Very quaint spot! Beautiful gardens, great hot tub, and a nice place to stay that’s not in the city, about a 59 min drive from the airport depending on time of day and traffic.
It was easy to hire a car and get around. We did day trips every day and enjoyed all that this area had to offer. Goat Island is well worth the trip and Helensville had a nice brewery (Liberty Brewing, even had a cider), warf walking path along the river, and cute cafes and restaurants to eat at in town. The brewery is about a mile walk and the walk through town has great views. If you can catch the sunset out the window at the The Ville Turkish Cafe, it’s a sight to see. Also, great grocery store in town to get lunch and bits for day trips!