Delamore Lodge
Daily price line
Upcoming nightly rates
Review
Character and identity
Delamore Lodge cascades down a Waiheke Island hillside in the shape of a Maori fish hook, its terraces and open-air lounges angled over sheltered Owhanake Bay and the scattered Hauraki Gulf islands beyond. The scale is deliberately small: four suites, a two-bedroom villa and a two-bedroom apartment, capping the property at 16 guests across 12 acres of Mediterranean-style gardens dotted with local art. Expect a heated infinity pool above the bay, a grotto Jacuzzi and sauna, an adjacent spa, and evening drinks and canapés where guests gather. Service is warm and engaged, geared to steering you into Waiheke's vineyards and beaches.
Who's it for
Best for:
Couples and design-minded travellers wanting a quiet, intimate New Zealand lodge within easy reach of Auckland (35 minutes by ferry, or a 12-minute scenic flight to the on-site helipad). Ideal if you value vineyard country, art-filled gardens, long pool afternoons and a sociable house-party rhythm at canapé hour.
Should look elsewhere:
Families with younger children: kids are confined to the separate apartment and barred from evening drinks, so this is not a kids' club property. Anyone wanting a buzzy resort with multiple restaurants, beach access on the doorstep, or total isolation from weekend boat traffic in the bay should keep looking.
Bottom line
What you're really paying for is scale and setting: a 16-guest hideaway perched over one of Waiheke's prettiest bays, with the island's wineries and beaches a short drive away. Couples should splurge on the Owner's Villa for its private decks, full kitchen and included ferry transfers; cooler months reward you with the grotto sauna and quieter bay views.