A house with a story
Number 36 Sandringham Road has been standing since 1910 — a timber Edwardian-era villa in a suburb that grew up with the tramlines of early Auckland. The original construction, with its classic verandah and solid timber framing, is still visible in the character of the building today. It's the kind of old-new contrast that boutique travellers love: genuine heritage outside, genuinely modern inside.
Adapting a heritage villa into a motel was always about preservation meets practicality. Original architectural details have been kept where they give the building its character, while everything that makes a stay comfortable — insulation, double glazing, heat pumps, modern ensuites — has been quietly upgraded so the heritage charm doesn't come at the cost of comfort.
Travelling for character
Chain hotels give you the same room in every city. Staying in a heritage property gives you a sense of place: you're in a building that watched Sandringham develop from farmland-bound tram suburb to one of Auckland's liveliest neighbourhoods. Families, couples and international visitors all respond to it differently, but the consistent comment is that it feels genuinely New Zealand.
There's a reason heritage accommodation is so sought-after — it photographs beautifully, it tells a story, and it slows you down in the best way. After a busy day at Eden Park or a long flight in, coming home to a porch-lit, timber-framed building feels like arriving, not just checking in.
Old bones, modern stay
The practical side matters too: kitchenettes mean self-contained convenience, ensuites in each room mean privacy, and the quiet grounds mean you sleep properly. Because the villa structure naturally diffuses sound between rooms and our double glazing handles the street, heritage character and restful nights actually complement each other.
Whether you pick the villa for a romantic weekend, a base for exploring the stadium precinct, or somewhere genuinely charming for the parents visiting family in Auckland, it offers the one thing that's increasingly rare in accommodation: a story to remember.
