This was the highlight of our holiday in NZ! Dorothy and Derek made us very welcome and the apartment is very comfortable and spacious with all you could need for your stay. It has the added novelty of being on the canal with a huge yacht on the jetty so if you are lucky D & D will relate some of their world sailing adventures to you. Fascinating! All the trendy shops, cafes and supermarkets are very close as is the Marina and pretty beachfront. Dont miss Whitianga on your travels! Allow 2 1/2 hours from Auckland as it is a long winding hilly road once you leave Hwy 1. If you want to go to Hot Beach take a shovel to dig a big enough hole and go on your way to Whitianga as it is 45min drive south of the town.