Aotea Lodge Great Barrier

We had an excellent week on Great Barrier staying at the Aotea Lodge, really a nice spot. The location is good, just on the outskirts of Tryphena, about a 5 min walk to the grocery store, pub, restaurant, and beach. Located on the south end of the island, it is a bit of a drive to some of the points of interest, however nothing more than an hour. And the roads are scenic and lightly travelled, so not really an issue. We were greeted at the Claris airport by our friendly host and got checked into our rental car, also provided by Aotea Lodge. The lodge was about 20min drive away and we were quickly checked into our unit, a 1-bedroom affair with kitchen. Our hosts, Fiona and Mike, were very friendly and helpful in providing local information. The unit was older but roomy, well decorated and well maintained – very comfortable. The kitchen was functional and we were able to prepare some basic meals during our stay. We had a nice wraparound deck with outdoor furniture, a great outdoor spot for breakfast. There was no TV, however the Wifi connection seemed to work reasonably well. There is also a spotty mobile phone connection in the unit. Our only complaint was that it was a bit warm and muggy during our stay, making it difficult to sleep, as there was no fan and no screens on the windows/doors. We tried leaving the door open at night but just ended up with tons of mosquitos inside. Screened doors/windows or a fan would be a nice addition. Our rental car was great, just a little Mazda Demio, which was perfect for zipping around the island on the narrow winding roads. We had a great stay and would definitely recommend this place to other travelers looking for a functional base on Great Barrier.