Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort 4 stars

Distance to car was difficult at our age. Internet and phone in room didnt work.

We expected a quiet stay at the end of May and weather to be less than perfect. The town of Pauanui was of course also quit, which we expected. We had a great stay but chose to leave after 5 nights rather than the booked time of 7 nights as we were happy to move on to other activities and places.

We found the Tree Hut very comfortable. The bed was great, the shower was awesome and heated bathroom floor was fabulous. We especially enjoyed the cooked breakfast and our evening meal was delicious. We would have welcomed a good soak in a spa after climbing Mount Pauanui but there wasn’t one. All in all we loved our stay.

Puka Park Resort has long stayed as a special place in our hearts and as we have seen over the last two weeks it continues to hold its place. The arrival: We were greeted by lovely staff at reception who gave us a warm welcome and made us feel at home. The entrance was nice and clean which let us know that the place was kept in pristine condition. Upon our arrival at the restaurant, we were welcomed by the lovely staff who made us feel nice and comfortable and treated us to a few drinks at the bar. The whole place as well as the Hoehn Lounge was nice and relaxing, making us feel like we were back at our second home. The food: We were surprised by the small amount of options for dinner but were quickly reassured that this is all part of the plan as they aim to change the menu daily. We were also told that the restaurant also plans on reintroducing a fixed menu in the near future so we are interested as to what may make its way on there. The food itself was great and very enjoyable to eat. We don't have much else to add there. The restaurant: Service was great as we were very well looked after by the great staff by making sure that we were very well attended. We were surprised on all nights by how fast the food came out and yet it showed no signs of being rushed out. "Wonderful" is the word I would use to describe my experience in the restaurant. Finally, the room: We can only repeat what has been said time and time again about our room, "Perfect" is the only way we could describe the room when we entered it for the first time. Being nestled away in the bush allowed us to enjoy the nature while not hindering us in any way. Upon opening the door, we were greeted by a great, well kept and very nice room that was extremely welcoming and gentle. Everything was in pristine condition so we could really soak in what we had experienced. We were presented with a nice cheese platter and bottle of wine upon entering the room which made us feel special and appreciated by the team. I would like to extend our thanks to the housekeeping team for making such a great room. Our experience in a few words: Great place, great service, great staff!

We spent a week at Puka Park and really enjoyed our stay. Great place for walking, paddling and touring around. Nice staff and comfortable accommodation.