This is a tale of one city and two great hideaways – just five kilometres apart.

Auckland has the best of everything. It’s the gateway to the Pacific and the biggest island city in the South Pacific.

According to Wikipedia the Auckland region covers 6059 km2 while greater London rams 11 million people inside 1570km2.

Auckland has more volcanoes – 48 – than any city of its size in the world. Luckily they are extinct!

They have at least three times as many high rise building than any other New Zealand city. Their harbour bridge is longer than Sydney’s vaunted flyover. They have more boats and yachts in the harbour than any other city of its size. The Round the Bays annual jog has grown to be one of the world's largest fun-runs with nearly 70,000 taking part.

So it’s not surprising that Auckland has some of the best luxury accommodation of its kind in the world. Being the year of the recession – which doesn’t seem half as bad as it did 3-4 months ago – I wanted to taste two luxury retreats – one top end and one, middle of the road.

I went for the best to start with and booked in to The Westin, a harbour view room costing about $420 for the night. David Beckham, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Rihanna and Chris Brown and John Travolta paid a little more for their grand suites. But my room was a haven and impressive enough.

The hotel was opened two years ago and has already won the latest New Zealand’s Best City Hotel Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards and the 2009 Top 100 World’s Best Hotel Expedia Insiders List.

I ambled around the refreshing Viaduct Harbour marina in the downtown heart of the city then on through 100 year old oak lined parks and the historic warehouses around Victoria Park and Westhaven marina.

Happy but exhausted, I sauntered back into the hotel after two hours gliding through the grand entrance I felt like a king in an oasis. The lobby is gorgeous, with water features, Maori carvings and intimate bar and relaxing areas.

Before long I was soaking in a huge spa tub in my room sipping award-winning Spy Valley sauvignon blanc. I visualised climbing to the top of Rangitoto island volcano, doing a bungy-leap off the Skytower (taller than Sydney’s highest tower at 328 metres) and sailing out on the harbour like a real yachtie. Dizzy at the thought, I sedately dressed for dinner.

The Q restaurant had excellent food (and brilliant service). I gazed out on to the shimmering Waitemata Harbour as the setting sun played golden images on the glass tower skyscrapers. I washed down my crayfish (lobster) with a glass of superb Spy Valley Echelon bubbly (sparkling wine). Overall this was among the best relaxing top of the range new luxury hotels to enjoy anywhere in the world.

The thickly carpeted guest room corridors offer a general air of peace and calm; everything felt top quality.

Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest metropolis by far and home to 1.4 million of the country’s four million people, is known as the City of Sails, though my wife clearly thought it was City of Sales as she hit the shops and the bargains the next day

So to cater for her shopping budget we scoot over in my Jucy rental car the next night to The Cornwall Park Motor Inn, which are more like an upmarket apartments than a motor inn. Cat lovers Nigel and Diane Davidson have transformed the place from mid-range motels to the top end, with some apartments going for $280 a night – the highest in Auckland but worth every cent. They couldn’t do enough for us; really lovely people and great hosts.

They are great hosts; the locations is super – right next to Cornwall Park and No Tree Hill a location which is perfect for families or for corporates keen to keep fit among the lush grass and pohutukawa trees between meetings. What sets The Cornwall Park apart from the rest in their range is they are always refurbishing the rooms, adding throws on the bed and extra quality furnishings.

Our apartment had a generous cosy lounge, big flat screen tv; our own kitchen and also a large quiet double bedroom also with a tv. So for tight times or to save money and still enjoy luxury, the Cornwall Park was ideal; for some glam and excitement – The 172-room Westin is the best new hotel in New Zealand. We were floating on air breezing back into Air NZ’s Koru lounge the next day. Auckland served us well.

Booked here for a couple of nights whilst on business in Auckland.

Receptionist was friendly and reception area large and opulent. One thing that put me off a it was the presence of three cats in the reception area..initally I thought they were "cute" but when one clung to me and wouldn't let go (it didn't hurt me) I was somewhat put off.

Room was of good size, Nice linen sheets on the bed (an old stain on duvet was a little "messy"). Bathroom large and classy and featured a spa bath for two so that was a nice feature. Our room was located at the back of the complex and was quite dark, and a bit damp/musty smelling. Our outlook was onto a private garden (owners garden I think that also housed quite a number of cats...I think they must breed them as they looked to be a lot in number and in various cages)...no odour from cats evident in the room. A few meows could be heard but nothing to cause a problem. It was nice to look out on the greenery.

Car parking ok..we got a park outside our room but later after a dinner out we had to park closer to the road. This was safe and well lit up.

We didn't meet the resident owners but the lady at reception was friendly enough although her english wasn't perfect so a few confusions in regard to a couple of questions we had. No serious problems.

Business wise the internet wasn't free but not too costly....just make sure you disconnect your dial-up cable as this could cause a huge bill...this din't happen to me but it happened to someone I know.

In summary this Motor Inn is nice looking (old fashioned charm about it) and in a good location in relation to Newmarket, motorways etc. If you had the time i'm sure there would be some nice walkways in Cornwall park...a huge park (plus a bit of farmland) in the heart of Auckland that seemed a-buzz with walkers and joggers alike.

Probably wouldn't stay here again but not due to the actual Motor Inn but due to the fact that Hotels are probably more of our 'style' whilst in a big city. We chose a Motel to try something new and as far as motels go in the city this would probably stack up quite well (there seem to be some very old ones around that are far from appealing). So if you wish for motel type set up with space and privacy this would suit you. This part of Auckland is nice too, as well as central which is important in a big city.

A super dooper, very very good restaurant nearby on Manukau Rd is "Da Sette Soldi". It's excellent A++++++++++++. genuine and authentic food. Eve's pantry is another place to visit for exquisite bakery type foods baked the old fashioned way....I believe it's a bit of an institution in Auckland and has an excellent reputation with a wide variety of sweet and savoury options.

This motel (self contained units have full kitchen facilities) is really well located in central Auckland, near to the Newmarket shops and restaurants as well as only half an hour from the airport. There is car parking outside most of the rooms. The tastefully decorated rooms are spacious and well furnished with quality bathrooms and kitchen fittings. The hosts, Nigel and Diane are very friendly and willing to help out with any enquiries. I would thoroughly reccommend this place if you are not looking for the full hotel thing but want to be able to stay independently without compromising standards.