Esplanade Apartments

Whitianga gives you the useful sort of seaside base: the harbour is directly opposite, the beach is close, and your accommodation has room to spread out rather than merely park a suitcase. Esplanade Apartments is a self-contained aparthotel built around practical independence, with apartments for couples, families and groups of divers travelling together.

English-speaking hosts make the arrival straightforward. The setting also suits the post-dive routine rather well: step back from the water, leave the day behind you, then choose between a swim, the spa pool, dinner nearby or something simple from your own kitchen. No grand resort theatre is required; the useful bits are close at hand.

You are in Whitianga, New Zealand, on the Coromandel Peninsula, with the harbour directly opposite the apartments and the seafront about 50 metres away. Whitianga Beach is roughly 150 metres away, or a two-minute walk, so getting sand between your toes does not require an expedition with a packed lunch.

The town centre is about 250 metres away, described as a five-minute stroll. Restaurants and cafés are close enough for a tired diver to walk out for dinner without starting the car again; No.8 Restaurant is about 20 feet away, Kufe about 200 feet away and Marina Bay Eatery Bar about 750 feet away.

For a change of shoreline, Cooks Beach and Lonely Bay Beach are each around 1.7 to 1.9 miles away, while Simpsons Beach is about 3.5 miles away. Whitianga Airport is roughly 1.8 miles from the property, and Thames Aerodrome is about 41 miles away by road.

The main choice is not really about decoration; it is about how much space you want and what you would like to look at while drinking the first coffee of the day. The One-Bedroom Apartment works neatly for a couple who wants a living area and kitchen rather than a conventional hotel room. If the view matters, the one-bedroom versions overlooking the ocean, river or water add a more open outlook, while the balcony options give you somewhere outside to sit.

Travelling with fellow divers or family? The two-bedroom apartments spread the sleeping arrangements more sensibly, and the superior, balcony, bay-view, river-view and water-view versions add either extra space, an additional bathroom or a better outlook. The Penthouse Apartment and the three-bedroom apartments are the sensible choices for larger groups, with room for up to six guests in the biggest options. One two-bedroom family apartment and several larger apartments also accommodate four or five guests.

Every apartment has a kitchen with a hob, oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, toaster, kettle and kitchenware, plus a dining area and sitting space. That means breakfast before an early departure, cold drinks when you return warm and salty, and no compulsory restaurant decision when everyone is tired. Laundry facilities are included in the apartments, and a washing machine is particularly useful when the sea has supplied more wet clothing than planned.

Balconies and outdoor furniture feature across the accommodation, while fans, heating, wardrobes and drying racks deal with the less glamorous business of staying comfortable. Flat-screen televisions carry more than 50 satellite channels for the evenings when conversation has run out before your energy has.

Dinner is available at Blue Lagoon, the harbour-facing restaurant across the road, where the cooking follows a New Zealand style. That view does some of the evening's work for you: sit down, order dinner and watch the harbour rather than unpacking another piece of equipment.

Breakfast is not arranged as a hotel service. You can use the apartment kitchen instead, or walk around the corner to one of Whitianga's cafés. With a refrigerator, oven, hob, microwave and dishwasher in place, self-catering is a genuine option rather than a heroic exercise in improvisation.

You also have several nearby alternatives when you fancy a change. No.8 Restaurant is almost on the doorstep, Kufe is around 200 feet away and Marina Bay Eatery Bar is within roughly 750 feet. The town's cafés and restaurants are close enough to keep the evening flexible, which is useful when the boat timetable, appetite and weather have all made their own plans.

The swimming pool and spa pool give you an easy way to spend the afternoon without organising another outing. Sun loungers and beach chairs are available around the property, so you can read, dry off or simply sit still for a while. After a few days of alarms and kit preparation, that last option deserves more respect than it usually gets.

The beach is close for swimming and other seaside time, while tennis equipment gives you a reason to move without committing to a full day of activity. Golf is available within roughly 2 miles, and the surrounding area supports hiking, fishing, boating, sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and excursions by boat. Snorkelling is also among the local water-based options.

For days away from the water, excursions can take you towards Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, New Chum Beach, Driving Creek Railway or Mercury Bay Estate Winery. Whitianga Mountainbike and Gaming Park is about 2.8 miles away, while the Combat & Fun Zone Adventure & Family Park is about 5 miles away. Families are welcome, and board games are available for the evening when nobody wants to go anywhere else.

Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed, and Wi-Fi is free in the apartments and throughout the property. Upper floors are accessible by lift, and the accommodation includes step-free access and rooms suitable for guests with reduced mobility. Cash is not accepted, so keep a card available for arrival and departure.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 18:00, with check-out by 10:00. You need to share your expected arrival time in advance, and photo identification plus a credit card are required at check-in. Early arrival and late departure can be requested, subject to availability.

The property is non-smoking, and quiet hours run from 22:00 to 07:00. Children of any age are welcome, while guests checking in must be at least 18. The nearby Whitianga Airport is about 1.8 miles away; airport transfer arrangements are not listed, so a car or local transfer is the practical way to cover the final stretch.