Accessible Friendly Places in NZ

We’ve been doing our homework!  Through our own personal adventures around our beautiful country we have started compiling a list of accessible places for Pompe patients.  If you have any you would like to recommend, please let us know!

​If you have any that you DON’T recommend, let us know that too!

Hotels

Rotorua Sudima.  No accessible toilets on the ground floor in the public area.  They are however fixing this problem.  Also putting a new ramp in the restaurant which looks like it will be really good.

NapierBlue Water Hotel.  Accessible bathroom in room 1.  Also has a double bed and single bed.  Almost unheard of to get more than one bed in an accessible room!

TaupoSuncourt Hotel and Conference Center. Room 8.  One of the best wheelchair accessible rooms I’ve ever stayed in!  Really great non-slippy flooring!  Room 8 has a queen bed and another room with 2 single beds.  They also have a studio with an accessible bathroom.  I haven’t tried that yet.

Attractions

MastertonPukaha Mt Bruce bird sanctuary.  Mostly wheelchair accessible.  I think I only missed 2 aviaries through not being able to get to them.  So on the whole it was really good.

RotoruaHell’s Gate.  I could get around the shorter walk on my mobility scooter but needed a little help to stop my scooter tipping over.  I didn’t try the longer walks due to time restraints.

 

Here’s a great article from Ronelle Baker who did a roadie from Northland to Blenheim over Christmas 2022 – two adults and a small pet dog.

Stayed at a lot of different places there and back that I thought might interest the forum. We had our own vehicle and my power chair which I use full-time, but no other equipment with us. At home I use a shower commode, when traveling I rely on a shower seat being provided in a wet area shower. I also take a portable toilet seat raiser.
 
Jet Park Hamilton is expensive but very roomy, with two queen beds. It has a portable shower chair rather than one fixed to the wall. Good parking and grassy areas to toilet pets (not allowed in room).
 
Hamilton Gardens and the changing places bathroom near the children’s playground is beautiful and all very accessible. Pet friendly.
 
A nice surprise was Kelly Rd Cambridge. Photos attached. This a new build. Modern, and very clean with two sink options in bathroom. The little luxuries were there and it was lovely and cosy. I’d highly recommend it for people ok with an alcove style shower – this may not suit some people.
 
Bassingers Motor Lodge – Levin A great price and it was very spacious.  Only issue was the fold down shower seat was an old small one and not suitable. I had a stand up shower using the grab rails. Dog slept in car.
 
Scenic Marlborough – Blenheim. Overall it was pretty good. Dog stayed elsewhere.
 
Wairakei Resort – Taupo. It was ok, but very dated. The bathroom was small with raised edging around wet area to prevent flooding. i did not find it easy to move around in the room or bathroom.
 
U Studios – Paraparaumu Beach The absolute worst place on the trip.  It was pet friendly and ‘accessible’ but the shower was not useable and had a tiny little seat fixed very low. There was a clear panel separating the shower in the bathroom and I could not get my wheelchair into the shower space for transferring. Grotty and dirty inside and out. Just yuck!
 
There are the usual little peeves.  Eg. Soap dispensers always seem to be placed high, so I always take a bar of soap. Key takeaway, shower seats should be standardised so people know what to expect.
Pics of Kelly Rd Cambridge
 

Groups on Facebook

Accessible Travel Forum for New Zealand – A group for asking questions about Accessible Travel in New Zealand.  A place to gain advice and recommendations on everything wheelchair accessible NOT forgetting other disabilities that may mean travel is less accessible – accommodation, things to do, house swaps, restaurants, transport, walks, events, etc.

Grab Your Wheels, Let’s Travel  – Making accessible travel a barrier-free and seamless New Zealand experience

Living with Pompe