Whananaki Beach Retreat

Photo gallery for Whananaki Beach Retreat

A modern outdoor living area with a sofa, two umbrellas, and a fire pit.
A modern room with a large sliding glass door leading to a deck with a view of a lake and trees.
A bedroom with a bed, pillows, a bedside table with a book, and a window with curtains.
A modern house with large glass windows, surrounded by a well-maintained lawn and various trees.
A modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, a large island with stools, and a view of greenery outside.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Room to spread out
    Enjoy spacious layout that give everyone more room to relax.
  • Firepit available
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Hot tub on site
  • Patio
  • Toys
  • Kitchenette
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Whananaki North, Whananaki
  • Place, Sandy Bay
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Bay of Islands
    ‪44 min drive‬
  • Place, Paihia Beach
    ‪58 min drive‬
  • Airport, Whangarei (WRE)
    ‪46 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

3 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

3 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

Bedroom 5

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 6 Bunk Room

4 Single Bunk Beds

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

OUTDOOR SHOWER

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

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About the area

Whananaki

Located in Whananaki, this holiday home is on the beach. Perfect Day Ocean Cruise and Dive Tutukaka are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Sandy Bay and Motutohe Island. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and hiking.
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Map
Whananaki North, Whananaki

What's nearby

  • Sandy Bay - 2 min drive - 1.1 km
  • Town Basin Marina - 36 min drive - 53.7 km
  • Bay of Islands - 44 min drive - 74.0 km
  • Paihia Beach - 58 min drive - 89.2 km
  • Paihia Wharf - 58 min drive - 89.5 km

Getting around

  • Whangarei (WRE) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Manaia Espresso - ‬44 min drive
  • ‪Heaven's Brewery - ‬26 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Whananaki Beach Retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Whananaki Beach Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Whananaki Beach Retreat?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Whananaki Beach Retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Whananaki Beach Retreat located?

Nestled on the beach, this Whananaki holiday home is within 3 mi (5 km) of Sandy Bay, Motutohe Island and Moureeses Bay. Okupe Beach and Motutaniwha Island are also within 20 miles (32 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 48 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 48 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 48 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Whananaki

Cool place, lots of space and places to hang both inside and out. Great kitchen/dining space for a larger group.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Extended Family Vacation

Great spot with plenty of options either on the estuary or surrounding beaches. Nice separation and flow between the two houses allowing kids to hang out independently.Nice amenities and finish throughout with kayaks and paddle boards to make the most of high tide.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

fabulous time at Mini Whananaki

We just simply fell in love with the place. Great facilities, fabulous location, beautiful house and great company! We enjoyed kayaking in the estuary, surfing at Moureeses, and going for long walk around Whananaki. This weekend felt very special in many ways, and we are glad we shared it with friends and family.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wow Whananaki

This accommodation was perfect for our four family holiday. There was plenty of space, plenty to do (walks, boating, snorkelling, SUPing, games...) and plenty of fun was had together. Thank you for sharing your space.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing as always!

I have been to this venue several times now and every time we're blown away with how awesome it is. The location is incredible, right on the waters edge and it's so spacious and perfect. Thank you yet again.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazingly Beautiful Home

It was a perfect getaway with the family for Easter break! We had a wonderful time in such a beautiful home which had everything you need for a restful vacation! From home amenities to cleanliness to improvised activities at home then add the proximity to serene beach spots plus a very accommodating host Alex just made it a worthwhile and memorable place to stay! Just an amazing experience and highly recommend for group/family travel! Worth every single penny plus more! Will surely be back…thanks again for sharing your Amazingly Beautiful Home!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location

Lovely location for a Family holiday

Whananaki is a great location. Very quiet and peaceful for a relaxing holiday. The house sits right in front of the beautiful bay, its very tidal but excellent for swimming, canoeing, SUP, especially with kids. Walkable to a couple of other idyllic beaches, with bigger waves and swimming holes. The house is great for an extended family or families with 2 separate living areas, and shared deck and seating areas outside. Open plan living space and modern appliances, but the house has the patina of Bach life, so doesn’t feel too precious. The house is well stocked, but due to remote location it’s advisable to bring anything you need. We really enjoyed our stay and would certainly stay again. Thanks!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Norris Whanau Reunion

We had been attending a family reunion further North. In the past, we had stayed in several separate locations but being able to book a beautiful home in a beautiful locale that was able to accommodate 16 (yes.... 16) of us..... it simply ticked all the boxes. Ranging in age from 6 to 78 and with a bunch of younger and older teens, having the two houses separated by a very comfortable outdoor fire pit area just worked. With the large flat lawns, the estuary directly across the road, and boogie boards, paddle boards and kayaks on hand, the kids, young and old were kept occupied and nicely worn out. The property itself was incredibly beautiful, well provisioned and built for comfort. Lovely linen bedding and a kitchen with every conceivable mod con..... can't wait to go back.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing as always

This is about the 7th or 8th time I've rented this place and it just wows me every time, it's so perfect for what I do and everyone who comes just loves it. We'll be back again! Thank you.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved it yet again!!

Thanks fir a fabulous stay. We loved it again and each time we get some thing different out of our stay. We’ll be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing as per usual!

This is about the 7th or 8th time I have rented this property and we love it every single time. The layout is amazing, it accommodates large groups, the owners are fantastic and great to communicate with, and it's really warm, even when it's cooler outside. There's so much space, even if you have a large group. I would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We loved our time here!

Beautiful spot for a getaway with a big group, in this case multiples families with children. Great layout with lots of space so you’re not always on top of each other. We had many great meals and games nights around the large dining table. The spa was also enjoyed! Owners were easy to contact and resolved a few minor issues quickly.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent as always

Fabulous time again! About my 6th or 7th time staying here. It was wet this tone but if forced us to relax and read books, sleep which is exactly what the girls needed. Thanks, looking forward to September already. The soa was amazing!!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for large groups

We spent 11 nights at Mini Whananaki with a group of friends, with up to 14 people at any one time in the bach. The space is designed in a way that makes it perfect for relaxing with a large group at all times of day. On the negative side is the lack of ventilation in the bedrooms, with generally only one opening window per room, plus the amazing amount of flies that make the place their home on a daily basis despite overnight killing blitzes - having some form of pyrethrum spray to keep the flies at bay would be great. Overall great place to have lots of people chilling out in a great location
Stayed 11 nights in Apr 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Northland experience

This property was an excellent fit for our family ranging from 8 months to 75 years. Proximity to lovely coves and beaches plus the ins and outs of the estuary provided a holiday with lots of action, with the help of the well thought out ‘toy shed’. Evenings saw the little ones delve into the large treasure chest of toys whilst the big ones relaxed with cocktails around the fire pit, memories were imprinted for the future! Overall gorgeous break in a place unknown to us with its own remote character. 🥂
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent location!!

Great location for families and great big house for everyone to have their own space. Rooms are extremely hot in summer as only one little window and small fans didn't provide much relief unfortunately. Lots of books and games to keep everyone entertained and cool outdoor area with fire pit. Great communication with owners!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A very special place

We spent 3 nights at Mini Whananaki with a group of 12 friends + 1 infant. The space was spectacular - clean, modern and thoughtfully decorated. The space is designed in a way that makes it perfect for relaxing with a large group at all times of day. The beach across the road offers a great spot for making use of the kayaks and paddle boards - a great swim spot is just across the inlet. The kitchen and dining area is fantastic for socialising during cooking and sharing meals together. It was very well equipped and offered everything we needed. The outdoor fire pit and couches made for a great spot to relax in the evenings. The projector in the lounge along with the very comfortable couch make for a very fun way to end the night. Beds are very comfortable with great quality linen sheets. We enjoyed our stay so much, we managed to secure it for an extra night - it was hard to leave! Some minor issues we encountered with the water upon arrival were sorted quickly, which was appreciated. The house is outstanding and Whananaki itself charming and relaxing. The local shop is tiny but somehow manages to be very well stocked - the fish and chips are great. Overall a 10/10 stay - there's no doubt we'll return in the future! Fantastic house in an excellent location.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

My daugther posted a video (recap of our stay) at FUN A NAKIsUPERB

Superb Holiday home for family and friends.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magic family weekend

This is a superb and spacious property close to the waterfront and perfectly designed for groups of all ages to share a holiday. It’s layout enables both separation and, in our case, ready supervision of younger children. Generous supply of water equipment - kayaks, paddle boards etc. Gorgeous architecture is a real pleasure. Owners very helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent yet again!

We absolutely love staying in this property, everyone who comes here loves the house, the area and the tranquility of the location. Definitely recommend, has everything you need. We'll be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Group getaway

A fantastic house for a group of adults to unwind, hike, fish and swim.
Stayed 9 nights in Jan 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

Best place ever, but don't want everyone to know about it! Haha... such a cool house, superb surroundings, best way to get away and relax. Totally recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

perfect extended family holiday home

Ideal location and accommodation for our 3 generation family. Plenty of open light space in a stunning house with an interesting history. Safe for the children and near a safe beach. Plenty of beaches and walks nearby and a very helpful and well stocked shop 5 mins walk away.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

LOVE this place, it’s the absolute best, in one of the best places in the country!!

Definitely recommend. I’ve already booked our next weekend!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful house and great location

The house was perfect for our big family. The kitchen was well kitted out and the dinning table sits 12! We had a perfect holiday.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019
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