the remaining two nights so we could leave and stay elsewhere. Pip said she would only refund us if the rooms were rebooked. I explained that this was unrealistic because we had booked two rooms, and if only one room was rebooked, we would still be left paying for the other. We were simply asking for a fair solution so we could move on and enjoy the rest of our trip. At that point, I honestly do not understand why she would not just refund us and let us be on our way.
Pip also said she would personally apologize to my sister, but she never did. Instead, she avoided us for the rest of the stay. The final email exchange only happened after I confronted her and she backed down. Even then, the apology was nowhere close to sincere and was not directed to my sister the way Pip said it would be.
The biggest issues were the misleading website listing and Pip’s hostile, dismissive, and unprofessional treatment of paying guests. For the price, this stay was absolutely not worth it. A beautiful property does not make up for being treated so poorly.
I wanted to post the video from our conversation as well, but the website does not allow video uploads. I have attached pictures instead, including the lounge area, fire pit, and floor heater, which show there was no signage or warning that guests were not allowed to use them. I also attached our email exchange. Pip states that she does not care if we leave a bad review.
This review is meant to help future guests better understand the type of accommodation they are booking and what they can expect from their stay. The website should also clearly state that the owner lives on site, so guests have a more accurate understanding of the accommodation before booking. I also hope the owner learns from this feedback and improves the experience for future guests.
I would not recommend staying here.
Date of experience: 03 March, 2026
Misleading and terrible owner
This property is listed as a lodge, and the views are lovely, but my experience was overshadowed by the owner’s awful behavior. We booked two rooms for 3 nights for a family of 4. This was supposed to be the tail end of our wonderful trip to New Zealand. On our first night, we returned from dinner about 8:45 pm and decided to all sit down in the living room/lounge area to continue to enjoy each other's company and the place. It was very cold, (see picture of actual weather that evening) so we looked around and turned on the floor heating and fireplace. There were no signs not to do so any where. Three of us went to bed about 9:30 pm and my sister stayed up to finish a chapter in her book before going to bed. At 9:55 pm, the owner (Pip) came by and then told her she was turning off the fireplace and floor heating. She then berated her for being disrespectful and turning these on. My sister was caught off guard and apologized (6 times the owner later told me when I spoke to her about how my sister was treated) The owner told her that there was a gas shortage. My sister told her that she was unaware since we live out of the country. Either way, she stood looking at my sister with her hand on her hip while my sister teared up as she continue to profusely apologize. Only after this did it become clear to that this was also the owner’s personal home (who live upstairs) and that guests were expected to treat it that way. There is also a small window at the corner of the 2nd floor that looks down at the lounge living room area from the upstairs living area. Because the property was listed as a lodge, I felt this was not made clear before booking. If I had understood that we were renting rooms inside the owner’s home, I would not have chosen to stay here. Because of this unkind confrontation, we asked to leave early and requested a refund for the remaining two nights. We were told a refund would only be given if the rooms were rebooked. I did not find that to be a fair or practical solution given that we had booked two rooms. We were also afraid of being berated for committing a faux paux and using anything else like the hot tub or other amenities because of what occurred so we would stay in our rooms after we got back from day trips on the island. The owner also said she would apologize to my sister, but didn't. The website promises tranquil comfort and warm hospitality. But if you are cold and want to be in the common area, dress very warm or stay in your room. According to the owner, the fireplace is just for display and she said she should tear it out to prevent future incidents. I suggest she tear out the unkindness from her cold heart. For the price, I did not feel this stay was worth it. In my opinion, the property is beautiful, but that did not make up for what I experienced as poor communication, a misleading setup, and dismissive, abusive treatment of guests. I would not recommend staying here.
Sorry Saray, but as we have already said it was not our intention to upset your sister.Your reaction at the time and your review do seem bizzare.
Lexi Kirkey2026.03.09
Our two night stay at the Waiheke Waterfront Lodge was more than we could have asked for! We loved walking around the neighborhood to enjoy the views as well as the short walk into town for dinner. Pip & Andy were great hosts and breakfast was incredible each morning. We would recommend to anyone.
Thanks for the review, and so pleased you enjoy our lodge, it's location, and what we offer.
All the best
Pip & Andy
Ted Targosz2026.03.08
We spent 4 lovely days at Waiheke Waterfront Lodge and it exceeded all our expectations. Pip and Andy were superb hosts. The accommodations are luxurious and the breakfasts are so delicious! It made a first visit to Waiheke Island a memory that will last a lifetime.. We recommend Waiheke Waterfront Lodge very highly if you are looking to visit Waiheke. Pip also arranged a fantastic wine tour & lunch package for us which is also highly recommended
Thanks for your review, so pleased you enjoyed you stay with us and what the Island has to offer.
All the best
Pip and Andy
tedtarg2026.03.08
Verified
A dream holiday in one of the most Idyllic Islands in the world
We spent 4 lovely days at Waiheke Waterfront Lodge and it exceeded all our expectations. Pip and Andy were superb hosts. The accommodations are luxurious and the breakfasts are so delicious! It made a first visit to Waiheke Island a memory that will last a lifetime.. We recommend Waiheke Waterfront Lodge very highly if you are looking to visit Waiheke. Pip also arranged a fantastic wine tour & lunch package for us which is also highly recommended
Hi TedThanks for the review, so pleased you enjoyed enjoyed our lodge it's location and what we offer.All the bestPip and Andy
Michael V2026.03.02
A perfect getaway spot for a long weekend! Pip and Andy welcomed us so warmly, and the views of the water were absolutely stunning. The breakfasts were delicious, and we loved relaxing in the spa. The location is ideal—just a peaceful 15-minute stroll to restaurants and shops while being on a quiet stretch of road. We’re already looking forward to coming back!
Great that you were able to relax and enjoy your stay at the lodge and on the Island.
Cheers
Pip and Andy.
Susan Mills2026.02.25
This is an absolutely stunning lodge, perfect location with amazing views. Pip and Andy you are such wonderful hosts. Nothing is too much and you are both so accommodating. We're going to miss those stunning breakfasts and your beautiful lodge, which sure did feel like home.
Thanks so much for the review Susan.
So pleased you enjoyed your stay with us.
Take care
Pip and Andy
Jean B2026.02.25
Verified
A little piece of paradise
We can’t add much to the superlatives lavished on the Waiheke Waterfront Lodge and its gracious and competent hosts Pip & Andy except to say they’re all true! Our high expectations based on these reviews were more than met during the course of our 4 night stay. The Losge is a gem located in a stunning quiet location, yet a 10 min stroll to several good restaurants. It is impeccably appointed and run, with every amenity you could ask for and a well appointed garage gym which we made good use of. Pip’s yummy breakfasts outside on the back deck are a real treat and Pip herself is unobtrusive but readily available and helpful. She lined.up an all day taxi for us at the last minute so we could go to the far side of the island for wine and olive oil tasting and sightseeing. Great recommendation Pip! We would love to return and are envious of those of you who have this memorable experience to look forward to!
Hi JeanThanks for your review.Great that you enjoy you stay at the lodge and all that the Island has to offer.A trip to the far side of the island is a special day out.All the bestPip and Andy
Jody Burke2025.11.02
Pip and Andy were the best hosts! The breakfast’s were amazingly delicious. The location into town was walkable and the rooms were so comfortable.
We walked and hiked the trails near the B & B
Andy picked us up at the Ferry and Pip recommend some amazing restaurants for our trip.
Thanks for the review Jody
So pleased you guys enjoyed your stay with us.
Pip and Andy
Sara M2025.11.02
Verified
Personal and professional touches are a highlight of the island
The serene waterfront location, the beautiful and well appointed lodge but most of all the personal and professional touch from proprietors Pip and Andy make this stay a highlight of Waiheke Island. They do everything right!
Thanks SaraGreat that you enjoyed your stay with us and your time on the island.CheersPip and Andy
The Rogue Diplomat2025.10.26
Verified
Very comfortable stay
Enjoyed our stay! This lodge is clean, in a great location, very comfortable, with lovely, helpful managers. They made us a delicious breakfast every morning, and sent us on our way with directions and suggestions for touring. Much appreciated and would definitely return!
Great that you enjoyed your stay with us.Thanks for your review guys.Pip and Andy
Jennifer C2025.10.06
Verified
Wonderful BB
We spent 3 delightful nights at the Waiheke Waterfront Lodge and recommend it highly to anyone looking for a relaxing stay in a beautiful location. Pip and Andy are excellent hosts, the rooms are spacious with all sorts of special touches to make their guests comfortable and Pip’s breakfasts are delicious. It was nice to be in a quieter part of the island but an easy walk to the main street in Oneroa for restaurants and shops.
Hi JenniferThanks for your review.So pleased you both where able to relax and enjoy your stay with us, before exploring the rest of NZ.All the bestPip and Andy.
Hidden gem on Waiheke Island
What a wonderful 5 day stay at this little slice of heaven. Lived up to everything we expected. Personal yet private. Outstanding gourmet breakfast every day and always ready at the promised time. Owner Pip was a delightful hostess and helped us navigate the island, restaurant reservations and hooked us up with a very special wine tour. I’d give it six stars if they let me.
A great spot with great hosts!
We stayed two nights immediately upon arrival from the States to kick off our three week visit to New Zealand. What a great decision. Andy and Pip were fantastic, providing exactly what we needed in a very casual and comfortable manner was none of the pretentiousness that is sometimes present and high-end properties. Our room was large, comfortable, and quiet. The breakfasts were fantastic and the property had many no-charge “extras” (bicycles, hot tub, library, snacks, drinks, etc.) to choose from. I highly recommend this property for anybody staying on Waiheke Island.
Verified Company
