When in Auckland, I stayed at the Mercure Auckland Queen Street and I have to say: it ended up being a pretty decent option if you’re looking to explore the city centre. Because the hotel was located right in the middle of Queen Street, I never had to take a taxi or try to navigate public transport, I simply walked everywhere I needed to go. While this isn’t some swanky boutique hotel, my room was comfortable enough and everything functioned as it should, so I’d stay here again with no problems.
Overall, I really liked it. Check-in was fast, and my room had everything I wanted. Being able to park underneath building was also nice since I rented a car one day to go on a day trip outside the city.
Here’s what the hotel was like… From the lobby to the rooms to all those little things that can make or break your stay (like parking).
Why I Liked This Hotel
Mercure Auckland Queen Street
The Mercure sign was above entrance on Queen Street, which made it easy for me to walk up to the hotel.
If being in the center of everything is what you’re looking for, this place can’t get much better. I was a short walk from the Sky Tower, waterfront, and lots of shops and cafes. The other thing I immediately noticed is that there are clear signs from the street to the parking lobby (which helped immensely when I returned with my car).
Finding where to park at hotels in city centres can be a nightmare and having it spelled out from street level will save you some stress.
The lobby was moddern but not too much so; there’s a curved reception desk and a bit of art on the wall. Check-in went smoothly enough, standard stuff (card/passport) and no wait time here. There are a couple of places to sit and wait or look at your phone, which is nice.
There is also a window seat that gets good natural light and a bunch of lounge chairs throughout. It is a pretty standard mid-range chain hotel lobby: functional and clean, without being over the top.
After checking in, I grabbed some water from the dispenser near the lobby before heading up to the room. I always like it when hotels let you easily refill your bottle instead of paying extra for bottled water in the mini-bar.
There were lifts with benches in the lobbies should you have to wait, and the corridors featured pretty new-looking patterned carpet. It was one of the higher floors, and my room opened out into a short passageway before leading towards the bed area. The card lock operated without any issues (always a welcome sight after a full day exploring the city).
Inside there was the emergency evacuation plan mounted as usual, which I glanced at quickly and largely forgot.
It was a pretty good sized room for a city hotel. It had a headboard on the bed, which I always think is a nice touch (even though it can be a bit corporate), and a mural of the Auckland skyline behind it. The bed was comfortable…
In fact, I slept well both nights, so what more do you need? There was a luggage rack by the door into which I threw my suitcase and the mirrored wall made the room seem slightly larger then it was. The lamp and phone were easily reachable from the bed, and I spotted a card on the bedside table wishing me a good night’s sleep (with a cheery message).
There was also a little seating area near the window. I didn’t sit in it, I just left my bag and jacket there, but it looked cozy with cushions. There was plenty of room on the desk for me to spread out my laptop and get organized with some pictures.
And the curtains pulled back completely. Unfortunately, it overlooked another building; not the most scenic view, but again, this is the city center so I wasn’t really expecting much.
There was a tea and coffee tray with some Dilmah tea bags, as well as some glassware and a kettle in the minibar area. After a day out I made myself a cup of tea in the evening, which was nice. Everything was clean and the set-up was simple.
There were some yoghurt pots and a couple of other things in the compact fridge. I didn’t purchase any of the minibar stuff, prices are always ridiculous! But I did store some snacks that I’d bought at a nearby supermarket in the fridge.
The wardrobe contained an iron with an ironing board and hangers all safely hidden away, as well as a safe (where I kept some money and my passport). I don’t need to iron anything, but it’s nice to know an iron is available if I am traveling for business or have clothes that need pressing.
The room was a decent size but it was well laid out, a separate toilet, wall-hung vanity, and mirror. A hairdryer sat in one of the drawers, with a spare toilet roll and towels hung on the rail. I read the linen-reuse card pinned near the shower, asking if I’d like to reuse my towels.
I said yes. I’m only staying for a couple of nights, so I don’t need fresh towels every day. Everything looked clean and freshly updated.
A couple of glasses sat on a wooden tray on the vanity.
It had a handset as well as a rain shower head (though it was one of those walk-in enclosures). The water pressure was good, the temperature was consistent, and they provided soap/shampoo via wall-mounted dispensers. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from the shower (it’s a type of hotel), after all.
But it was actualy better than I anticipated, I’ve been to more expensive hotels that have had worse showers.
The hotel also had secure parking which is a big plus; some hotels in cities don’t have any or they charge a fortune. When I collected the hire car, there was a sign clearly showing where to go into the basement via the roller shutter entrance. After that, it was simple enough to locate my bay.
It was nothing fancy, just a basic concrete car park. But one less thing to worry about!
The Mercure Auckland Queen Street ticked all the boxes for me overall. The room was clean and comfortable. It’s in a really central location, and I had no problems whatsoever with my stay.
If you want somewhere convenient in the middle of Auckland that won’t cost an arm and a leg then this is a good choice. What’s your favourite accommodation in Auckland (or have you stayed in any of the other Mercure hotels around New Zealand)? Let me know in the comments.
