Castaways Resort
685 Karioitahi Road Karioitahi Beach, Waiuku, Auckland 2341 New Zealand
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Avg. ₱7,612 /night, 9/11 - 9/12
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#1 of 2 small hotels in WaiukuLocation
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Situated on the wild coastal cliff tops of Karioitahi Beach on the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand, Castaways Resort is perfect for an effortless escape, a one-of-a-kind wedding location, or a distraction-free conference venue. Dine at Castaways Restaurant & Bar and enjoy a blissful experience at Bersantai Day Spa. All of this is within an hour’s drive from the Auckland CBD or airport - so close to Auckland, yet a true escape from the ordinary.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Bar / lounge
Beach
Hiking
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Spa
Parking
Internet
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Meeting rooms
Facial treatments
Full body massage
Head massage
Massage
Neck massage
BBQ facilities
Non-smoking hotel
Sun terrace
Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Safe
Seating area
Coffee / tea maker
Kitchenette
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Telephone
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Microwave
Refrigerator
Kitchenware
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Ocean view
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Qualmark.
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English
Location
685 Karioitahi Road Karioitahi Beach, Waiuku, Auckland 2341 New Zealand
Getting there
Auckland Intl Airport
32.8 km•
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24 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
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Detailed Reviews
A night away to celebrate my husbands 50th Birthday. Our 2 bedroom Chalet (18) was at the top of the hill and had brilliant views. The location of this resort and the views/terrain are unique and rustic, definitely worth a visit for that aspect.
The chalet was spacious and appeared to have all the necessities however I was so very disappointed in just how dated and run down it was. Not for one minute did I feel that I was in a resort or somewhere remotely special (aside from the view). The décor and furniture look like its been there since the 80's, its not just old fashioned it looks and feels worn/old with big indents in the couches and beds and fabric hanging from the couch bases. There are absolutely no special touches or added extras only the bare essentials and even then scarcely supplied. If I had paid $200 - $250 for the room I would feel less aggrieved but I paid $430 which wasn't a cheap nights accommodation in anyone's language.
Dinner was booked for 7pm and we were seated straight away. Firstly really disappointed in the wine menu or lack there of. I had the choice of 2 very basic Pinot Gris options. When paying around $35 in a restaurant (not pub) for a main meal I would expect to be able to pair it with a good wine. We ordered entrée & mains at around 7.10pm. Entrees arrived within 5 mins. My oysters were beautiful and fresh, husbands chowder was more like a soup than a chowder and had the bread sitting in the soups which made it very soggy. As our entrée plates were being taken away our mains were being placed in front of us. It was too much too fast. Didn't even have time to digest the entrée. I did say this to the waitress
I had to take the top layer of fat off my pork belly as it hadn't been rendered properly and even then only ate 1/2 of it. It was only ok. Husband loved his Beef check filo. As our plates were being cleared we were told that Craig was getting a complimentary dessert for his birthday. Lovely touch! Thank you. We asked for it to be delayed as we were feeling rushed and very full however only 5 minutes later it was at the table. Bill was $168 total including x2 drinks each. We were back in our room by 8.05pm - so not the nice relaxed dinner we were looking forward to. I understand reviews are subjective and a case by case experience but this one night cost us $600 and quite honestly wasn't worth that. I genuinely felt disappointed by the whole experience.
The chalet was spacious and appeared to have all the necessities however I was so very disappointed in just how dated and run down it was. Not for one minute did I feel that I was in a resort or somewhere remotely special (aside from the view). The décor and furniture look like its been there since the 80's, its not just old fashioned it looks and feels worn/old with big indents in the couches and beds and fabric hanging from the couch bases. There are absolutely no special touches or added extras only the bare essentials and even then scarcely supplied. If I had paid $200 - $250 for the room I would feel less aggrieved but I paid $430 which wasn't a cheap nights accommodation in anyone's language.
Dinner was booked for 7pm and we were seated straight away. Firstly really disappointed in the wine menu or lack there of. I had the choice of 2 very basic Pinot Gris options. When paying around $35 in a restaurant (not pub) for a main meal I would expect to be able to pair it with a good wine. We ordered entrée & mains at around 7.10pm. Entrees arrived within 5 mins. My oysters were beautiful and fresh, husbands chowder was more like a soup than a chowder and had the bread sitting in the soups which made it very soggy. As our entrée plates were being taken away our mains were being placed in front of us. It was too much too fast. Didn't even have time to digest the entrée. I did say this to the waitress
I had to take the top layer of fat off my pork belly as it hadn't been rendered properly and even then only ate 1/2 of it. It was only ok. Husband loved his Beef check filo. As our plates were being cleared we were told that Craig was getting a complimentary dessert for his birthday. Lovely touch! Thank you. We asked for it to be delayed as we were feeling rushed and very full however only 5 minutes later it was at the table. Bill was $168 total including x2 drinks each. We were back in our room by 8.05pm - so not the nice relaxed dinner we were looking forward to. I understand reviews are subjective and a case by case experience but this one night cost us $600 and quite honestly wasn't worth that. I genuinely felt disappointed by the whole experience.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked a pamper package: chalet, spa and dinner. The spa was beautiful, great setting, great service and thoroughly relaxing. The chalet was average - bed very basic and not “resort” standard, bathroom looked like it had been kitted out at a Mitre 10 sale and the mould on the ceiling was not pleasant. The dinner made the room look good. Noisy, packed restaurant, seated by the toilet door, staff who were inexperienced and unhelpful, slow service (apparently only one chef on). When we were told (quite a bit after ordering) that the food was delayed we asked for some bread to tide us over but that wasn’t possible. When the food arrived my venison was beautifully cooked, but drowned in a ‘jus’ that made everything taste of the indescribable but unpleasant sauce. This however, was surpassed by the poached pear which, to the core which was still attached, was bland and accompanied by a poor lemon curd and an icy sorbet that had been frozen beyond creaminess a long time ago. The location is nothing short of spectacular and deserves a true resort. Sadly the current set up is more upmarket holiday park.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’d been to Castaways for a work event some years back and decided to return with my teenage family. To put it bluntly the rooms need some work, they are nice but getting a little worn. Value for money is good when compared to Auckland prices, but the down side is the resort is a way off the beaten track. The views are stunning and the beach is truly amazing. However this stay was ruined by a large party happening in a unit near us, the large crowd were into the drink early on and kept partying until the wee small hours. The wind was our friend and the noise did not disturb the kids, but our room was filled with drunken singing. Once upon a time I would have joined in, now it was a an absolute annoyance. The restaurant also needs to add a few more dishes that don’t include mushrooms, only two on the current one don’t. I still love Castaways, don’t get me wrong- it’s just going through that slow decay so many hotels do- my advise is start to upgrade one room at a time.
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from John McNaughton, General Manager at Castaways Resort
Responded Jan 28, 2021
Many thanks for taking the time to review the property and glad you decided to come back, and we hope you do again in the future. It is a shame you had guests making excessive noise in the night, i wish you has called the night manager who would have quietened this down. Unfortunately this does happen on occasions and especially over the festive season. In regards to the upgrade, we are set to get this underway this year and do realize this needs to be done, with a prototype room already complete. We are also building another 100 new villas that will be coming in to the accommodation pool. In regards to the Restaurant we have just changed our menu again last week so definitely some more options there for your next stay with us.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Using a gift voucher from our son my husband and I booked “chill out package”
This was one nights stay with 2 course evening meal for two and breakfast for two.
We arrived early and reception informed us that rooms not ready and checking in time 14:00 . We left and went to beach and had our picnic which turned out to be highlight of this experience and sadly had nothing to do with castaway resort.
At 13:45 we left beach and went back to reception where another couple also who had arrived early had been told rooms still not available.. My husband asked the staff why they didn’t prioritise both couples rooms as we had arrived at 12:00.
A manager came out of his office and went to check on rooms he came back a couple of minutes later and we got our keys at 14:00 ish.
The studio room was adequate quite basic no luxurious frills. Problem being the tea cups dirty with coffee stains down sides as well as inside. These had to be washed before we could use them .
The views from the room are stunning but you can’t have your coffee while enjoying them as no table to sit cups on. Just two chairs and a plant pot with cigarette butts. Yuk. Not what you would expect in a resort.
Now as if this is not disappointing enough the restaurant surpassed itself in awful.
My husband had mussels and he said they were ok. I had dumplings which were served in a sauce which was split and very salty not very edible. My husband main was tuna which you cooked yourself on a hot plate nothing was seasoned and a little salt was already on the hot stone which the cold potato stuck to like glue as did the tuna. Nothing good so far.
Now a staff member brought my meal which she put down and it was the wrong dish. Another member of staff brought my beef short rib and it was not warm. So back it went and then came warm but it tasted awful no seasoning and it was smothered in salsa verde/pesto it overpowered the meal another inedible dish. On a positive note which are few and far between the waitress offered us a free drink because of the meal mixup.
Breakfast we should have skipped but we thought everyone deserves a second or third or fourth chance .
Well they were definitely consistent yes consistently bad. Buffet breakfast that was very cheap produce especially the sausage which I still can’t decide the meat. Eggs bad bacon hardly cooked not even toast could be had as machine not working. Not that you would want cheap supermarket bread.
I feel the castaway resort has no professionalism throughput.
Well goodbye from me as I would never return and not recommend it for anyone.
This was one nights stay with 2 course evening meal for two and breakfast for two.
We arrived early and reception informed us that rooms not ready and checking in time 14:00 . We left and went to beach and had our picnic which turned out to be highlight of this experience and sadly had nothing to do with castaway resort.
At 13:45 we left beach and went back to reception where another couple also who had arrived early had been told rooms still not available.. My husband asked the staff why they didn’t prioritise both couples rooms as we had arrived at 12:00.
A manager came out of his office and went to check on rooms he came back a couple of minutes later and we got our keys at 14:00 ish.
The studio room was adequate quite basic no luxurious frills. Problem being the tea cups dirty with coffee stains down sides as well as inside. These had to be washed before we could use them .
The views from the room are stunning but you can’t have your coffee while enjoying them as no table to sit cups on. Just two chairs and a plant pot with cigarette butts. Yuk. Not what you would expect in a resort.
Now as if this is not disappointing enough the restaurant surpassed itself in awful.
My husband had mussels and he said they were ok. I had dumplings which were served in a sauce which was split and very salty not very edible. My husband main was tuna which you cooked yourself on a hot plate nothing was seasoned and a little salt was already on the hot stone which the cold potato stuck to like glue as did the tuna. Nothing good so far.
Now a staff member brought my meal which she put down and it was the wrong dish. Another member of staff brought my beef short rib and it was not warm. So back it went and then came warm but it tasted awful no seasoning and it was smothered in salsa verde/pesto it overpowered the meal another inedible dish. On a positive note which are few and far between the waitress offered us a free drink because of the meal mixup.
Breakfast we should have skipped but we thought everyone deserves a second or third or fourth chance .
Well they were definitely consistent yes consistently bad. Buffet breakfast that was very cheap produce especially the sausage which I still can’t decide the meat. Eggs bad bacon hardly cooked not even toast could be had as machine not working. Not that you would want cheap supermarket bread.
I feel the castaway resort has no professionalism throughput.
Well goodbye from me as I would never return and not recommend it for anyone.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from JohnMcNaughton, General Manager at Castaways Resort
Responded Mar 7, 2020
Many thanks for taking the time to to provide your feedback. I am surprised you did not enjoy such a wonderful gift from your son, this is certainly not the common feedback we get from the chill out package. Unfortunately you did arrive early and with being fully booked each night over these busy months it does take time to clean the rooms when check out is 10am. I recall you causing a scene at reception, when I came out and went to check on your room as they were awaiting an update from housekeeping. It is made quite clear check in is at 2pm and you were still checked in prior to this so unsure why such a scene. In regards to the Restaurant experiences I am sure if the dumplings were not to your liking and you had advised the team they would have offered an alternative. In regards to the Tuna Nicoise salad, this is a stone grill option that you cook the tuna on the stone grill, although there is some rock salt on the stone it is up to the individual to season this to their liking as this differs with different taste buds. It is great to hear the team did their best with the complimentary round of drinks for the mix up in meals. In regards to the breakfast, the sausages served when you dined were kranskies and often very popular. I have followed up in regards to the toaster and it appears to be working fine although we have now put a sign up as some guests do change the dials and can result in the belt going faster but not toasting the bread sufficiently. This would have been easily resolved if you had spoken to one of the team. I am disappointed you did not enjoy your stay.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My now wife and I had our wedding at Castaways a few weeks back.The wedding Venue is amazing, awesome views and reception area is ideal, but leading up to the wedding we were in contact regularly via email, with minimal response unless it had something to do with payment. we booked out a bunch of rooms so our guests could enjoy a few beverages and not need to worry about driving, a fairway back we got a list of rooms which we couldn't book which is fair enough and we worked around that. we had it all sorted and sent back a number of times so the accommodation side and the wedding planning can all be on the same page. but they were not, not only were we not getting replies from the emails (it got to the point i Just gave up and rang as it was the only way to get responses) there was absolutely no contact unless it was to do with money. 48hours before the wedding still no contact about the accodation until I rang. and about 10minutes later my wife got a call saying they have double booked a bunch of the rooms we had booked!!! So they helped by moving people into an Air bnb with drop off pick up for the wedding, but we had to have others sleep on the couches in other rooms, along with that there was no linen left at all for them to use on the couches. we got told on the phone that when we arrived we would sit down with the higher ups and try sort out this issue, we arrived and the person who said all this had gone for the day!!! we arrived at the venue the day before the wedding around lunch time and in that whole time we had no one come and personally apologise to us or even acknowledge that they had made this mistake. all this was very disapointing as it was our family members who ended up having to bring airbeds for their poor communication or having to sleep rough on a basic couch. we even all did the online comments and rating and stated we wanted to be contacted regarding what we wrote, havent heard anything. I would not recommend this place!!!
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Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: just make sure you ring and confirm and dont leave it for email replies.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from JohnMcNaughton, General Manager at Castaways Resort
Responded Mar 7, 2020
I was extremely disappointed to hear about your recent experience with Castaways in regards to you wedding. I have spoken to the team in regards to this and I believe the team did arrange alternative accommodation options and that we covered the cost off as well as arranging for the pick ups and drop offs, i believe you had some guests that choose to sleep on the sofa beds rather than going to alternative accommodation also. It is still extremely disappointing and not the standard service. Unfortunately i was away over the weekend this occurred other wise i would have spoken to you personally. I would welcome the opportunity to to speak with you if you could please get in touch with me that would be most appreciated.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The first thing I will say is were were given a refund for the room, and staff didn't make it difficult for us to do this. However, we were so shocked at the state of the room we decided, before asking for a refund, we wouldn't spend another minute in there.
We were gifted a package from our family which included 1 night stay in a studio, dinner for 2 and a treatment each at the spa. We started at the spa, loved our treatments and then went down to our studio for a couple of hours to chill before our dinner reservation. To start, the studio is extremely tired, the kitchen unit has a very dated pull down cover, beige, very unattractive. This was the least of the issues however. There was a thick layer of dust on the headboard and bedside table, the room smelled very musty, there was paint peeling off the front door on the inside, the windows of the deck were filthy and looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months. The wardrobe had 4 mismatched, old clothing store hangers (matching hangers from Kmart cost nothing??) and there were 2 mouldy seat cushions at the bottom of the wardrobe. The handles on the cupboards were also covered in dust. Clearly the room had not been used for a while but surely there should be a deep clean rule if this happens? Desperately needing new decor aside, please have someone senior check the basics of cleaning every now and again?
They were fully booked in the rest of the place so we accepted a refund for the room and went to have an early meal before leaving. The smell of deep fat fryer hit us as soon as we walked in and the sticky, dirty laminated menus were enough to put us off food. Had a glass of wine and drove off.
We have since come back to use the voucher in the spa, as this was great, but regardless of the cleaning needed, no one should charge that money for such a run down room.
If management wants photos I'm happy to send them on.
We were gifted a package from our family which included 1 night stay in a studio, dinner for 2 and a treatment each at the spa. We started at the spa, loved our treatments and then went down to our studio for a couple of hours to chill before our dinner reservation. To start, the studio is extremely tired, the kitchen unit has a very dated pull down cover, beige, very unattractive. This was the least of the issues however. There was a thick layer of dust on the headboard and bedside table, the room smelled very musty, there was paint peeling off the front door on the inside, the windows of the deck were filthy and looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months. The wardrobe had 4 mismatched, old clothing store hangers (matching hangers from Kmart cost nothing??) and there were 2 mouldy seat cushions at the bottom of the wardrobe. The handles on the cupboards were also covered in dust. Clearly the room had not been used for a while but surely there should be a deep clean rule if this happens? Desperately needing new decor aside, please have someone senior check the basics of cleaning every now and again?
They were fully booked in the rest of the place so we accepted a refund for the room and went to have an early meal before leaving. The smell of deep fat fryer hit us as soon as we walked in and the sticky, dirty laminated menus were enough to put us off food. Had a glass of wine and drove off.
We have since come back to use the voucher in the spa, as this was great, but regardless of the cleaning needed, no one should charge that money for such a run down room.
If management wants photos I'm happy to send them on.
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Date of stay: July 2020
Value
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from John McNaughton, General Manager at Castaways Resort
Responded Jan 28, 2021
Hi Sophie, Many thanks for your feed back, yo will be please to know all the studios have now undergone an upgrade with new coverings, curtains, cushions, carpet, as well as an upgraded bathroom. It is a shame your experience was not that of our usual guest, i am glad you enjoyed the Spa, it is truly a great experience and glad to hear you have been back. We will be adding new villas into our accommodation offerings shortly, these are newly build and truly superb, something to keep an eye out next time you come out to castaways.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We booked the new one bedroom villa, and is like a 3 star motel.
We found ants inside the villa, on dining table, islands and floor. We have to call a few times to have the receptionist pick up the call and it take nearly 1 hour for them to arrange a "trap" and never thought of cleaning the place, I ask and they say they will ask the receptionist and no one came back. Terrible service.
With the price of the villa, we have supervalue tissues, thin toilet paper, no bathrope no slippers. Someone mowing the lawn in the morning, very dark pathway to get in the place.
Restaurant, good service but expensive, average food not worth of value.
Looking at a relaxing retreat, ended up with a terrible stressful retreat.
We found ants inside the villa, on dining table, islands and floor. We have to call a few times to have the receptionist pick up the call and it take nearly 1 hour for them to arrange a "trap" and never thought of cleaning the place, I ask and they say they will ask the receptionist and no one came back. Terrible service.
With the price of the villa, we have supervalue tissues, thin toilet paper, no bathrope no slippers. Someone mowing the lawn in the morning, very dark pathway to get in the place.
Restaurant, good service but expensive, average food not worth of value.
Looking at a relaxing retreat, ended up with a terrible stressful retreat.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Castaways Restaurant at Kariotahi has been a favourite local eatery for our family & friends for many years. However, a recent visit with overseas friends on a Saturday at 2 pm, was way below par. We couldn't get anybody to answer the phone to make a booking, so just chanced it. On arrival we were asked if we had made a reservation. There were 8 other people in the Restaurant. The service was SLOW to say the least. The Maitre D finally came & apologised for the slow service stating the Sous Chef had burnt our meal.... and they were preparing another meal. We were offered a free drink, nice thought. A free meal may have been more appropriate. The fish of the day was GEM fish.... no local NZ snapper, gurnard, terakihi.
Also, the once beautiful view of the black sands of Kariotahi beach from the Restaurant windows is now totally obscured by tall flax.
Sorry, but totally disappointing visit. And I most probably won't come back again. Such a shame.
Also, the once beautiful view of the black sands of Kariotahi beach from the Restaurant windows is now totally obscured by tall flax.
Sorry, but totally disappointing visit. And I most probably won't come back again. Such a shame.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from JohnMcNaughton, General Manager at Castaways Resort
Responded Mar 7, 2020
Thanks you for taking the time to write your review. In future I would definitely recommend booking as the Restaurant can often get very busy especially on the weekends, I would think you came at the end of a busy lunch service. In regards to the fish we source all fish from a local company. Gemfish is a local fish also known as Hake, personally I find it delicious. We are sorry for the delay but great to see the team looked after you with a complementary round of drinks. I am surprised on your comments on the view, because it is not the standard comment as the view from the Restaurant is magnificent as shared by our customers.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The two bedroom chalet we had was really great location and incredible views and sunset although starting to show signs of wear and tear. Accommodation was overall 4/5.
We were completely ignored when entering the restaurant for dinner had to get barristers attention to be seated. 3 other staff in a huddle. Eventually served a hot bottle of wine in a ice bucket with little ice in it.
This was corrected by a different staff member after getting his attention.
Meals were tasty but steak overcooked not medium as requested.
Bad service continued throughout meal and breakfast next morning with a different crew.
Hopefully they will fix restaurant and make a better overall experience.
We were completely ignored when entering the restaurant for dinner had to get barristers attention to be seated. 3 other staff in a huddle. Eventually served a hot bottle of wine in a ice bucket with little ice in it.
This was corrected by a different staff member after getting his attention.
Meals were tasty but steak overcooked not medium as requested.
Bad service continued throughout meal and breakfast next morning with a different crew.
Hopefully they will fix restaurant and make a better overall experience.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The only thing good about our stay was the beautiful and modern villa and the views.
The staff don’t want to work there clearly - why are they there? We received below average service from every staff member we spoke to, whether at the reception desk or the restaurant.
I was overcharged on my booking because their website failed to provide me with the Spring discount even though I had booked within the timeframe. The lady at the reception couldn’t care less about this and basically told us to just deal with it. Didn’t once bother to say that she would try and see what she can do.
We got to the restaurant at about 4pm for a drink and were treated so unusually by the bar staff. He made us feel just generally uncomfortable. Every question we asked was received with a puzzled and annoyed expression before telling us that it couldn’t be done. We were overcharged for our drink.
We tried calling reception at about 8pm on their after hours number for a question about the stove but couldn’t get through to anyone - consistent with all their google reviews apparently.
We had booked a buggy for pick up in the morning to take us to our 9:30 breakfast reservation which never showed up nor was there any communication from reception about when the buggy might arrive. We waited till 9:35 before making our own way there.
Breakfast was sub-par with flies everywhere and food running scarce. Wait staff didn’t even ask for a coffee nor were able to top up the food, despite the fact that the restaurant was not very busy at all!
My husband and I made this weekend a lovely one for ourselves by consciously turning a blind eye to each bit of terrible service. We happened to bring our own meals for dinner (fortunately) which meant we didn’t have to put up with more disappointment and were able to enjoy our evening together.
I would not recommend this place to my friends. Loved the views but not worth the frustration that comes with it. It is not difficult to be kind and the first word doesn’t always have to be “NO” when a customer asks for something! Hospitality101. Please travel to other countries and see what you are lacking in service because it is a lot!!!!
The only good service we had was from the Night duty manager (Akshay) who took us to our room after our drink.
The staff don’t want to work there clearly - why are they there? We received below average service from every staff member we spoke to, whether at the reception desk or the restaurant.
I was overcharged on my booking because their website failed to provide me with the Spring discount even though I had booked within the timeframe. The lady at the reception couldn’t care less about this and basically told us to just deal with it. Didn’t once bother to say that she would try and see what she can do.
We got to the restaurant at about 4pm for a drink and were treated so unusually by the bar staff. He made us feel just generally uncomfortable. Every question we asked was received with a puzzled and annoyed expression before telling us that it couldn’t be done. We were overcharged for our drink.
We tried calling reception at about 8pm on their after hours number for a question about the stove but couldn’t get through to anyone - consistent with all their google reviews apparently.
We had booked a buggy for pick up in the morning to take us to our 9:30 breakfast reservation which never showed up nor was there any communication from reception about when the buggy might arrive. We waited till 9:35 before making our own way there.
Breakfast was sub-par with flies everywhere and food running scarce. Wait staff didn’t even ask for a coffee nor were able to top up the food, despite the fact that the restaurant was not very busy at all!
My husband and I made this weekend a lovely one for ourselves by consciously turning a blind eye to each bit of terrible service. We happened to bring our own meals for dinner (fortunately) which meant we didn’t have to put up with more disappointment and were able to enjoy our evening together.
I would not recommend this place to my friends. Loved the views but not worth the frustration that comes with it. It is not difficult to be kind and the first word doesn’t always have to be “NO” when a customer asks for something! Hospitality101. Please travel to other countries and see what you are lacking in service because it is a lot!!!!
The only good service we had was from the Night duty manager (Akshay) who took us to our room after our drink.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Hi there,
Yes the studios are located lower on the clifftops than the chalets, and are built in blocks of 5 units whereas each chalet is separate. But both still have a gorgeous view :)
Hope that helps.
The resort is right on the beach :) I would say two minute walk
Hi there hipalpal - Kylie Hall here from Castaways Resort.
Thanks for your questions.
Our Coastal Glam Camp sites are located in secluded settings, so yes you can enjoy the outdoors of your camp too.
Walking at night is not recommended for safety reasons as our Coastal Glam Camp sites are set on the cliff tops so that we can provide you with stunning elevated ocean views.
For a walk to the beach - if staying just the one night, I would recommend enjoying a beach walk before you check in, or after you check out in order to optimise your time at the Glam Camp. If staying two nights, you could venture out on your buggy after breakfast on day one and then go for a walk to the beach.
I hope that's helpful and we look forward to having you stay with us.
"Get a hire car. Be prepared for jo phone signal and limited Wifi. Local town of Waiuku is beautiful, Great supermarket and cafe."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
₱7,782 - ₱11,165 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandAucklandWaiuku
NUMBER OF ROOMS
33
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingCASTAWAYS RESORT - UPDATED 2024 Hotel Reviews & Price Comparison (Waiuku, New Zealand) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Castaways Resort
Which popular attractions are close to Castaways Resort?
Nearby attractions include Kariotahi Beach (4.7 km), Kariotahi Beach (0.3 km), and Waiuku Museum (7.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Castaways Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and a spa.
Which room amenities are available at Castaways Resort?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Castaways Resort?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Castaways Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include Nicks Cafe, The Shires, and Cafe Karma.
Does Castaways Resort offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Does Castaways Resort have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is Castaways Resort accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.