Disclaimer: if you love a five-star steel tower with a spa on the 15th floor, concierge with shiny black shoes that clickety-clack on a marble floor, or being greeted with a steaming towelette and welcome mimosa, catchya later. You’re gonna hate this place.
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Flight time from Perth, WA: Around eight hours.
Direct flights? Yessir. Air New Zealand and Batik Air both fly direct from Perth to Auckland.
The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel isn’t a hotel at all. It’s like having a sleepover at Nan’s house, where she’s prepared the good yellow room with the special paisley doona and left some choccies by the bed for your arrival. An adorable 1890’s villa with quaint white boards, it’s set in lush gardens where heavenly-scented jasmine runs wild. You’ll find The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel down a whisper-quiet side street just off the kinetic urban hotspot that is Ponsonby Road, in the heart of Ponsonby, 2km from Auckland’s CBD.
Are you ready for the deep dive?
Five Reasons Why We Love The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel
- The most scrumptious home-cooked breakfasts
Greek omelette with feta and lemon? Big brekkie with crispy bacon, perfectly poached eggs and buttery toast? The best eggs Bennie you’ll ever eat? It’s all here. Five delicious and whopping cooked breakfast to choose from, plus crumpets, croissants, fruity jams and spreads, cereals and more. The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel brekkie will take you right through till a late arvo lunch AND it’s included in the tariff.
2. Comfy beds, thoughtful touches, good shower pressure.
We stayed in the Red Courtyard room, which was pretty-as-a-picture and had two super comfy, feather-soft mattresses, a cracking shower with power pressure, a toasty bathroom heater AND a heated towel rail. The room is cosy but big enough to swing your least sexy undies in. It comes with a kitchenette that has a well-stocked fridge (note: the bubbles and delicious wine selection aren’t free – it’s an honour system, so be sure to let them know what you’ve taken). It’s all so thoughtful here, from the ironing board to the complementary treats. Excellent wi-fi too.
3. It comes with a Ponsonby bible
When’s the last time your five-star steel tower provided a half-inch thick folder filled with all the hot tips that only a local can know? How about never? But at The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel, there’s a homemade Ponsonby guide that comprehensively covers everything – the hippest bars, the best cheap bites, the “you’ll be a fool to miss this” recommends, the places you gotta get in line early for. The commentary is brutally honest and always hugely helpful. It’s a small touch that makes a big difference when you land fresh and don’t know where to start.
4. Million dollar location (and free parking)
You CANNOT beat the location of The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel. It’s smack bang in the middle of vibrant, bustling Ponsonby, full of the coolest cafes, bars, galleries, fashion and ridiculously good-looking people. To reach Auckland’s waterfront, it’s a nifty 15 minutes by eco bus, five minutes by uber or a 30-minute walk if you’d prefer to amble through Ponsonby’s glorious house porn (highly recommend this option).
Bonus: The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel also offers free parking. It’s not infinite, so you’d need to check upon booking, but it can accommodate a decent number of vehicles.
5. It’s run/managed by the nicest people you could hope to meet.
No request was too much trouble, including a late checkout that incurred no extra charge. It was up-and-beyond service and wonderful, warm chats on the daily. By the time our stay was over, we’d solved all the world’s problems over crispy morning bacon. Nothing, but NOTHING beats accommodation that feels like you’re staying with friends.
The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel
30 Ponsonby Terrace, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 376 5989
*We pay where we stay and only recommend the special places. Deep Dive is put together with love and lived experience, to help you explore the beautiful state of WA and the world outside of it. If you found this article useful, consider buying us a coffee to help us survive!
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