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Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House

Apartment in Aratapu with kitchen

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Fridge, microwave, oven, electric kettle - Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House (Aratapu)
Exterior detail - Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House (Aratapu)
Interior - Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House (Aratapu)
Dining - Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House (Aratapu)
Smart TV, books - Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House (Aratapu)
Experience the charm of Whare Kura, a historic 150-yr-old schoolhouse on the Pouto Peninsula. Enjoy your elegant open-plan lounge-office-dining-kitchen, unwind in your mezzanine bedroom with Queen bed and sofa bed or relax on the small front-door deck porch. Explore rural settings around you.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Entire apartment

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 3

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Parking available
The current price is NZ$205
includes taxes & fees
24 Feb - 25 Feb

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire apartment to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House

This STUNNING fully self-contained Guest-Wing is located in one of the most historic buildings in the region: WHARE KURA the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House!

The decor is gorgeous and lavish - nicknamed "Ponsonby Chic" style of embracing the Victorian era with a funky edge ... a truly bespoke and roomy "apartment".

Amenities Include:
> Elegant open-plan lounge-office-dining-kitchen
> Bathroom with toilet, shower, washing-machine & tumble-dryer
> Fabulous mezzanine bedroom with Queen, and SofaBed (wide Single / small Double - may not be comfortable for tall adults)
> Small front-door deck porch with Table+Chairs
> Generous free parking
> Rural setting

WHARE KURA is a huge 150-yr-old School House, and this fully self-contained Guest-Wing (with its own entrance) is roughly one-quarter of the large historic building.

The decor is STUNNING and fabulous for a Single or Couple wanting quality accommodation in a truly bespoke and authentically unique setting.
Also with the SofaBed, this means the apartment can also accommodate two Singles, or Couple+Single, or Parents with 1-2 children.

LOCATION: POUTO PENINSULA by the KAIPARA HARBOUR
> 1-min to Superette in Te Kopuru
> 5-mins to Dargaville town
> 10-mins to Supermarket
> 10-mins to Glinks Gully Beach
> 20-mins to Baylys Beach
> 30-mins to Kai Iwi Lakes
> 1-Hour to Tane Mahuta in Waipoua Forest on the Kauri Coast

POINTS TO NOTE:
> Excellent discounts available here online for stays of 28+ nights.
> Nightly rate is based on two guests sharing the Queen Bed as a couple.
If two single guests require both the Queen and Sofa beds, then an additional one-off $50 Extra Bed fee is payable.
> For stays of 3-Months-plus, an additional standard Rental Hire form is required to be signed.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the apartment: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Outdoor furniture
  • Porch/lanai

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Swimming nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Recycling

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the area

Located in Aratapu, this apartment is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Taha Awa Riverside Gardens and The Landing, while Dargaville Museum and The Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Studio are cultural highlights. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and ecotours. Visit our Aratapu travel guide
View more Apartments in Aratapu
Map
Aratapu, Northland

What's nearby

  • Kai Iwi Lakes featuring tranquil scenes and a lake or waterhole
    Kai Iwi Lakes
    34 min drive - 53.2 km
  • Dargaville Museum
    8 min drive - 8.0 km
  • The Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Studio
    8 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Zizania Hand Made Papers
    9 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Taha Awa Riverside Gardens
    10 min drive - 10.9 km

Restaurants

  • D Town Indian Fusion Restaurant
    9 min drive
  • Fast Foods Dargaville
    8 min drive
  • Blah, Blah, Blah Café
    9 min drive
  • Northern Wairoa Hotel Dargaville
    9 min drive
  • Shiraz Indian and European Family Restaurant
    9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House?

As of 11 Feb 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House on 24 Feb 2026 start from NZ$204.5, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House located?

Situated in a rural location, this apartment building is within 6 miles (10 km) of Zizania Hand Made Papers, Dargaville Museum and The Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Studio. Taha Awa Riverside Gardens is 6.1 mi (9.8 km) away.

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Elegant 1-Bdr self-contained Guest-Wing at the 150-year-old Aratapu School House Reviews

Reviews

Excellent

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 16 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 16 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 16 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 16 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews

9.2

Cleanliness

9.0

Location

8.6

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Horst F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a ool place

Such a cool place. We absolutely loved our stay at the old school house. Lovely and stylishly renovated and close to Dargaville and beaches.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Craig

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We very much enjoyed our stay at this property. It was very comfortable and spacious, with a lot of things provided (laundry, extensive kitchen items, TV, etc.). We found the place nicer than the photos and the reviews suggested it would be. The owners obviously take pride in the unit, as it was very nicely appointed and clean. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

4/10 Poor

Rex and Sheryl

Liked: Communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The grounds were lovely, peaceful and private. The inside was shabby and grubby. Fridge and cupboards, dirty. We were aware and fully accepted that this was a work in progress but soap and water are cheap enough and elbow grease is free
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andy

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Just a great place to stay, clean tidy and well renovated. Hosts were great!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Dion M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome place to stay. Tastefully decorated and unique history.
Stayed 22 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Romitesh N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication

decent accommodation

nice place to stay
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dion M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Classy and tasteful wing of the building done with period style touches.
Stayed 18 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Pyt S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice stay in old skool

A very nice place to be.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ash H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Whare Kura

Neat well appointed unit. Stayed for 8 nights while working in the area and would happily book again
Stayed 8 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ash H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Aratapu apartment

Well appointed unit. A bit of road noise, but nothing too bad. Would happily stay there again
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lots of Character !

We very much enjoyed our stay here. The schoolhouse has tons of charm. It is very well equipped. We would highly Recommend staying here. There is some traffic noise, So if you are a light sleeper, you might want to bring earplugs. The character Of this house far outweighs, the minor noise.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Janette

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This is a beautiful property - fantastic decor - so many detailed touches. Whoever designed this is VERY talented! Absolutely everything you could need including a full kitchen. Only drawback was road noise - especially logging trucks at speed in early pre-dawn hours - which takes a little to get used to. Hopefully this will reduce as the road hedge thickens.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Michael D.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy

Aratapu

Excellent in many ways, clean and tidy and well appointed. It would have been better if there was a toilet on the mezzanine as my wife has to use a walking stick and the bannister did not go all the way to the ground floor. Inconvenient at night if you wished to use the toilet.The road was noisy at times.The booking agency did not provide entry details before we arrived. The neighbours were very helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hamish G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

annabel C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025