Finn's Paekakariki
- Photo courtesy of Dave J
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Finn's Paekakariki
Visit Finn's Paekakariki in PaekÄkÄriki, Wellington. This venue has an average rating of 4.3 out of 343 reviews, with the latest ratings ranging from 2 to 5. It appears there are mixed reviews for the Finn's Paekakariki.The Finn's Paekakariki does not appear to have any published opening hours, but you may find some more information on their website.
This venue has 9 machines.
2 Beach Road, PaekÄkÄriki 5034, New Zealand
Latest reviews
27/08/2023
Great pub, food looked good and plenty of choices. Staff were friendly.
22/07/2023
We visited Finn's Paekakariki on Friday evening. First to the strengths. As has been mentioned by other reviewers, the property is very close to the train station, has a restaurant, and is situated at the northern entrance to the Escarpment Track hike. Also, a notable relative strength was the wide selection of available television channels to choose from while resting in the evening after a long hike. Further, the restaurant/tavern has an impressive selection of international beer and wines to choose from.
Regarding our overall rating. Three weakness that should be considered and addressed by this property. First regarding check-in, something we now read as a problem by others that have placed a review in this space. Check-in time was noted as 2:00pm in both public materials and on the non-refundable invoice we were emailed at the time we made the reservation. When we arrived at 2:10pm and found all doors locked and entrances to the property, e.g., the check-in area and restaurant with lights turned off and dark, we were concerned the property was closed or out of business, and almost turned ourselves around to return back to Wellington after circling each side of the property multiple times to find a way in. We even stopped a stranger walking his dog on the pavement to ask if he knew how to get inside the hotel to check in. After he tried to assist us, he suggested we go to a gated area in the back, a place that appears to be shared between the hotel and some private residences, to see if we might find our way inside there. We did, and found an open door through a private office and then into a kitchen area where we found some employees working. When asked, the staff person (perhaps manager) that then checked us in explained that they were preparing a special dinner for that evening and would not be opening up the front area (check-in and restaurant) until 3:00pm. While we refrained from being argumentative, we certainly wondered how this might have been better handled through communicating this decision to open late to guests, especially with a non-refundable booking policy, perhaps via sending that information in an email, or even placing a sign on the door. We found the excuse offered for opening check-in an hour late without notice because it was a national holiday wanting. We've traveled widely in North America, Europe, and Asia during many different national holidays and never found ourselves locked out of a 4-star hotel during the hotel's prescribed check-in time.
Next regarding cleanliness, another theme we now see mentioned by other reviewers. There was a disturbing amount of black mold on the shower growing on the tiles. We are not speaking of the grout, which also had mold, but the tiles themselves! If this review allows photo uploads, we will include them. It was certainly unsanitary and unsightly, and most puzzling, something that could easily be remedied with standard cleaning practices, i.e., gloves, bleach based cleaners available at any grocery store, water, and a sponge or brush.
Finally, while we appreciated the specials and options available on the menu for dinner, we in fact ordered one, we left half of the entrée after finding a long hair inside of the beef curry. We'll leave readers to decide whether they think this is a reasonable standard of food preparation hygiene. In sum, we wanted to highlight many merits of this property and made efforts in this review to share the good things we observed, however, given the ease with which the owners and managers could improve the concerns we've raised, concerns that appear to be in harmony with what others have noted in this space, one might wonder why these problems continue.
Overall, how this property is listed as a "4-star" hotel, remains a mystery unless this is something that is decided by the proprietors rather than some independent rating body. North American, European, and Asian travels will not recognize this as a 4-star property under any circumstances, unless the star rating system is 1 to 10 stars.
Regarding our overall rating. Three weakness that should be considered and addressed by this property. First regarding check-in, something we now read as a problem by others that have placed a review in this space. Check-in time was noted as 2:00pm in both public materials and on the non-refundable invoice we were emailed at the time we made the reservation. When we arrived at 2:10pm and found all doors locked and entrances to the property, e.g., the check-in area and restaurant with lights turned off and dark, we were concerned the property was closed or out of business, and almost turned ourselves around to return back to Wellington after circling each side of the property multiple times to find a way in. We even stopped a stranger walking his dog on the pavement to ask if he knew how to get inside the hotel to check in. After he tried to assist us, he suggested we go to a gated area in the back, a place that appears to be shared between the hotel and some private residences, to see if we might find our way inside there. We did, and found an open door through a private office and then into a kitchen area where we found some employees working. When asked, the staff person (perhaps manager) that then checked us in explained that they were preparing a special dinner for that evening and would not be opening up the front area (check-in and restaurant) until 3:00pm. While we refrained from being argumentative, we certainly wondered how this might have been better handled through communicating this decision to open late to guests, especially with a non-refundable booking policy, perhaps via sending that information in an email, or even placing a sign on the door. We found the excuse offered for opening check-in an hour late without notice because it was a national holiday wanting. We've traveled widely in North America, Europe, and Asia during many different national holidays and never found ourselves locked out of a 4-star hotel during the hotel's prescribed check-in time.
Next regarding cleanliness, another theme we now see mentioned by other reviewers. There was a disturbing amount of black mold on the shower growing on the tiles. We are not speaking of the grout, which also had mold, but the tiles themselves! If this review allows photo uploads, we will include them. It was certainly unsanitary and unsightly, and most puzzling, something that could easily be remedied with standard cleaning practices, i.e., gloves, bleach based cleaners available at any grocery store, water, and a sponge or brush.
Finally, while we appreciated the specials and options available on the menu for dinner, we in fact ordered one, we left half of the entrée after finding a long hair inside of the beef curry. We'll leave readers to decide whether they think this is a reasonable standard of food preparation hygiene. In sum, we wanted to highlight many merits of this property and made efforts in this review to share the good things we observed, however, given the ease with which the owners and managers could improve the concerns we've raised, concerns that appear to be in harmony with what others have noted in this space, one might wonder why these problems continue.
Overall, how this property is listed as a "4-star" hotel, remains a mystery unless this is something that is decided by the proprietors rather than some independent rating body. North American, European, and Asian travels will not recognize this as a 4-star property under any circumstances, unless the star rating system is 1 to 10 stars.
09/07/2023
Great Place for a Meal, amazing how busy that little
town is on a Saturday, Bakery, Cafe all flat out, will call in there again
town is on a Saturday, Bakery, Cafe all flat out, will call in there again
01/07/2023
Popped in for lunch. Food coming out was a bit slow but delicious though. Great food and selection. Would return.
04/06/2023
Dinner Menu. Awesome food well priced & definitely filling. Good service & friendly staff. Great job. Will recommend & come back for sure. Also ate here for breakfast. Perfect eggs benedict good portion,well priced. Keep up the good work
12/03/2023
It's one of those places that has everything you need while traveling or having a holiday, Restaurant, bar, nice accommodation upstairs. Across the road is a four square, vege shop and cafes, then a short walk to the beach for exercise. Even catch train into Wellington CBD. The staff are so awesome, helpful and very friendly to approach. We will definitely be staying here again.
25/01/2023
Very disappointed in the unit we stayed in, not clean, cups stained, toilet seat had only one screw holding it on. Shower door had soap skum on it. No soap, only pump one. In dire need of some maintence. No compendium with wifi password etc. No one around when we booked out as we were going to order breakfast. Tariff to high as well.
23/01/2023
Decent stay, air con not the best so was hot. Staff lovely and helpful with a late check in, but simple things like hair conditioner not there. The service from restaurant to the room was also very slow, but the food was great once arrived.
03/01/2023
Stayed for one night. Check in time said 2pm we were greeted with locked doors and no one to check us in. Had to call the number for assistance, others gathered and waited only to be checked in by the CLEANER. She was great. Rooms were alright ok, parking around back was odd.
11/12/2022
Nice food and great background music. Very nice to sit outside to have a meal
08/12/2022
Spent a night at Finn's while on a work trip this weekend. Room was clean and quite nice, the spa bath was an awesome bonus after a physical day at work, had sports channels, and the bed was quite comfortable.
WHERE DO YOU GET THOSE PILLOWS!!!!! Felt like my head was resting on a cloud! Must find myself some like that.
Location was a bit out of the way, but if you are near Wellington and having trouble finding accomodation it is a nice quiet location and worth the drive out.
Didn't get there early enough to try the food, they were just finishing up dinner service, but they have a nice pub/bar and little restaurant that looked quite good
WHERE DO YOU GET THOSE PILLOWS!!!!! Felt like my head was resting on a cloud! Must find myself some like that.
Location was a bit out of the way, but if you are near Wellington and having trouble finding accomodation it is a nice quiet location and worth the drive out.
Didn't get there early enough to try the food, they were just finishing up dinner service, but they have a nice pub/bar and little restaurant that looked quite good
12/11/2022
this was an ok place to go food was ho hum nice for a change pleasant service.
Music was good and it wasn't noisy which was nice . Not a place I would seek out to go again.
Music was good and it wasn't noisy which was nice . Not a place I would seek out to go again.
25/10/2022
Reasonably priced and looked after our group of 8 people very well. The setting is a bit bland but the food was quite good.
17/07/2022
Not a lot of happening here. Coffee was good. Food ordinary. And, not a lot of masking-wearing going on
29/06/2022
Good spot. Nice little gaming room.
16/06/2022
Food very nice. Big eating area and very accommodating to a group of 17 passing through
17/04/2022
Easy to get to now that Transmission Gully has opened. You don't feel like you are taking your life in your hands to cross a busy highway to get to Finn's. Even though they are now slightly off the main highway it is well worth the short drive to get to them. Double down chicken burger - so good ??'?. Busy today being Easter Sunday - but still not too busy to enjoy lunch. The food was amazing - hubby had the Fish burger ???"
12/08/2021
Friendly nice place over all will stop in again