Review: Park Hyatt Auckland, New Zealand

Thank you for this review. I am planning to be there in January and very likely staying at the Park Hyatt, so it's very typical for me.

looks like a grand hyatt or hyatt regency. That's disappointing.

post idea - you should rank all the park hyatts you've stayed at.

Ben,

I thought you could only get the prive rate and benefits if it’s a two night stay?

The hotel looks stunning and perfectly located to me. I’ll definitely stay there the next time I’m in Auckland, given my preference for the Hyatt ecosystem. I’ve previously stayed at the Hilton nearby and the Sheraton Four Points in the central city. Thanks for the review.

Could someone clarify — where are you supposed to eat lunch & dinner on the days the main restaurant is closed?

The hotel looks great but cold press orange juice? whatever next marketing nonsense people will come up with next..

Stayed here as a Globalist two months ago in a Park Suite (standard suite).

I'd agree the lobby is quite big for a Park Hyatt, however I still feel like it provides the ambience of a true Park Hyatt in Asia Pacific over a Grand Hyatt.

In regards to the view and balcony, the Park Suite I was in also had a large balcony with a water view. Granted, it was on the other corner of the hotel and therefore had no view of the city, but I wouldn't say your Harbour View Balcony Room was definitively better. Notably, in terms of amenties the suites have bottles of Aesop rather then Le Labo.

Also didn't receive a note nor a welcome amenity as a Glob, so that's a Prive only thing.

Great review. This property had just opened when I was Auckland last time. I ended up going with Hilton instead when I was in town and had a very nice stay at their Bow Suite. Next time hope to stay at the PH instead.

You do realize the Auckland is a moderately large city and that there are several restaurants within 100 yards of the hotel?

Ben, I have to disagree with the following:

" I’d like to recognize the assistant guest services manager for having the best handwriting I’ve ever seen"

For someone who has travelled the World as much as you have, I'm surprised by your comment. Yes, it is very neat but it's no different to a teenager's here in the UK, just a mish-mash of joined-up writing. Also, what's with the prominent 'Y'?

I was here in August, also as Globalist and in a Park Suite and there was a welcome amenity. I actually really liked the hotel. It's fits in with Auckland and Kiwis in general - very unassuming but also high quality (I say all this with high praise for NZ - love it there!). This is not close at all to a Grand Hyatt, much less a Hyatt Regency. Park Suite is a huge space (although it only has a dining table and no proper desk - I don't like that hotel trend). Globalist breakfast is awesome with the cold buffet and one hot item ala carte included.

As a lap swimmer, anytime a hotel has a 25-meter (not yard) lap pool I find that fantastic and way above average. The Conrad Tokyo is similar IIRC. While the tiles don't scream luxury, it's a traditional design I prefer. That's a nice view as well from the pool. Count me in!

Interesting, welcome amenity seems inconsistent then. Agree on the breakfast though, it's up to par with Park Hyatt Sydney IMO.

I'm a 'true' Globalist as well, no credit card nights or fast track offers. And over 60 nights this year already with no HH or HP's in the mix.

The morons never let a buzzword go to waste. I've seen 'artisanal bread' and 'hand-crafted chips' and 'lovingly nurtured poultry' too. It's a 'quest for authenticity' for a certain segment of society [which will go unnamed here] but all comes across as very wanky, very pathetic; and very manufactured. Which is deeply ironic when you think about it..

I stayed at the PH Auckland in late July and whilst it is undeniably different in style to a property such as the PH Sydney, I love that it has a distinctive Auckland feel. Just as the PH Melbourne has a sense of Melbourne and the PH Sydney is so very Sydney, this PH offering has an authentic Auckland vibe which elevates it to PH status. The atrium gives way to smaller, intimate spaces, interesting nooks with water features and art as Ben shows, and the rooms are absolutely gorgeous - I would highly recommend the Harbour Suite for a couple. Each room is thoughtfully appointed as one would expect but it is the Maori wall treatments which are divine and so refreshingly different.

The dining options were found to be appropriate throughout with Onemata providing an exceptional menu showcasing NZ produce. In a town which has many fine and interesting dining options, this hotel always needed to have strong culinary options.
As Ben also notes, the breakfast buffet presented in the Onemata space is not vast, but I would much rather the quality provided than a larger spread of inferior options; and the menu options covered all tastes.

The staff, without exception, exhibited that rare and welcome combination of professionalism and friendliness and this was from the concierge to the front desk, to the dining and bar venues and room service attendants but the highlight was being introduced to Beau and his story. And as neither a Globalist, nor a Privé guest, we were offered the same welcome amenity which was a particularly appreciated.

The only small quibble was the pool area. Swimming laps, particularly after a flight, is always a welcomed treat and particularly so in this pool given the aspect over the harbour and the dock area - it is a beautiful place to swim. The only issue is the roof feels a little oppressive and I would like to be able to sit in direct sunshine (for a responsible amount of time) but that small quibble really is a first world whinge.

This hotel deserves the PH moniker.

Great timing Ben! I’ll be there next week and haven’t found any detailed reviews. First trip to NZ so really excited. Your info is always spot on. Thank you!

In mass-produced bread, there is very little fermentation built into the process which results in a more closed-cell structure. Artisan bread, on the other hand, often has a much more open and airy look to it since the bread rises from fermentation rather than the kneading process.

Great review Ben!

Helpful review, thank you. The hotel and facilities looks wonderful. I was surprised to see the welcome amenity being described as vegan, though, when it clearly includes honey. I know some people on a vegan diet do eat honey (most don't), however I would have thought a different sweetener could have been used if they wanted to provide a product that is truly vegan-friendly.

I agree @Jim. It seems, and I've questioned before, that people on this site seem to only want to eat/hang out at the hotel they book. I'll never understand traveling to a foreign country and then eating every meal at the same place. I understand there is a convenience that comes with walking downstairs and getting something that is "high quality," but how often is that really needed versus what someone tells themselves so they do not have to ever leave their comfort zone.

I mean, the post above seems to imply that if the restaurant is closed, they would simply go hungry that night. There is obviously nowhere else to get food in a city of 1.5 million people...

The pool would look totally different if they'd simply used a different color tile, such as dark blue

at the white lady! like everyone in Auckland does.

What a great positive review of that property, it looks great and the food delicious

Seems like the guests' room TV should be in front of the bed. And, shouldn't those belts securing the couch back cushions be lines (ropes) instead as a nautical theme?

Otherwise, from the looks of it the place is architecturally cold. The designers created a designer prison with artwork.

Nope. It's determined (mainly) by Brand. For all Alila, Parks, Andaz it's one night. For Regency's, it is 2 nights, while other brands are variable brtween 1 and 2-- Or at least that's how it was when i helped launch Privé program prepandemic.

Nope. It's determined (mainly) by Brand. For all Alila, Parks, Andaz it's one night. For Regency's, it is 2 nights, while other brands are variable brtween 1 and 2-- Or at least that's how it was when i helped launch Privé program prepandemic.

@ hotintx and Jim, Lucky is reviewing the hotel and its restaurants, not restaurants that are near the hotel. This is standard for Lucky, did anyone really think he was going to review restaurants nearby??

This is very clearly a Hotel Review, not a travel blog, so I agree that there appears to be quite the incongruence between some reader's expectations versus what Lucky sets out to provide. To go to the extent of writing a criticism about this only seems to highlight the individual's ignorance...