We were pleasantly surprised when we draw up to the Sands and when our friendly host showed us to our apartment. We had a two bedroom apartment for two nights in the end of September and it was modern, well appointed, spacious, clean and had a picture postcard view of the beach and the sea across.

The beds were cosy, a heater was built in and the kitchen massive and fully equipped. Large lounge and dining and plenty of space for kids. The TV in our unit however was a small CRT unit that should now be placed in a museum. Do not let this bother you. If you come here to watch TV then you’d better not come at all. However, it is handy to have a modern flat screen TV that is now dime a dozen to keep the kids occupied until time is ready for dinner. There is no air conditioning and you may have to close the windows to prevent the insects from coming in at night.

There are nice strolls to be had along the beach any time of the day. The view to the sea is great and that to the land is even better with all the million dollar holiday houses of many fortunate individuals. Short walk gets you to a couple of restaurants and the bus stop is nearby.

If you need shopping or more commerce and more restaurants then you will have to find your way to Oneroa Bay about ten minutes by car. Woolworths grocery supermarket can be found after a short drive. It pays to have own transport as things can become very quiet at night especially off peak. Check with restaurants before hand as many do not trade at night during off peak seasons.

The apartments may not be serviced if your stay is short. We did not find this a huge issue but best check with the management. Ours was one with sea view. Check this too as there appears to be apartments without such a great view. We had a laundry, large fridge, and dishwasher. Overall the apartments are quite new and although a tad expensive (do not forget the cost of the ferry to get to the island) is generally worth the money. The location is great and ideal for a holiday away from all your daily worries.

I had to pinch myself every morning, waking up to a postcard-perfect view of the beautiful Onetangi beach on Waiheke Island. I visited in September, and the weather was lovely. The apartments are spacious, and are ideal for those who need a getaway where work/family/stress can't follow them.
There are three restaurants within 10 minutes walk, a bus 50 metres away which departs each hour into the main village.
Apartments have everything you need, sans Wi-Fi internet, but this is available up the road for free.
I highly recommend The Sands to anyone, but particularly singles or couples looking for a retreat from the pressures of life. After a week here, you'll absolutely have forgotten about the stress back home.

We visited the Sands for a one night stay during a winter weekend. It certainly exceeded our expectations. It was clean, stylish and comfortable and had all the admenities you would need to stay for an extended period of time (Laundry, Fully equipped Kitchen etc...). It would be great to visit this place for a week in summer.
We had a stunning view out to the beach and sea which was about a 2 minute walk away. The accommodation is in a beautiful location, with a long stretch of beach to walk along and a few cafes and restaurants close by, as well as vineyards not far away. Otherwise, the area is fairly relaxed and littered with cute sea side baches.
The service was friendly, helpful and laidback - perfect for Waiheke.
We loved our stay and would definitely recommend The Sands.

Visited the Sands in the winter time, very warm, blue sky and the amazing yellow sand. The accommodation was perfect, very comfortable, friendly hosts and sea views. In my opinion you can't go wrong with The Sands if you are visiting the Island.