Apartment

Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House

Photo gallery for Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House

A room with two chairs facing a large window, a small table, and a view of a rural landscape.
A house with a covered patio area, a large window with curtains, and a satellite dish.
Room with Queen bed, 2 x Double-Single bunk-beds & 2 x Single-Single bunk-beds.
Open-plan unrenovated ground-floor kitchen-dining-lounge leading & conservatory
Looking at Kitchen & Lounge from Dining area

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
2 bedroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Deck or patio
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
Dargaville, Northland
  • Place, Dargaville Museum
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Place, The Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Studio
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Taha Awa Riverside Gardens
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Airport, Whangarei (WRE)
    ‪91 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Huge Upstairs Dorm Bedroom

1 Queen Bed, 2 Double Beds and 6 Single Bunk Beds

Twin Room off Main Bedroom

2 Single Beds

Bathroom-Laundry

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House

Large self-contained "cheap & cheerful" [unrenovated] Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Old Aratapu School 5-10mins from Dargaville.

BEDROOMS
> 12-PERSON DORM ROOM: Huge upstairs main bedroom with Queen bed, 2 x Double-Single bunk-beds, and 2 x Single-Single bunk-beds
> SMALL ADJOINING TWIN ROOM: Small attic bedroom, up half a flight of stairs from the huge main Dorm Bedroom, with 2 x Single Beds (and the option of the beds being pushed together and made up as a makeshift "SuperKing" bed)

ON THE GROUND FLOOR:
> Spacious old open-plan kitchen-dining-lounge (including dishwasher)
> More seating in the old conservatory off the lounge, which leads out to a small terrace with outdoor seating (smoking permitted outside)
> Old Bathroom with Shower, Washing-machine & Tumble-dryer, and separate Toilet


IMPORTANT:
NOTE-1: The standard Nightly Rate is based on the first six guests sharing the 3 x Queen/Double beds in the huge main bedroom - but don't hesitate to ask for the costs on other bedding configuration options.
NOTE-2: The 4 x Top Single Bunk Beds have a 60kg weight restriction - so primarily suitable for children.


REMMINDER
This is cheap and cheerful [unrenovated] accommodation suitable for up to 14 guests for a night or two (remember there is just one toilet, and one shower), and it is ideal for, say, 2-8 guests for longer stays.


THIS ACCOMMODATION IS NOT SUITABLE FOR FUSSY GUESTS desiring impeccable pristine accommodation - the decor is too old to provide an immaculate presentation! Please don't book this accommodation if you want fault-free perfection.


THIS ACCOMMODATION IS VERY SUITABLE FOR MID-LONGTERM "WORKER GROUPS" wanting space, simplicity and the ability to chillax - plus loads of parking.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR LONGER-TERM 'WORKER GROUP' STAYS:
When the reservation is for Worker Groups of several weeks/months, then a compulsory weekly Mini-Clean surcharge is payable to ensure a regular change of bed-sheets, and cleaning of the floors and bathroom. [Cost depends on the amount of Beds being used, but approx $70/week.]


LOCATION:
> 1-min drive to Diary in Te Kopuru
> 5-min drive to Dargaville
> 10-min drive to Glinks Gully Beach, and local Countdown supermarket
> 15-min drive to Baylys Beach
> 30-min drive to Kai Iwi Lakes
> 1-Hour drive to Tane Mahuta in Waipoua Forest.
> 1-Hour drive to Pouto Point


GUEST ACCESS:
The Guest Wing is fully self-contained with its own front entrance porch, its own ground-floor kitchen-dining-lounge-conservatory-terrace, and its own ground-floor bathroom-laundry with separate toilet.
Upstairs is one HUGE DORM bedroom accommodating up to a dozen guests, and one smaller attic Twin bedroom off the main Dorm Bedroom.
There is also a vast amount of free parking.


FINAL REMINDER:
REMINDER - THE PLACE IS OLD & UNRENOVATED!
The decor is dated and quirky and not ideal for anyone fussy.
PLEASE DON'T RESERVE THIS ACCOMMODATION if you require an impeccable place to stay - it is too old to be immaculate.
But this is a great place to stay if you want to chillax, in a spacious set-up with a good level of privacy and rural feel, and generous parking.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Exterior steps & internal stairs
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
NOISE CURFEW 11pm-7am of loud voices or loud music etc
Special Events potentially possible - subject to prior approval

Important information

You need to know

Property # 9576630
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Aratapu

Located in Aratapu, this apartment is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Taha Awa Riverside Gardens and The Landing, while Dargaville Museum and The Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Studio are cultural highlights. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby fishing, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and cycling.
Map
Dargaville, Northland

What's nearby

  • Dargaville Museum - 10 min drive - 8.7 km
  • The Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Studio - 11 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Zizania Hand Made Papers - 13 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Taha Awa Riverside Gardens - 13 min drive - 11.3 km
  • Kai Iwi Lakes - 46 min drive - 54.3 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Merkabah Cafe Restaurant - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Good Life Stores - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Blah, Blah, Blah Café - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Northern Wairoa Hotel Dargaville - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪D Town Indian Fusion Restaurant - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House?

As of 30 Aug 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House on 9 May 2027 start from AU$190, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Cheap & Cheerful 1-2 Bdr roomy Guest-Wing at the 150-yr-old Aratapu School House located?

Situated in a rural location, this apartment building is within 6 miles (10 km) of Zizania Hand Made Papers, Dargaville Museum and The Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Studio. Taha Awa Riverside Gardens is 6.1 mi (9.8 km) away.

About the host

Hosted by MARY of Booking Admin

Host profile image
NOTE: The property is undergoing long-term renovations, which means the property may look slightly different to the photos - but the Amenities listed are correct.

Why they chose this property

Fully self-contained and well-equipped "cheap & cheerful" large 2-Bedroom Guest-Wing within this large iconic 150-yr-old School House - one of the oldest functioning buildings in the Kaipara!

AMENITIES INCLUDE:
> Roomy Lounge-Dining-Kitchen with Netflix on TV and dishwasher in the kitchen
> Large conservatory with small outside terrace
> Bathroom with shower, washing-machine & dryer
> Separate Toilet
> Huge 8-person upstairs Master Bedroom with Queen bed, 2 x Double-Single Bunk Beds, and large Office Desk. (Room can also take a Double and King-Single mattress on the floor.)
> Smaller Twin bedroom off the Master with 2 x Single Beds. (Optional King-Single mattress on the floor.)
> Lounge L-shape Settee can sleep two.
> Conservatory can act as a "3rd Bedroom" sleeping up to three on couches.
> Pleasant rural outlook
> Loads of free parking

LOCATION:
1-Min to local superette in Te Kopuru
5-Mins to Dargaville
10-Mins to Glinks Gully Beach
10-Mins to Countdown Supermarket
15-Mins to Baylys Beach
30-Mins to Kai Iwi Lakes
1-Hour to Tane Mahuta at Waipoua Forest

What makes this property unique

Without doubt the uniqueness is the fact that this building is 150-yrs-old .... she's a beloved Old Lady! We may be the Owners, but we think of ourselves as the custodians. Please don't reserve this large "cheap & cheerful" pre-renovated Guest-Wing if you are a fussy person - because it may be too old and too quirky for your liking.

As one of the oldest functioning buildings in the Kaipara, this is a genuine piece of authentic historic heritage.

Languages:

English
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