Recently stayed at the Sands on Waiheke as our friends were getting married on the Island. Stayed for 3 nights at a large, tidy room in the front, Number 25.

Certainly, the view, the gentle sound of the waves, Onetangi Beach itself were sensational, especially with the perfect weather we had, but we felt for NZ$350 per night it was not fantastic value for money. There was no air conditioning, yes I know you can open the windows and let the breeze through, but the mosquitoes! So no fly screens and no mozzie deterrents led to a very itchy back!
There is no food available, no room service, no daily room clean, no Internet and a reasonable 10 minute walk for anything to eat at the local cafes down the beach. Can't imagine how you would do that in the rain.
Again $350 gets you a well serviced hotel room with a view and a restaurant off peak in Sydney, so why so expensive for a self catering apartment?

My wife and I spent 9 days at Sands Apartments, Onetangi, Waiheke. The apartments overlook the beach, are well equipped and in a quiet location - great for the beach. The staff were really friendly and helpful.

Me and the family stayed in 4 apartments for three nights in December as we were getting married on the island. The apartments are clean, spacious, modern and have fabulous views!! The windows fold right back so you have amazing views of the sea.

My parents stayed in the penthouse which was AMAZING!! It was huge and we even did an informal rehersal dinner with a BBQ for 17 of us in it.

The place is amazing and if we return to Waiheke I would definately stay again!

Their website boasts that this is the perfect honeymoon accommodation. It also refers to itself on the sign out the front as "Luxury Holiday Accommodation". It is neither of the above.

My husband and I stayed here for 3 nights in April/May 2010 at the beginning of our honeymoon before traveling onto the the US.

While the apartment was very shiny and new you can't ignore the many printed out signs placed around the apartment telling you to take out the rubbish daily, keep the dryer door open or you will be liable for a $1200 call out fee from the fire brigade and to BE QUIET SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THEIR STAY! Yes, I can imagine they have had some real animals stay in their apartments, but to judge everyone before they've even had the chance to relax seems completely unfair and creates a rather cold atmosphere. It was stark contrast to other hotels and b&b's we stayed at on our honeymoon.

The apartment was $200 per night and I think this is completely over the top when you have to pay for things like toilet paper and the apartments aren't serviced daily. When you leave you're required to put your dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on and to remove your rubbish (including putting the recycling in different bins) or else you will be charged.

This clearly is not luxury accommodation. This is self catering. And $200 per night is a bit rich for such. One last gripe is that is does not have any internet facility. No wifi, no cable and nothing mentioned in their guest book information. Again, at this premium price you'd expect atleast wifi in this day and age.