10 Best Family Accommodations in Whakatane & Ohope 👪 [2024]

Where to Find Child-Friendly Accommodation in Whakatane and Ohope Beach

Head to one of New Zealand’s top beaches, discover the family-friendly bushwalks with kiwi birds and learn more about the Maori culture in the bustling Bay of Plenty town of Whakatane. The beachfront holiday parks and motels, as well as the luxury apartments, ensure that there’s a place to stay in Whakatane for all types of families. Let’s jump into some of the leading options in this list of the best family accommodations in Whakatane and Ohope Beach.

For more advice on planning a family getaway, check out The Guide to Whakatane for Families and the 10 Things to Do in Whakatane with Kids.

1. Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park

On the beachfront of Ohope, the Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is the ultimate summer holiday experience for families. A swimming pool with hydro slides, jumping pillow, games room, beach volleyball, tennis/basketball court, children’s playground, kids’ club, mini-golf… Need we say more? If the accommodation matters to you at this point, then camping, glamping and glaravanning, budget cabins and modern self-contained motels are all an option.

Check Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park out:

10 Best Family Accommodation in Whakatane

2. One88 on Commerce

For families looking for a modern home away from home in the heart of Whakatane, One88 on Commerce is here to serve. Space is the highlight of your stay at this upmarket motel, with the two-bedroom suites providing plenty of room and privacy for the whole family. Relax after a day of exploring in your large bathroom with a spa bath and separate shower, and prepare family meals in the open-plan kitchen with a ceramic cooktop or guest barbecue. What’s more, you don’t even need to worry about the dishes thanks to the dishwasher.

Check One88 on Commerce out:

3. 37 The Landing Motel

Contemporary, stylish and warm, 37 The Landing Motel is better than home. Featuring full double glazing (yes, that’s a rarity in New Zealand), spa bath bathrooms with a separate shower, large beds with electric blankets and full cooking facilities, the motel in the town centre of Whakatane is well worth considering. Choose how much space (and budget) your family needs with one- and two-bedroom family apartments available. See more like this in the 10 Best Motels in Whakatane.

Check 37 The Landing Motel out:

4. Ohope Beach Motel

Stick to your budget without sacrificing an idyllic beachfront location at the Ohope Beach Motel. There are motel units to suit just about any group size, from the affordable one-bedroom units sleeping up to four guests to the larger units sleeping up to six. You don’t need to be picky when choosing a unit, as all of them have a fully-equipped kitchen, Sky TV and WiFi. Kids love the boogie boards available for guests to use, while sunny days around the barbecue are another fun way for families to spend time here.

Check Ohope Beach Motel out:

5. White Island Rendezvous

Moments away from the Whakatane Harbourfront, town centre shopping and eateries, as well as Whakatane’s boat tours, White Island Rendezvous is a convenient and pleasant stay for families. While the two- and three-bedroom apartments of the modern motel have full kitchens and a spacious open-plan dining area, it’s the only motel in Whakatane with its own cafe should you want to treat yourselves. What’s more, you can even get your cafe breakfast delivered to your room.

Check White Island Rendezvous out:

6. Whakatane Holiday Park

For families looking for an affordable place to stay that is still a lot of fun for kids, Whakatane Holiday Park is a good option along the harbourfront. The holiday park is just a five-minute walk along the Warren Cole Walkway (see 10 Best Walks in Whakatane) to the town centre, with accommodation featuring ultra-cheap basic cabins to fully self-contained multi-room motel apartments. On-site is also a swimming pool, TV room, outdoor barbecue area and more.

Check Whakatane Holiday Park out:

7. Cortez Motel

With motel units surrounding an outdoor swimming pool, the Cortez Motel is an exciting stay for families. Out of their 15 motel units, you’ll find three family units, one of which has a spa bath, while all have a kitchenette. Entertainment is made easy with free WiFi and Sky TV in all units. What’s more, the central location in Whakatane and a short walk from the harbourfront is a bonus. What’s more, portacots are free to hire. See more like this in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Whakatane.

Check Cortez Motel out:

8. Beachpoint Apartments

Overlooking Ohope Beach and out to White Island, it’s hard to beat the views of the Beachpoint Apartments. Combined with the well-appointed fully self-contained apartments, the apartment complex provides all your homely amenities with a full holiday experience. Relax on your apartment’s large deck, go for a swim in the heated swimming pool and cook your catch around the barbecue. The two-bedroom apartments are ideal for families, with the added option to have two separate bathrooms per apartment. For more stays with excellent kitchen facilities, check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Whakatane & Ohope.

Check Beachpoint Apartments out:

9. Quayside Luxury Apartments

An ultra-modern apartment complex with a rooftop pool, Quayside Luxury Apartments brings the luxuries of city living to the shores of Ohope. You’ll hardly struggle for space in the large open-plan lounge, kitchen and dining area, some with large private balconies. Bedrooms are separate with one, two and even three-bedroom apartments available. See more like this in the 8 Best Luxury Accommodations in Whakatane.

Check Quayside Luxury Apartments out:

10. Ohope Beach Resort

Holiday living and activities are combined at the Ohope Beach Resort, not only offering spacious family-friendly apartments but a swimming pool, lap pool, heated lounge pool, spa pools, tennis court, petanque court, library and more. Stay in one of the two-bedroom apartments with all of your essential home amenities presented in a contemporary style. Check out more accommodations with hotel-style facilities in the 5 Best Hotels in Whakatane & Ohope.

Check Ohope Beach Resort out:

More Family Accommodations in Whakatane and Ohope Beach

That’s it for our list of the best family accommodations in Whakatane and Ohope Beach. For more places to stay, as well as things to do, check out these recommendations:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Guide to Whakatane for Families.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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