Relax in the tranquil By The Harbour studio, perfectly suited for a peaceful retreat. With private access, an inviting courtyard with BBQ and plunge pool (unheated), you can unwind after exploring Tauranga CBD or Mount Maunganui Beach.
Reviews
9.69.6 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi
Outdoor Space
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
By The Harbour
Karen and David welcome you to stay By The Harbour at our freshly refurbished, clean and bright studio located on the first level of our family home. The suite is completely separate from the main house. Enjoy privacy and security with your own private access, courtyard with BBQ, outdoor tables and chairs, plunge pool(unheated) and off road parking. The suite has two bedrooms, a separate toilet, bathroom with shower, vanity and washing machine and the lounge/dining area, with kitchenette, opens up right onto the courtyard. Away from the hustle and bustle this quiet haven is the perfect compliment to a busy day of sightseeing or after a big day at the Mount beach (15 – 20 min drive). Just come home and relax! Our desirable location is a 2min walk to the harbour where you can enjoy the walkways, park and views across to Mount Maunganui and Matakana Island. Take a stroll to our local shops: Fish and Chips, Japanese and Hawaiin Food (Dine in or Takeaway), Matua Pub, dairy and Hairdresser. The Cherrywood Shops are a short drive away and include a bakery, café, Butchery, Gift shop, Four Square store, Istanbul - Turkish Eatery, Neighbourhood Restaurant and our popular shoe shop. Only a 10 minute drive to Tauranga CBD.
Property amenities
Beach
Beach nearby
Beach towels
Pool/Spa
Private pool
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Parking on site
Kitchenette
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Electric kettle
Microwave
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
1 bathroom
Hair dryer
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Entertainment
TV
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
No elevator
Stair-free path to entrance
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a village
In the city center
On the waterfront
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
About the neighborhood
Located on the waterfront, this vacation home is in Matua, a neighborhood in Tauranga. Tenpin Tauranga and Mount Maunganui Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Fergusson Park and Baycourt Community & Arts Centre. Waimarino Adventure Park and Game On Activities are also worth visiting. Visit our Tauranga travel guide
Located in Matua, this vacation home is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Fergusson Park and within 6 mi (10 km) of The Elms Mission House and Mission Cemetery. Robbins Park and Tauranga Domain are also within 6 mi (10 km).
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By The Harbour Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 48 out of 58 reviews
10 - Excellent
48
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 58 reviews
8 - Good
9
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 58 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 58 reviews
2 - Terrible
1
9.8
Cleanliness
9.8
Location
8.0
Property conditions & facilities
Reviews
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Rebecca
11 January 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Fabulous communication. Accom very tidy and spacious. Pool small but great to cool off in. Sometumes a bit noisy from floor creaking upstairs. Location fantastic.
Hosts we're wonderful. Sarge the resident cat was incredibly attentive (we would visit again just for his cuddles, he's a real character). We were made to feel very welcome, David and Karen even joined us for a drink when we were having user issues with the TV. This unit is bright, warm, quiet and clean with a very safe feel about it. Only a short stroll to the waterfront.
Fantastic and friendly hosts. A great location if you want to stay away from the noise of the Mount...yet only 15min drive to get back into it. Highly recommended place to stay.
We really enjoyed the outdoor table and BBQ,had a lovely walk down to beach and park, very handy to everything. Our hosts were great, friendly and welcoming, would love to stay agai
Very peaceful and quiet location. Beautiful surroundings and a very enjoyable and clean property. Owners made us feel really welcome. Absolutely would recommend this property to anyone.
A nice location close to estuary, big park, shops etc.
My grandchildren loved the park. Comfortable and clean with everything you need to chill out and enjoy the views.
Property very small more like a b&b booked online said as breakfast included nothing as such no clothes dryer as described overall very clean property ,host very welcoming
I booked this place mainly because my daughter loves swimming, so having a plunge pool was an important reason for choosing this property. Unfortunately, the pool was closed and not available to use, which was very disappointing and not mentioned in the listing.
Another major issue was the kitchen setup. There is no proper kitchen sink, and we were told to wash dishes in the bathroom, which is very uncomfortable and not hygienic. This does not match the description of having a kitchenette or suitable cooking facilities.
The outdoor space for the pool and barbecue also looks unused and not maintained, making it feel non-functional and not enjoyable.
Because of all these issues, the property did not match the listing at all. We left the place within one hour of checking in and had to book another accommodation instantly, which ended up costing us more.
Overall, this was not the experience we expected when booking.
Good for price, however, a bit inconvenient not having water/sink in the kitchen facilities, other than that, excellent for a small family and short time.