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Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House

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A room with two chairs facing a large window, a small table, and a view of a rural landscape. - Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House (Dargaville)
Room with Queen bed, 2 x Double-Single bunk-beds & 2 x Single-Single bunk-beds. - Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House (Dargaville)
A house with a covered patio area, a large window with curtains, and a satellite dish. - Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House (Dargaville)
Open-plan unrenovated ground-floor kitchen-dining-lounge leading & conservatory - Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House (Dargaville)
Looking at Kitchen & Lounge from Dining area - Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House (Dargaville)
A terrace, a garden and laundry facilities are just a few of the amenities provided at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
The current price is NZ$209
includes taxes & fees
5 Nov - 6 Nov

Add dates for prices

About this property

Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House

  • Large self-contained "cheap & cheerful" [unrenovated] Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Old Aratapu School 5-10mins from Dargaville.

    BEDROOMS
    > 12-PERSON DORM ROOM: Huge upstairs main bedroom with Queen bed, 2 x Double-Single bunk-beds, and 2 x Single-Single bunk-beds
    > SMALL ADJOINING TWIN ROOM: Small attic bedroom, up half a flight of stairs from the huge main Dorm Bedroom, with 2 x Single Beds (and the option of the beds being pushed together and made up as a makeshift "SuperKing" bed)

    ON THE GROUND FLOOR:
    > Spacious old open-plan kitchen-dining-lounge (including dishwasher)
    > More seating in the old conservatory off the lounge, which leads out to a small terrace with outdoor seating (smoking permitted outside)
    > Old Bathroom with Shower, Washing-machine & Tumble-dryer, and separate Toilet


    IMPORTANT:
    NOTE-1: The standard Nightly Rate is based on the first six guests sharing the 3 x Queen/Double beds in the huge main bedroom - but don't hesitate to ask for the costs on other bedding configuration options.
    NOTE-2: The 4 x Top Single Bunk Beds have a 60kg weight restriction - so primarily suitable for children.


    REMMINDER
    This is cheap and cheerful [unrenovated] accommodation suitable for up to 14 guests for a night or two (remember there is just one toilet, and one shower), and it is ideal for, say, 2-8 guests for longer stays.


    THIS ACCOMMODATION IS NOT SUITABLE FOR FUSSY GUESTS desiring impeccable pristine accommodation - the decor is too old to provide an immaculate presentation! Please don't book this accommodation if you want fault-free perfection.


    THIS ACCOMMODATION IS VERY SUITABLE FOR MID-LONGTERM "WORKER GROUPS" wanting space, simplicity and the ability to chillax - plus loads of parking.

    SPECIAL NOTE FOR LONGER-TERM 'WORKER GROUP' STAYS:
    When the reservation is for Worker Groups of several weeks/months, then a compulsory weekly Mini-Clean surcharge is payable to ensure a regular change of bed-sheets, and cleaning of the floors and bathroom. [Cost depends on the amount of Beds being used, but approx $70/week.]


    LOCATION:
    > 1-min drive to Diary in Te Kopuru
    > 5-min drive to Dargaville
    > 10-min drive to Glinks Gully Beach, and local Countdown supermarket
    > 15-min drive to Baylys Beach
    > 30-min drive to Kai Iwi Lakes
    > 1-Hour drive to Tane Mahuta in Waipoua Forest.
    > 1-Hour drive to Pouto Point


    GUEST ACCESS:
    The Guest Wing is fully self-contained with its own front entrance porch, its own ground-floor kitchen-dining-lounge-conservatory-terrace, and its own ground-floor bathroom-laundry with separate toilet.
    Upstairs is one HUGE DORM bedroom accommodating up to a dozen guests, and one smaller attic Twin bedroom off the main Dorm Bedroom.
    There is also a vast amount of free parking.


    FINAL REMINDER:
    REMINDER - THE PLACE IS OLD & UNRENOVATED!
    The decor is dated and quirky and not ideal for anyone fussy.
    PLEASE DON'T RESERVE THIS ACCOMMODATION if you require an impeccable place to stay - it is too old to be immaculate.
    But this is a great place to stay if you want to chillax, in a spacious set-up with a good level of privacy and rural feel, and generous parking.

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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 nearby fishing, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and ecotours. Visit our Aratapu travel guide
View more Apartments in Aratapu
Map
Dargaville, Northland

What's nearby

  • A coastal landscape with clear turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and rolling hills covered in greenery.
    Kai Iwi Lakes
    46 min drive - 54.3 km
  • Dargaville Museum
    10 min drive - 8.7 km
  • The Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Studio
    11 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Zizania Hand Made Papers
    13 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Taha Awa Riverside Gardens
    13 min drive - 11.3 km

Restaurants

  • Good Life Stores
    9 min drive
  • The Bakehouse Cafe
    9 min drive
  • Merkabah Cafe Restaurant
    10 min drive
  • Blah, Blah, Blah Café
    9 min drive
  • Dinny's Bakery U0026 Takeaway Bar
    10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House?

As of 4 Nov 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House on 5 Nov 2026 start from NZ$209, 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 Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-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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Reviews

Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House Reviews

8.6

Excellent

7.6

Cleanliness

9.4

Location
Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 9 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 9 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 9 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 9 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best description on book a bach. And cheap and cheeeful doesnt mean bad! Its a nice homely place and the extra room due to the size means no cabin fever or tripping over each other.
Stayed 18 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wharekure Aratapu

Nice area, lots to see. We toured around the north island and visited lots of historic and current events and entertainment. Our hosts were available when we needed help and not in our face when we did not. It was a wonderful time and I recommend the place for a nice stay.
Stayed 91 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Our stay during the Northland field days event

She's a little gem. She may have been the oldest place we have ever stayed in but she sure was the cleanest! The linen was fresh and clean. Ample parking space for our food trucks. fast and friendly communication throughout. Thank you for having us. We will back again next year.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Serene and peaceful

Thank you for being our first home in New Zealand. The old school house was a perfect fit for my family. Enough space for everyone to have a place to call theirs. And the peaceful location not far from town was welcoming. Not far from TK or Dargaville, made for a nice first home. Thank you for having us.
Stayed 74 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect spot

A truly lovely and cozy house, ideally suited for our family vacation.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cheap and cheerful with all the necessities

Exactly as described, this house is somewhere to stay if you're not looking for anything high-end. The beds are comfortable and clean, the kitchen has everything you need to cook (I appreciated the pots and pans without the teflon coating), the washing machine and dryer worked fine and the internet and TV worked fine. There was lots of dust and cobwebs and a few spiders, but that's what you'd expect of an old schoolhouse.The location, 10 minutes drive south of Dargaville suited us well and the property manager was responsive and helpful. Thanks for a great stay!
Stayed 18 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Basic and quaint

As expected and as described. Sheets were clean and accomodation was tidy. Could have been a little cleaner (inside the fridge and the toilet smelt a bit) Gorgeous view to wake up to from the upstairs room! Suited our needs for the weekend
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Real potential

The Wharekura “ pre-reno” apartment we stayed at was marred by 3 of the 4 elements of the stove not working properly, the oven wouldn’t go. There appeared to be no smoke detectors although the owners reassured me later that they were there. The shower doors were hard to close. Like much inside the apartment, the wiring looked dodgy and as old as the building. The stairs to the room were uneven. I contacted Kathy after we left. In hind sight, I should have done so sooner and given them the opportunity to remedy the faults as she seemed happy to do. Moral of the story ...you get what you pay for??
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025