Beach

Reviews of Villa 2 Te Maiki - Panoramic views - private enclave close to Russell township


Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 37 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 24 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 66 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

James E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely Villa in Russell
Lovely property with amazing views close to the centre of Russell and Long Beach
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place in Russell!
We loved our stay here. The views were stunning and the location was great - very central and close to everything. The villa was comfortable and bright. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Caroline F., California

Liked: Cleanliness
Bay of Islands Views and Comfort
My husband and I finished our month-long trip to New Zealand at Villa 2 Te Maiki and couldn't have asked for anything better. It was - hands down- the best lodging we had on the whole trip. (We had camper-vanned, hoteled, apartment & cabin rented, and Hut-to-Hutted on the Routeburn Trail). The Villa 2 Te Maiki houses are all situated for excellent views, yet are still close enough to town to walk in (10-15 minutes depending on your pace; we are in our late 50s). The 4 Square market in town is very good so after lots of restaurant meals we were thrilled to cook for ourselves at "home". The kitchen in the house was very well set-up and our dinners on the deck watching sunset were some of the best we had that month. The caretaker and housekeeper that were on site each day were helpful and great to chat with. Bed was very comfortable, bathroom was good, and we were surprised and happy to find a puzzle (there are a few games too!) in the house to do. Excellent stay, and if NZ wasn't a 14 hour flight from our home we would probably come back every year just to stay at Villa 2 Te Maiki!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Fraser L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great views and location
Overall great location close to Russell township and great views of the harbour and bush. Heard Kiwi throughout the night and Weka visited which was a special highlight.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

John T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely place
Comfy and exceptionally well stocked with things you need in a house. 3 sided deck with good shade meant eating outside was a joy. The upstairs mezzanine room gets very hot but we used it as a drying area. Close to Russell but steep hill so we always drove in. No wifi but we managed with mobile data. The washing machine was really helpful halfway through our month in NZ. Overall it was a great place to stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Ashley W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Good location
We spent Christmas Day here and enjoyed ourselves. Kitchen had everything we needed, enjoyed our dinner on the deck, played some of the board games, and it’s a great location. Bit of a steep walk but lots of holiday makers making the trek on foot, and it was welcomed after so much food!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Geoffrey R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Russell overview
Interesting property. Fascinating place
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

6/10 Okay

Paul B.

Close location to town
Property is old and needs work.. it is in a good location to town,
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Apr 2023
Wow, we are a little perplexed at your feedback given the amount of money and effort we have put into the property upgrading it over the last couple of years and is at odds with other more positive feedback we have received. We are proud of what we have done to ensure there is a well-presented property to make our guests stay more enjoyable. Here’s a list of some of the improvements we have made – Interior fully painted and decorated, flooring replaced, new carpet throughout, kitchen and bathroom floor covering replaced. Bathroom has a new vanity, toilet, taps and fittings and a new hot water mains pressure cylinder. In the kitchen a new oven, microwave and kitchen equipment. Outside all decks have been reclad and 2 sets of outdoor furniture added as well as a brand-new Weber BBQ. The flat section of roof waterproofing has been replaced. There is brand new furniture including dining table & chairs, coffee table, lounge suit, heaters, beds and bedroom furnishings, and artwork. We will continue with our continuous maintenance and refurbishment programme where we feel any further improvements can be made. Thank you

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

We enjoyed staying in Villa 2 - clean but quite dusty especially on bedheads,no body soap or tea tow
It was a great location - would definitely come again. I think there should be more wardrobe space available in single bedroom and not full of other stuff. We loved the deck surrounding the villa and the bbq would be great if we had not been booked to go out each night. I hope this has been helpful. Thanks.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kurt K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Short stay
A nice stay we enjoyed it
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Doug M.

Liked: Cleanliness
A beautiful escape perched over a lovely township
A lovely villa, with a straightforward checkin process, but it was difficult not having a local manager on hand when things went wrong - in this case, Cyclone Gabrielle! However, the grounds keepers, Trish & Brent, were fantastic and went above & beyond their responsibilities to compensate.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Feb 2023
Thanks for your feedback. It was most unfortunate that Cyclone Gabrielle struck during your stay. Brent is not only the groundsman but also the local custodian to the site and also manages maintenance of services so he was the right person on the spot for such an occasion. Both Brent and Trish were also complimentary about you during your stay.

10/10 Excellent

jeremy w.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect spot for holiday at Russell
We loved the retro 80s design of this holiday home, expansive decks and quality furnishings. It was conveniently located to to walk into town or Long Beach. A beautiful location. It was so good that we've booked again for next year!
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Doreena K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cute spot in Russell
Lovely little villa in Russell. Enjoyed our stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jono B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Location and property!
Amazing location and views, easy walk to Russell wharf and its various bars/restaurants. Well equipped and comfortable, thanks for a great stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Nov 2022
Thanks for the review Jono, glad you enjoyed your stay in Russell.

10/10 Excellent

Simon M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot
Kids loved the mezzanine space.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Lloyd K.

Great location
We enjoyed our stay at Te Maiki - lovely location and nice and quiet. The villa was well equipped and spacious, with extensive decking outside to relax outdoors. There were only a few downsides: the cleanliness of cutlery and dishes was substandard (we washed everything before using it), the shower hadn't been cleaned, there is no wifi, and there were no instructions on how to use the TV. The lockbox was also tricky to get into. None of that would stop us staying there again though.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 18 May 2022
Glad you enjoyed your stay. We use a cleaning service between guest stays and as such if something isn't as clean as you would expect then please contact me directly. The water is bore water and has an extremely high calcium and mineral deposits which leaves marks on cutlery and glass. The glass in the shower is terribly impacted by this and it is almost impossible to remove the water staining. The instructions for the tv are in the tv cabinet. We do not advertise as having wifi however with fibre broadband now available in Russell we intend to connect it this year as part of our continual upgrade programme, which has been substantial the past two years.

8/10 Good

Steve C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Visit to Russell
Great outlook and for all we needed to do
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2022

6/10 Okay

Trudy C.

Short break.
Just a bit disappointed, the view is not as good as picture, we have stayed in a different villa and that does have this view, the outside decks are pretty run down, the house had an unpleasant smell on arrival, otherwise good, nice bedding and furniture, and a very handy spot to the village.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Feb 2022
Very sorry to read of your disappointment. I was disappointed to read it. The lead picture in our advertisement is taken from the deck of our house and is a good representation of what view is on offer. Admittedly there is another picture with a view of Russell and perhaps it should indicate taken from property not house. I will adjust that based on your feedback. We have taken great care to fully renovate the house in the last 18 months between lock downs including being fully painted, carpeted with new furniture, fittings and fixtures as well as decorative items including artwork to improve the environment and enhance visitors stays. Other items getting an overhaul have been the bathroom, hot water cylinder (mains pressure) and two sets of outdoor furniture for outside dining and relaxing. 50% of the deck has been replaced and the remainder is on the improvement works for this winter. Regarding an unpleasant smell, after a full paint and carpet etc there should be no reason for this and haven't experienced it myself. Maybe just needs to be aired out once doors and windows are open.

10/10 Excellent

Miles H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic location so close to village but also complete peace and quiet. Great views.
Great.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2022

8/10 Good

Anna F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location
We had a lovely stay thank you. Well equipped for a family of four. Great location just a short walk into Russell shops and wharf.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2022

8/10 Good

Pieter V.

Great weekend
Great weekend, nice place to stay. Will definitely be back. Regards Pieter
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing in Russell
A great place to relax and travel around the countryside from
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Vicky M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cute and comfortable
Great views and proximity to township. Very comfortable for family with 2 kids, everyone had their own space. Good kitchen equipment for a bach. Great to have a washing machine to use. We really enjoyed our stay, thank you.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Apr 2021
Thank you for the kind review, we are so glad you enjoyed your stay.

10/10 Excellent

Nikki F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing and easy
Good location, quiet but easy walk into Russell. Very clean and comfortable.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michelle D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Staying for a wedding
We stayed two nights here for a wedding. We are two couples. Was perfect for us 👍
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

8/10 Good

siobhan B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot close to Russell Village
Great comms from Paul, thanks for late check out. House well equiped although another fan would have been helpful as was very warm. Lovely decor and linen, overall very clean. Steep drive so not great for walking to village if you have mobility concerns but fine for us. But on the hill also means a lovely view of the bay, a real plus. No wifi.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Arrie B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location. Highly recommended
Exceeded our expectations. Comfortable beds. Walking distance to the shops
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Mar 2021
Thanks for the feedback Arrie, I hope you enjoyed your stay and caught a few good fish too!

10/10 Excellent

Clare H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely villa with beach views
Fabulous location, well eqipped, stunning views of Russell. Loved our stay, thank you.
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jan 2021
Hi Clare, Thanks for the positive review and so pleased you enjoyed your stay.

10/10 Excellent

Sam D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Clean, recently redecorated property
This property was clean and tastefully decorated. The linen was hotel quality. The location and views were fantastic. We had a great family holiday, thank you.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Oct 2020
Thank you for your positive review, we have spent time renovating the property this year and are thrilled you enjoyed your stay.

10/10 Excellent

Tanzey D., Hamilton

Liked: Cleanliness
Relax zone
Had a fantastic stay, beautiful views & walking distance to town. Excellent parking for boat, literally 1min from boat ramp. Will be back.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Good
Good
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Natalie P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Villa with a fabulous view
Lovely, clean accommodation with amazing views of the bay. The villa has everything you need. Beds are so comfortable too. The location is great and central.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
We are delighted that you enjoyed our property. Thank you for your supportive remarks. Please do not hesitate to contact us again, you will be most welcome. Safe future journeys.

10/10 Excellent

paul m.

Liked: Cleanliness
the pictures do not do justice for this beautiful home, it really made our family Christmas
I would and have recommended to friends.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Appreciate your support. Thank you.

10/10 Excellent

Emma A.

Liked: Cleanliness
fantastic
A great spot for an extended family weekend. Great location and views. Easy walk to town...albeit steep climb up.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thank you for your support. We are glad you enjoyed

6/10 Okay

Sarah G.

Lovely stay but everything a little tired!
We had a lovely stay, wonderful views from the site. There is everything you need in the house and the gardens are well kept but the property needs some TLC as do most of the houses on site. There was a bad smell of damp in the bedroom and the shower was either boiling or cold! It would have been nice to have a fan as it was hot but you couldn't leave the windows open as there were mosquitos. Lots of lovely birds and nice and quiet on the site.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2019

8/10 Good

Sarah L.

Ideal Russell Bach
My family and I had a wonderful stay in this lovely beach house. The house is actually nicer than it looks in the photos with a view of the water in front and on one side of the house a magnificent and private view of the native bush. The house was tidy, clean and well-equipped within a managed area of same style houses, just a short walk to the town of Russell and the beach. A very peaceful location and a very easy holiday - we would love to return!
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thank you for your encouraging response. We would be delighted to host you again please do not hesitate to contact.

8/10 Good

Ross G.

Very tidy generally well equipped
We really enjoyed our stay but would recommend a few things. 1 towel each for five days is not enough. Nice to have a washing machine but we had 4 days of rain and a drying rack to put upstairs would have been great. We live on a boat with a small oven so was looking forward to a proper oven but there was only one rack which made Xmas dinner still a challenges as I could only cook one thing at a time ! I understand why you don't want rubbish bags left at the villa at the end of the stay but it would be good if you supplied the pre pay Russell ones which should surely be part of the $100 service fee. Sounds negative but all minor grumbled. We had a great stay and would recommend your place to others.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thank you for your comments. These are always appreciated and build towards a better stay for others. We have taken them on board and will address with our site manager.

8/10 Good

Tim L.

Idyllic hideaway high up over Russell
Beautiful spot high up with great views in between the other villas. Easily walkable from Russell so long as you don't mind the steep hill and lack of footpath on the way up. Good size for the advertised max 4 people with space to relax inside and out on the deck with all amenities provided
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thank you for your comments they are appreciated. You are welcome back. John & Catherine. Owners.