Review Capri On Pilot Bay Mt Maunganui Family Accommodation

Sunny Mt Maunganui is one of our family’s favourite regions to bring the kids in New Zealand, so we are always searching for the most family-friendly accommodation when we travel.

Capri On Pilot Bay^ has caught our attention as we have a new edition to our family this time – 5 months old Baby Joah. We were pleasantly surprised with the comfort level of this serviced apartment and would like to share our thoughts on our stay here with other families who may also be looking for a comfortable accommodation alternative in The Mount.

In this post, we review our 3 nights stay in a 2 level 2 bedroom Superior Apartment at Capri on Pilot Bay in Mt Maunganui.

Location

While the main restaurants and beach are along Marine Parade in Mt Maunganui, we really loved the calmness of Pilot Bay Beach. Named after the beach here, Capri On Pilot Bay apartments are just far enough from the crowds but still within walking distance to the shops and restaurants on the other side.

Layout

What’s appealing to us the most about this particular family apartment at Capri On Pilot Bay is its 2 level townhouse-style layout. Daddy Pau usually takes his work with him and could really use some separate space from our young kids. 5 months old Joah is very sensitive to lights and sounds, a split-level arrangement is ideal for us to put Joah to sleep early in the evenings, whilst the rest of the family chills in the lounge upstairs.

Kitchen

The Superior Apartment at Capri On Pilot Bay has a spacious open plan kitchen area with lots of space. It is equipped with quality kitchenware and appliances such as microwave, dishwasher, kettle and toaster, comparable to a standard household.

The dining table comfortably sits a family of 6, with the kitchen and lounge on either side, family meal times are rather enjoyable for everyone.

Living Room

We spend a lot of time in the living room and we absolutely love how bright it is. You can see a glimpse of Pilot Bay over the rooftops of other apartments. The balcony has a small coffee table, just perfect to have a relaxing hot drink away from the kids.

There are 2 large couches around the TV and a round coffee table in the middle on a huge rectangular carpet. This is our baby’s favourite place to do tummy time.

Our toddler was hooked on the SKY kids channels, which kept her quiet for most of the times that we were inside. But quite honestly, we think the size of the TV is rather small when placed in an apartment of this size.

Laundry

Laundry is on the upper level adjacent to the kitchen behind a closed door. There’s a dryer and a sink, very convenient for families with longer stays.

Bedrooms

On the ground floor near the entrance is a second bedroom. There are 2 apartments available of this type at Capri On Pilot Bay, you can choose your bedding configurations. In this instance, we chose the bedroom with a queen and a single.

In the ensuite master bedroom, there’s a queen bed, a large mirrored wardrobe with an iron and ironing board. There’s a small bedside TV and its own ensuite bathroom. This bedroom opens out to a private backyard where there’s a large wooden table and chairs. Both rooms are equiped with a portable heater and electric blankets on the queen beds.

Bathroom

The Superior Apartment here has 2 bathrooms on the ground floor, one is an ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower connected to the master bedroom, and the other is a separate toilet with shower and bathtub combo. Both bathrooms have heated towel rails which are greatly appreciated in winter times.

Parking

There’s a private laneway around the corner of the apartment which fits a small car. Alternatively, visitor parking is available within footsteps of the apartment.

Back Entrance

There’s a shortcut to Marine Parade through The Beaumont Apartments via a back laneway that is gated. As the main beach and restaurants are on the other side of the neck, this back entrance becomes a necessity when it comes to convenience.

Facilities

As it is winter at the moment, the outdoor pool area is closed. There’s a small gymnasium facing the pool, but quite honestly it’s a little dated and seems a bit abandoned.

What type of accommodation does your family prefer the most? Hotels, motels, serviced apartments, resorts, glamping or… ?