We booked a room for 2 nights at this hotel for a relaxing end to a month-long holiday in New Zealand and it didn't disappoint. We arrived earlier than check-in time but Helen (one of the owners) was more than accommodating and we were able to access the room early which was a huge bonus. We had a complimentary mini-bar delivered by Ray which was extremely generous with wine, beer, orange juice and milk).
The location is ideal if you want to be away from all the regular hotels/motels in the area. It's in a quiet residential street, but the main centre is approximately only a 10-minute walk away so you're not far from the restaurants, beaches, attractions etc. It is a fairly steep walk uphill when returning to the hotel so bear this in mind.
Our room (The Pacifika Suite) was fantastic. It had a private balcony which we could see the sea from, and was surrounded by foliage; there was a full kitchen with a washer and dryer; the shower and bathtub were lovely to use; and the bedroom was gorgeous.
The town itself is fairly small but we spent time walking around the shops and eating at the restaurants, we'd already been to Russell but could have easily got the ferry over there fro the day; and we walked to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds from the hotel which was an easy walk.
All in all, our stay at Sanctuary Palms was a perfect ending to our holiday.
