The Sands Hotel Hokianga

Watch the VLOG: https://www.tiktok.com/@anavidtraveller/video/7588686672775154965

Waterfront Views in Ōmāpere That Do Not Match the Stay

The Sands Hotel Hokianga sits right on the water in Ōmāpere, overlooking the calm harbour and sweeping dunes of Hokianga. On arrival, the location feels special. Fresh sea air. Wide open views. That quiet Northland energy that instantly makes you slow down.

Unfortunately, the experience stopped being enjoyable the moment we checked in.

First Impressions

From the outside, the hotel looks promising. The waterfront setting is genuinely beautiful, and the surrounding area of Ōmāpere has a peaceful charm that feels untouched and raw. This is the kind of place you expect to unwind, disconnect, and enjoy nature.

That expectation did not survive long.

Booking Issues on Arrival

We booked a two-bedroom villa. We were given a single studio.

There was no explanation and no apology. Only after pushing repeatedly did the situation change, and even then, the solution was disappointing. We were split into two separate rooms, far apart. One of those rooms had no view at all, completely defeating the purpose of booking waterfront accommodation in the first place.

For a hotel stay, especially during a holiday period, this kind of check-in experience immediately sets the wrong tone.

WiFi That Did Not Exist

The Sands Hotel advertises WiFi in every room. In reality, there was zero connectivity.

This was not a case of slow internet or a patchy signal. There was no usable WiFi. I had to rely entirely on prepaid mobile data to check work messages, and uploading any content during the stay was impossible.

In a remote destination like Hokianga, reliable WiFi is not a luxury. It is essential. Advertising something that does not exist is misleading and frustrating for guests.

Facilities That Are Misrepresented

Online photos show a gym. In reality, there is no gym. It does not exist yet.

Seeing facilities advertised that are not available is disappointing, especially when guests choose accommodation based on what is shown online. Transparency matters, and this was another example of expectations not matching reality.

Cleanliness Problems

The cleanliness of the rooms was also a significant issue. The floors were so dirty that walking barefoot was not an option. This is basic housekeeping and should never be overlooked, regardless of the hotel category or location.

Cleanliness is one of the simplest standards to meet, yet it was clearly not prioritised.

Management Response and Accountability

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the stay was management’s lack of ownership.

There was no compensation offered. No genuine apology. No sense of accountability. Just a feeling that guest concerns were an inconvenience rather than something to be addressed seriously.

This property used to operate under the Copthorne name, and after this experience, it is easy to understand why that association no longer exists.

Final Verdict

Would I stay at The Sands Hotel Hokianga again? Absolutely not.

The views are stunning. The location is exceptional. Ōmāpere itself is beautiful and worth visiting. But accommodation can make or break a trip, and in this case, it did precisely that.

When basic promises like room type, WiFi, facilities, cleanliness, and customer care are not met, no amount of scenery can compensate.

Who Might Still Consider It

If you are only stopping briefly, do not need WiFi, are flexible with room arrangements, and set expectations very low, you may find the location appealing.

For everyone else, especially couples, families, content creators, or anyone needing to work remotely, this is not the place.

Final Thoughts

Northland has so many incredible places to stay, and Ōmāpere deserves accommodation that matches its natural beauty. Sadly, this hotel does not.

Tell me honestly. Have you ever had a hotel stay that completely ruined an otherwise beautiful trip?

Google Reviews:

The Sands Hotel Hokianga

4.3

Based on 130 reviews

review us on

Kayla Tennent

01:15 10 May 26

We had such a lovely stay here. The staff are fantastic! So attentive and ready to help you. It was lush to experience what I believe to be a recent renovation. The view from the new rooms is tranquil. I’m genuinely excited to come back. Thank you for hosting my Nan, aunty and myself ❤️

Cherani Seneviratne

07:06 03 May 26

This was meant to be just a stopover for us, but it turned out to be one of the best places we’ve ever stayed. The rooms were beautiful and clean, and the view was breathtaking. We were lucky enough to watch a stunning sunset and enjoy stargazing at night. The staff, including the reception, were incredibly welcoming. I didn’t want to leave such a lovely place.

Lisa Apeldoorn

21:43 24 Mar 26

Loved our stay. It was a stunning location with views to impress, right on the waterfront. Absolutely immaculate grounds and facilities, yummy food and drinks. But their best asset of all is the staff. So warm friendly and genuine. Everyone was so friendly & happy to chat. Just delightful.

Shantel Tane-Korewha

15:15 15 Feb 26

We had the most beautiful stay here. From the moment we arrived, everything felt so peaceful and welcoming. The views were absolutely stunning and the space itself was spotless, cozy, and thoughtfully set up with everything we needed.

It truly felt like a little escape from the world. The perfect place to relax and recharge. We left feeling refreshed and so grateful for the experience. Highly recommend and would absolutely stay again 💛

The service of the staff was top tier! Big shout out to Mike who checked us in at 10:30pm without a hum and a ha and made it feel so welcoming despite the time. And the cleaners who serviced our room. I believe his name is Noema, beautiful service young man. Thank you!

Ps: excuse the quality of the photos, they’re from a video I took when we arrived.

crystal hohaia

09:04 12 Jan 26

We have just had our wedding here 10-01-2026. We stayed for three nights. All I can say is we are absolutely privileged to have our wedding here. The staff were absolutely incredible, they didn’t miss a beat and always went above and beyond. The manager, top tier service. Also the behind the scene, the cleaners thank you for your patience use were very accommodating. I would recommend this place so much that my family wanted to stay extra nights. A hidden gem! I wish I could relive the time I had spent there. 10/10

Jessica Stewarts

10:14 11 Jan 26

Not my first time visiting The Sands, and definitely won't be the last! I ordered the tacos and my friend had the ribs and they tasted even better than they looked. The service was honestly amazing, these hard working local kaimahi are so on to it, and it was nice to see some familiar faces. Pro tip - get seats outside, you won't regret it. The view is incredible, can't get enough of those hokianga sunsets. Also spotted a little something on the water... not sure if it's in use or not but I am eager to test out their new cruise, looks amazing even from afar. The already-high standard of The Sands keeps improving, and I am so grateful to the people running the place, you really make home feel like home. Keep up the good work whānau and don't be surprised if you see my face again! 😂

Sandy Fletcher

09:00 04 Jan 26

Comfortable beds, fair prices and excellent food. The staff are friendly, helpful and loving. Many thanks to the lovely lady who helped set up the extra bed, even though she had actually been at the beach when we arrived (without pre-booking). Also massive hugs to the charming and loving manager of the restaurant, who so obviously practices the love he talks about. I highly recommend coming here.

Norma Mutu

08:19 31 Dec 25

We had a beautiful stay over the Xmas period with our moko. Rooms were beautiful, beds comfy as and bathrooms awesome. Staff were amazing, friendly and sooo helpful. We made use of the pool area and that was great fun too. Special thanks to Carolyn and the whaea who works with Carolyn to make our stay such a wonderful one. Ngā mihi

Giovanni Armaneo

03:10 09 Dec 25

We had a work Christmas party here and stayed in the hotel the evening. The staff were good and rooms very nice. Big comfortable beds and nice bathrooms. The setting is perfect, beaches and wide vistas aplenty. Highly recommended.

Andre Mendes da Costa

20:04 19 Nov 25

Fabulous location and a destination in itself, The Sands was one of the memorable highlights in our tour group's 10-day Northland Experience. The friendliness of the staff, the amazing food (especially the on-site hangi!), and the views from our rooms made us not want to leave. Head over to Hokianga Harbour on your next trip up north, the lovely people there will make you feel at home.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nicholas Kaio

03:31 06 Nov 25

Beautiful views and location however. Service wac lack lustre at the most .
Place was like a building site with an angry builder who took it upon himself to abuse me, a paying guest.
Cleaners were more that happy yo go through your belongings and staff did not care.
Rooms were outdated and not up to par with the rest of the world..

Tayla

03:02 24 Aug 25

The staff are absolutely lovely, however the rooms seem really rundown. I don’t think the price point reflects the quality of the rooms.
We paid almost $700 for 2 nights, the villas have one bar of slow wifi, no cutlery, plates or a microwave. The fridge also froze my cheese, and the complementary milk was frozen solid. The room had a strong chlorine smell & the bedding smelt of cologne so unsure if they were washed properly, but I left with bites all over my body. So either bed bugs or fleas yuck. And everything was just a bit meh, I think they either lower the price or up the quality. But just a bit disappointed and dissatisfied 🙁

stacey davies

03:17 03 Aug 25

Beautiful place
Beautiful people
However the reason for my one star.
They had a function on the Saturday night, we went for dinner at 530 only to be turned away as chef wasn’t serving paying guests till 630 as they had a function!
Whilst I understand I wish we would have been told at time of checking into our room.
We were staying there and paying guests and maybe more help would have been more beneficial for chef as he clearly couldn’t cope with the function and a few guests