Apartment

Secret Garden - beautiful, private in the very heart of Russell, Bay of Islands.

Photo gallery for Secret Garden - beautiful, private in the very heart of Russell, Bay of Islands.

A spacious living area with a kitchen, a dining area, and a view through a glass door to an outdoor patio.
A wooden staircase leading to a second floor with a view of a dining area and a kitchen.
A cozy living room with a dark blue sofa, wooden beams on the ceiling, a dining area with a table and chairs, and a kitchen area with a counter and appliances.
A bedroom with a bed, bedside tables, a nightstand, a chair, a door, and a hallway leading to another room.
A room with a sliding glass door leading to an outdoor area with a wooden deck and potted plants.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Bay of Islands

Popular amenities

  • Kitchenette
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Washing machine
  • Bathtub
  • Non-smoking

Explore the area

View in a map
Russell, Northland
  • Place, Russell Christ Church
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Russell Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Bay of Islands
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Airport, Kerikeri (KKE-Bay of Islands)
    ‪57 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Kitchenette
Separate dining area
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Russell

Russell is home to this apartment. Bay of Islands Marina and Paihia Wharf are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Action World and Bay Of Islands Vintage Railway. The Parrot Place and Makana Confections are also worth visiting.
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Map
Russell, Northland

What's nearby

  • Russell Museum - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Russell Christ Church - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Russell Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Bay of Islands - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Flagstaff Hill - 15 min walk - 1.3 km

Getting around

  • Kerikeri (KKE-Bay of Islands) - 54 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Seaside - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Bad Habits - ‬26 min drive
  • ‪Charlotte's Kitchen - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪El Cafe - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Breeze Cafe - ‬27 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Secret Garden - beautiful, private in the very heart of Russell, Bay of Islands. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Secret Garden - beautiful, private in the very heart of Russell, Bay of Islands.?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Secret Garden - beautiful, private in the very heart of Russell, Bay of Islands.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Secret Garden - beautiful, private in the very heart of Russell, Bay of Islands. located?

Situated in Russell, this apartment building is steps away from Russell Museum and Bay of Islands. Russell Christ Church and Pompalier House are just steps away.

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 8 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 8 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 8 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 8 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 8 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Check-in

8.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

7.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Welcoming host, very clean and well equipped apartment.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great location and huge place

Huge apartment in a great location, host was super helpful!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Our mini trip to Russell

Unique, spacious, private, peaceful and we had excellent communication with the owner Alan. Highly recommend this property
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A gem in the heart of Russell

A great spot right in the center of town. Spacious and comfortable - is bigger than the photos show! The covered deck was a nice surprise. The kitchen is VERY well equipped. We had a wonderful stay - thank you.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Tidy up required

Great location and quirky space but the secret garden is somewhat overstated. The property is more akin to Steptoe and Sons - hard rubbish everywhere and a general lack of maintenance. A shame because it could actually be a great space. However great location and friendly host. Internet is an issue and bedding marginal.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Away from the bustle in Russell

Secret Garden was perfectly located to explore the Russell and Paihia areas, excellent facilities, handy to everything in Russell and the wonderful ferry service which runs every half hour across to Paihia, where you can do an easy 30 to 40 minute walk to Waitangi, which we’d recommend. Another excellent tour was the Pompallier guided tour, also good cafe, although there are many in Russell. Sail to Hole in Rock and Urupukapuka Island worthwhile. Walk to Long Beach was interesting, steep and easier options. Perhaps the venue was a tad overpriced, but maybe in line with Bay of Islands. Overall though, good option for Bay of Islands, much quieter than Paihia.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, location
Disliked: Check-in, listing accuracy

Needs work

Excellent location, well appointed and comfortable. The back yard was full of rubbish, overgrown and dead plants. Nowhere to sit down and read a book. The entrance from the rear was along a narrow uneven path and passed the back yard. The front gate needs a lock that is easy to open and close. We got to the stage we propped it open with one of many bits of wood lying around. We arrived late in the day and followed instructions but the host had his phone off. No milk or basic starters to greet you after a long trip. Very tiny TV that needs upgrading…It have a Convenient car space directly in front of the shop, the accomodation is above it.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Locator, location, location

You can't beat the location, in the heart of Russell, steps from a grocery store, across the road from the beach. It doesn't get any better. The unit itself is large and comfortable, the kitchen well stocked. Perfect for a longer stay. The only issues are:1. WiFi signal is weak (especially in the bedroom).2. It's more a neglected garden than a secret garden - scaffolding piled against one wall, sickly plants in its centre, an abandoned lawn mower in calf-high grass. You walk through piles of junk (a disposed toilet, an old sink, stacks of garbage) to access the private garden. A little effort and it could be stunning.3. Too many large plastic plants in the unit. An old mattress leaning against a wall in the main room. A large unopened box on the verandah. Again, a little effort and it could be 5 star.In spite of this we enjoyed dinner, languishing on the verandah, cooking in the kitchen and of course the immediate access to every amenity in town.
Stayed 11 nights in Dec 2024
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