We found staying at Manuela and Phillips place a great way to explore the Whangarei area and Northland in general. We were there for a short time, but it turned out to a great launching pad for daily expeditions. The room has everything needed for a comfortable stay. The surrounding gardens were lush and inviting, though we explore them much because of our short stay. Overall, I would definitely stay here longer next time I am back exploring Northland.