Downtown Charm in Storied Heritage Building

Character-filled apartment inside one of downtown Auckland`s most storied heritage buildings — easy CBD access and a secure car park included. The nightly rate includes a comfortable queen bed for two; two additional Murphy beds are available for larger groups, made up only on request and at an additional charge, payable in advance. Guests enjoy access to the building`s full amenities. A charming, well-located city base with genuine downtown character.

The apartment
This apartment sits inside one of downtown Auckland`s most distinctive heritage buildings — and that history is genuinely part of the charm of staying here. The standard nightly rate is based on two guests sharing the comfortable queen bed in the main bedroom. For larger groups, the apartment also has two additional Murphy beds tucked into the living space, which fold away neatly when not in use to keep the room feeling open and uncluttered.

The apartment is comfortably furnished throughout, with a kitchen equipped for self-catering and a well-appointed bathroom. Guests staying here have full access to the building`s amenities, adding a layer of convenience that most standalone CBD apartments simply can`t offer. A secure car park is included — a genuinely valuable inclusion for a downtown address where parking is otherwise scarce and expensive.

Please note: the standard rate covers two guests in the queen bed only. The two Murphy beds are not made up as standard and are not included in the base rate — they are available strictly on request for larger groups, at an additional charge, and must be arranged and paid for in advance of arrival. If you would like to use either or both Murphy beds during your stay, please get in touch before booking or as early as possible afterwards so we can confirm availability and pricing.

There is a particular kind of old-world charm to this corner of downtown Auckland, and the building`s character — one of the city`s true architectural landmarks — gives this apartment a sense of place that newer CBD buildings rarely match. The lobby alone, with its grand proportions and period detailing, tells you immediately that you`re staying somewhere with a story.

A BUILDING WITH A STORY
From department store to downtown landmark
Few buildings in Auckland have lived as many lives as this one. The site on Hobson Street was first developed in 1914 after a fire destroyed an earlier warehouse, and by 1921 — opened by the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe — it had grown into a seven-storey department store covering twice its original footprint, complete with five acres of floor space, elegant tearooms, and even a rooftop playground. For generations of Aucklanders, this was simply `the Big Store` — the place you came for school shoes, Christmas presents, and the city`s biggest annual parade, which set off from right outside the front doors every year from 1934 onward.

The building`s grand tearoom, opened in 1930 to seat 300 people, became one of Auckland`s most fashionable places to take afternoon tea, and later hosted a popular Friday night dinner service for late shoppers — fish and chips for 80 cents was the local favourite on the menu. A sulphur-crested cockatoo named Hector, gifted to the store in 1936, lived in the building for over four decades and became something of a local celebrity in his own right, entertaining generations of shoppers until his death in 1977 at the remarkable age of 41 (though staff at the time, fondly exaggerating, put it closer to 131).

When the department store eventually closed its doors in 1991 after the company shifted to suburban shopping centres, the building stood empty for several years before being lovingly restored and converted into one of downtown Auckland`s most characterful heritage properties. The grand tearoom survives to this day, now used as an elegant function space, and the building`s original art deco detailing — ornate ceilings, fireplaces, and lighting — has been carefully preserved throughout the conversion. Staying here means staying inside more than a century of Auckland retail history, not just a modern apartment with old bones.

The entire apartment is yours — bedroom with queen bed, bathroom, kitchen, and living space. The two Murphy beds within the living space are available on request only — they are not made up or accessible as part of the standard booking, and any use must be arranged and paid for in advance. Full access to the building`s amenities is included. One secure car park is included with the apartment. Access is via key safe — full instructions and codes will be sent the day before your arrival.

Check-in is from 3:00 PM. Keys are collected from a secure key safe — straightforward and available at any hour. Full instructions will be sent ahead of your arrival.

A private airport transfer can be arranged at additional cost with at least 48 hours notice.

While we will leave you in peace to enjoy your time in Auckland, we are available 24 hours a day for an emergency.

The apartment`s downtown position puts you within easy reach of Queen Street`s shopping and dining, the Viaduct Harbour`s celebrated restaurant strip, and Commercial Bay`s flagship waterfront precinct. Britomart`s laneway dining and boutique shopping is equally close, as is the Auckland Ferry Terminal for Waiheke Island and harbour services. The Sky Tower and Aotea Centre are within comfortable walking distance, and the building`s own position on the western side of the CBD places it conveniently between the energy of the Viaduct and the more residential calm of Freemans Bay.

For those non-urgent like-to-haves, just give us a call or a quick message and we will do everything we can to make this your most memorable trip to Auckland yet.

The two Murphy beds remain folded away and are not available for casual or unplanned use — if your group needs the extra sleeping capacity, please arrange and pay for this in advance of your stay rather than on arrival, as we are not able to set them up on the day without prior notice. When in use, each Murphy bed folds down easily and the mechanism is straightforward and sturdy.

This is a non-smoking, no-vaping property throughout. No parties or events. Quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Checkout is by 10:00 AM.
We kindly ask all guests to help us maintain the peaceful, high-standard environment of this home by following a few simple rules:

A valid photo ID, email address, and phone number are required prior to check-in.

Please respect our no-party policy and observe quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

Smoking, vaping, or drug use is not permitted inside the suite or anywhere in the apartment, building, complex or balcony.

In the rare case of a noise complaint or evidence of smoking, an additional fee of up to NZD $500 may apply.

Check in available after 3pm through lock box key collection. Lock boxes are located a short distance away, full details will be sent prior to arrival. We advise collecting the keys on your way to the apartment, if coming to the city via taxi or UBER, ask the taxi to wait a second while you collect the key. The walk to the apartment from the lock box is not far, but no one wants to walk in the city with suitcases!

These measures ensure that every guest enjoys a serene, premium experience — thank you for your understanding and cooperation.