Tripadvisor 4.9 out of 5 Read reviews

Welcome to our home...

Chelsea House Bed & Breakfast - an award winning welcoming home in Central Whangarei.

We look forward to welcoming you as guests in our beautiful home during your stay with us in Whangarei, Northland. Our home is a large 110+ year old character villa, which in its past life was well renowned as ‘Chelsea Tea House’. People would come from near and far to enjoy Devonshire teas on the verandah and in the front garden. The house has two King guest rooms with ensuites, a relaxed, comfortable decor - with high ceilings, polished native Kauri floors and many architectural features inside and out.

In 2020 we received Trip Advisors 'Traveller Choice 2020' awarded to the top 10% of hotels in the world. In 2021 Booking.com recently awarded us with a Guest Review Award for our commitment to exceptional hospitality with a rating of 9.8 out of 10. Its almost 4 years since we welcomed our first guests, and we have now hosted almost 950+ happy guests.

Check in is available after 3pm and until 9pm

Should you arrive in Whangarei earlier than 3pm, you could make your way to the Town Marina Basin where you will find galleries, museums, cafes and a lovely walking trail alongside the river. The Quarry Gardens are another option to explore, beautiful subtropical gardens where you can stroll and enjoy the fabulous range of flowers, plants, and trees. The Quail Cafe located in the gardens is open Wed - Sun 9am - 3pm.

  • Please note as a courtesy to our neighbours and other guests we are unable to accept pets to stay.

Location and nearby attractions

Chelsea House is centrally located on the main road into town. Directly aross the road from us is the Parihaka Scenic Reserve & Mair Park where you can immerse yourself in the beautiful native forest. You can access native bush walks, walking tracks to the picturesque Whangarei Falls, AH Reed Memorial Park where you can walk on a boardwalk amongst 500+ year old maturing Kauri trees, or for the fitter folks - take the track up to the summit and viewing platform for a fabulous view over the city. The Town Basin Marina is just 4mins by car or a walk either through the reserve following the Hatea River Walk or walk down Hatea Drive (where we are located). At the Town Marina Basin you will find cafes, restaurants, Clock Muesuem, art galleries & shops.
Walk the 4.2km Hatea Loop walk, the Hundertwasser Art Centre (currently under construction), Sculpture Trail Te Matau a Pohe (Bascule) Bridge & the Camera Obscura are just some of the features to explore along the loop.

Whangarei has it's own Kiwi House at Kiwi North with two resident Kiwi. The Quarry Gardens are world class, built by volunteers in an old Quarry. Visit the quirky Quarry Arts Centre or visit the Historical Village in the Maunu countryside. To see more visit www.WhangareiNZ.com

If you are not planning to go to all the way to Cape Reinga you can make Chelsea House in Whangarei your base for two or three days to discover, escape & explore the North. With over 100 beaches in the Whangarei District, you can easily make day trips to many of Northland's stunning beaches, many just 30mins drive from Whangarei at Whangarei Heads or the Tutukaka coast. Or just over an hour away are Paihia & Russell in the Bay of Islands.

Tripadvisor 5 out of 5 Read reviews
Call +64 276 263 740
83 Hatea Drive, Whangarei
Northland, New Zealand
Email stay@chelsea-house.co.nz
Book now
  • “Great place to stay while we were up for the Spirited Women Adventure Race. Thank you so I much for your hospitality. You really went the extra mile to look after us.” ~ Qi-Wern, March 2021 Mount Maunganui
  • “Wonderful stay. Thanks Jennie & Tony- great hospitality. Would love to stay longer. Will recommend your lovely B&B.” ~ Paul & Heather, March 2021 North Yorkshire & Napier NZ
  • “Comfy bed, wonderful hosts had a super relaxing time& so glad we stayed her. Thank you.” ~ Jasmine & Paul, February 2021 Auckland
  • “This would have to be the best bnb in NZ. We stayed here 4 nights. From the moment we walked in we felt at home. Jennie explained the history of the old house and then showed us to our room. The room was spacious and extremely clean as was the ensuite. We were given the use of their lounge which had a small table in it. With use of the microwave, plates and cutlery available in a unit in the spacious passage way we were able to buy at the supermarket and cook our own meals. Breakfasts were filling served at the long table in the kitchen. As we didn't eat the croissants Jennie filled the with ham, cheese and tomato for our lunches. As we were away from home for a while I was able to catch up on our washing using their washing machine. Jennie and Tony are superb hosts, there if needed, if not, in the background leaving us to our own devices. We would highly recommend this BnB.” ~ Gayle & Noel, Nov 2020 Matamata
  • “Hi Jennie and Tony We had a great day yesterday. Saw the magnificent Whangarei falls and park, walked around AH Reed park, beautifully maintained I have to say. Then on to the quarry gardens. Lots of enthusiastic volunteers working to repair the flood damage. It is something to be proud of. I need a few of them in my garden. Then on to Muir Park and the Hatea trail. We had lunch at the Town Basin Marina which was well deserved after our excercise and it set us up for the walk back to the car (10,000 odd steps). We then drove up the Memorial Drive but the lookout was closed due to repairmen working on the aerial. So off home and arrived here at 6.00 pm. Terrific short stay and will have to follow it up some day. Many thanks for making it such a great trip. Regards Gill and Ian” ~ Ian & Gill, Sept 2020 Auckland
  • “Congratulations Chelsea House Bed & Breakfast on being a Travellers’ Choice 2020 Winner. Each year, we comb through reviews, ratings, and saves from Travellers everywhere, and use that information to award the very best. You’re part of an exclusive group and we ant to help you celebrate this major accomplishment.” ~ Trip Advisor Trip Advisor, Worldwide
  • “Gratitude Jen & Tony for sharing your special home just before lockdown. We will be back if only for a proper hug!” ~ Cari & Steve, March 2020 Woodstock, New York, USA
  • “Among the Top 5 B&B we have stayed in. Just Great!” ~ Carmela & Doug, March 2020 Ottawa,Ontario, Canada
  • “Wonderful property - very clean and so welcoming I feel like part of the family! Would stay again! Loved it!” ~ Pat & Ruth, February 2020 Long Beach California, USA
  • “Very good range of cereals, yoghurts, croissants and fillings. Location close to CBD and easy to find. A lovely old, well-maintained historic double bay villa. Off-street parking at rear. Great, friendly hosts willing to give time and answer questions - enthusiasts for the hosting role but also giving guests their own space. Excellent facilities. Comfortable bed in roomy bedroom with good lighting (two lamps over bed and twin bedside tables which are often lacking in other sites. Small but well-organised en-suite with good shower pressure and heat.” ~ Jo & Russell, Jan 2020 Auckland, NZ
  • “Thank you for making our visit so marvellous. This is the best B&B experience (air or otherwise!!) we have ever had xx” ~ Lise & Ed, October 2019 Toronto, Canada
  • “Dear Jennie I want to thank you for hosting me at Chelsea House yesterday. What a treat!! When you get into a new place and meet new people.. there are many options... best to feel comfortable/at ease and relax like you had been there many times and just coming back after a long absence. ALL of these is what you made me feel at Chelsea House. You made me feel a member of your family, offering me tea, coffee, fruits, loaf of freshly baked loaf... with that simplicity and a happy smile on your face. The room was perfect. Breakfast with fresh fruits and yoghurts and baked croissant. No detail missing Helpful is not the word... is much more than that.. its quality time... which makes a BIG difference when you stay in a place like this. At the end it was not just a night I enjoyed .. it was an experience that I loved and appreciate you shared with me. Muchas gracias, Jose” ~ Jose, July 19 Chile
  • “Jennie & Tony are amazing hosts. I stayed with them for a week whilst starting work at the hospital and I highly recommend Chelsea House B&B to those coming to do the same. They both have years of experience leading tours and this shows in their attention to detail for making their guests truly welcome. I loved staying here and you will too! Highly recommended A***” ~ Adam, June 2019 United Kingdom
  • “I highly recommend this place!:) Not only is the house absolutely gorgeous (my ideal house for sure.. house goals!) but the hosts were just amazing. Jennie and Tony are a lovely couple who greeted us in their gorgeous house with a warm welcome. The bedroom/bathroom was beautiful a very relaxed atmosphere and comfortable bed.. We had a lovely breakfast and great conversations. Also, cant forget to add this in.. we were staying on the night of my partners birthday and I had told Jennie. she was sweet enough to put up a happy birthday banner in our bedroom. so sweet!:) Thankyou Jennie and Tony, you have an absolutely gorgeous house well done, and thank you so much for your lovely hospitality. you were certainly an addition to our lovely experience of NZ and guys dont even hesitate... pick Chelsea House, you wont regret it:) oh and take on their recomendations to the waterfall its only 5 mins from their house... stunning!! :)” ~ Denise & Nick, May 2019 Adelaide, South Australia
  • “Hi Jennie and Tony, We are home in the UK after our holiday to NZ and we just wanted to send you a personal thankyou for sharing your lovely house with us and for helpint to make our time in N so enjoyable. Your welcoming, smile, all the ittle extras, and generosity, in both the time you spent with us and information you share with us, will stay in our memory for a long time. Best wishes from us both, Alan and Judith Davidson” ~ Judith and Alan, Feb 2019 United Kingdom
  • “The HotelsCombined Recognition of Excellence is not a ranking list, but a group of outstanding accommodations chosen based on a strict set of criteria. Chelsea House Bed & Breakfast boasts a high satisfaction rating among guests and travel industry experts, receiving 93 reviews for an impressive rating 10/10. “We are thrilled to be working with the best of accommodation in New Zealand and Chelsea House Bed & Breakfast is certainly among them” said Alberto Castellucchio, market manager of HotelsCombined New Zealand “What is different about the Recognition of Excellence is the way information is gathered and analysed:it all depends on the guest and his or her experience with that particular accommodation.”” ~ HotelsCombined - Recognition of Excellence 2018 United Kingdom
  • “Accueil chaleureux des propriétaires. Informations très pertinentes sur ce qu'il y a à faire dans la région.Chambre très confortable avec un grand lit King. Petit déjeuner copieux et savoureux.Très bonne expérience.” ~ Patrick & Sylviane, November 2018 France
  • “Thanks it was wonderful.” ~ Eugen, Dominic & Charlotte, Oct 2018 Cologne, Germany
  • “What a great stay! Beautiful house, awesome hosts! We will stay longer next time. Thank you” ~ Vivienne & Mathias, April 2018 Brazil & Germany
  • “We loved our stay here, mainly and especially because of Tony & Jennie” ~ Marcio & Regione, March 2018 Brazil
  • “Fantastic place to stay!” ~ Hendri - Business traveller, March 2018 South Africa/NZ
  • “Fantastic house and wonderful hospitality, wish we had planned to stay longer” ~ Julie & Nathan, Feb 2018 Toronto, Canada
  • “Het is een prachtige locatie hier! Als we ooit weer naan NZ komen, komen we zeker hier terug. Prachtig!” ~ Mari en Angeline, Jan 2018 Nederland
  • “What a beautiful place you have here and what amazing hosts you have been. Thanks for all the tips and hospitality. Stay in touch!” ~ Nicola & Dave, Oct 2017 Bournemouth, U.K.
  • “So please to be the first Sri Lankans to stay here & what an experience. We came as guests & left as friends. Thanks so much Jennie and Tony for your warm and gracious hospitality. Blessings.” ~ Hiran, Dharshi & Harin, Jan 2018 Sri Lanka,