How to find a luxury boutique accommodation in Gisborne and at the East Coast?

We had the most wonderful experience with Marianne & Armando at Bay Guesthouse. Their hospitality is absolutely from the heart, and they have thought of everything to make their guests comfortable and relaxed. There are so many highlights to mention - the amazing views across the ocean, the sunrise watched from a comfy bed, the luxury of the accomodation (including the bath with a view!), but most of all the conversations with the hosts, and the exquisite FOOD prepared by the hosts themselves. We are from Napier and wanted a night away, without spending our limited time travelling too far. Staying at this guesthouse we felt we had escaped to another world, and yet it was only a short drive. I feel like we left the guesthouse with two new friends - no mean feat for two introverts :) Marianne & Armando are so welcoming, but strike a perfect balance between giving their guests their privacy, whilst also offering great conversation and company if this is desired. Thank you so much fo making our weekend away a memorable one x

We were looking for a place away from everything where we could sit in front of fire, read a book, admire the ocean and be spoilt. And this is exactly what we got. Marianne and Armando are incredibly professional and they did spoil us with perfect service. The location is a nice balance between blissful isolation and plenty of options, with the restaurants and vineyards of Havelock North only 25 minutes away. If you want to get away from it all and be spoilt, this is the place.

The bride and groom invited their parents to share an evening with them at the Bay Guesthouse, where they were staying, for a post-wedding celebratory dinner. A sublime experience awaited us, one we will treasure for many years to come. Armando & Marianne welcomed us on arrival for an afternoon & evening out of this world. Incredible beach and sea views with landscapes that went as far as the eye could see from different aspects of the beautifully designed guesthouse. The sea and the land are very cleverly drawn into the guesthouse in so many ways. Tranquillity and privacy abounds in this amazing Bay Guesthouse, so much so that when you sit in the "Glasshouse" lounge it washes over you....a total relax lounge! Our hosts prepared and served us a 3-course meal by candlelight, that was worthy of the highest praise possible - a sublime dining experience! A "wow" atmosphere! Armando and Marianne are hosts extraordinaire! You are welcomed into their Guesthouse with warmth, you are cared and catered for to the highest level, a total sublime experience. We only wish it was the parents staying in the accommodation too! We're planning on a parent stay after this amazing taste of the Bay Guesthouse! It was an act of love from the bride and groom to invite their parents to join them for an evening and it was a privilege to enjoy Armando and Marianne's hospitality and exquisite Bay Guesthouse.
 

Wow! We spent 3 weeks travelling between New Zealand & Sydney with our 5.5-year-old daughter and stayed at over 15 different Guest Houses/Hotels and it's safe to say that by far our favourite was Bay Guesthouse which should not be overlooked by anyone visiting this part of the country. This is an exceptional hidden gem. For anyone wishing to spend time in & around Havelock North then you would be hard pushed to find anywhere like The Bay Guesthouse. I can't tell you the number of people who have been asking us about the pictures we took here as they are breathtaking. We were so lucky to spend our Christmas there, which was nothing short of magical & will treasure the memories. The People: You will not find nicer & more accommodating hosts than Armando & Marianne! They were simply out of this world. They've put their heart & souls into delivering an amazing experience for anyone who chooses to stay with them. You can not help but to immediately fall in love with Armando & Marianne. They were like long lost friends who we straight away able to joke with & we felt an automatic connection. Just the kindest & most interesting people. Because we stayed with them over Christmas we were also fortunate enough to meet the whole family who is equally as great as their parents not to mention exceptionally talented chefs & table display designers ;-) The Guesthouse: You can not help but be blown away by the location & design of the guesthouse. I spent time talking to Armando & Marianne about how they designed & built the house themselves, which left me even more amazed. Without a shadow of a doubt, they should have been featured on Grand Designs. The views are simply spectacular from pretty much any room. Each bedroom was extremely comfortable and had all the amenities you could need & who wouldn't want to wake up to those kinds of ocean views. With the amazing location, it's only a short drive down to Waimarama Beach which is a truly beautiful beach to picnic on & explore. If you want to go a little further away then Ocean's beach isn't too far away which was also great. The Food: Because we stayed over Christmas we not only got to enjoy the daily breakfast - which is to die for, but we also got a first-class dinner prepared for us on Christmas Eve. To give context only 2 days earlier we had dined at the Craggy Range restaurant which was great, but honestly did not compare to the meal we had with Armando & Marianne which was exceptional, and I don't say that often. Thank you, Armando, Marianne, Sabrina & Fabin for welcoming us into your house the way that you did. Leaving your guesthouse was without a shadow of a doubt the worst thing & I hope we can return again one day.
 

We are still pinching ourselves that we had the honour and privilege of meeting Armando and Marianne and enjoying their hospitality, their company and beautiful home.

Armando and Marianne offer such an amazing stay with style and professionalism. Their attention to detail ensures a fabulous experience. With every turn we discovered little touches confirming their impeccable taste. All the decor matched and was colour coordinated. Fresh, crisp and sparkling.

Every morning we had a banquet breakfast, personally prepared and served by Marianne and Armando.

Sitting on the spacious deck enjoying the magnificent expansive views of Waimarama beach. Absolutely breathtaking.

We have travelled and stayed at many hotels over the years, but staying at the Bay Guesthouse was a unique experience with a personal touch. We felt like royalty. If you are looking for an ultimate VIP stay in Hawke's Bay we unreservedly recommend booking at the Bay Guesthouse. You will not be disappointed. This is the place! We look forward to returning in the future. Thank you for making our 3 nights magical and above and beyond our expectations!!
 

I chose Bay Guesthouse to celebrate my husband's birthday because of the great reviews and photos on their website. It exceeded all of our expectations, and everything the reviews said was right and more.

Perfectly balancing five-star features with bespoke twists, every aspect of the guest experience at this luxe retreat has been designed and built by them to elevate and redefine luxury: from the interior design intricacies that pay homage to the hosts' background to the personalised and attentive service on hand to curate your perfect Hawke's Bay escape.

We experienced five-star sophistication perched high on the hilltop, soaking up uninterrupted vistas of the ocean and Waimarama beach from every room. We had a sumptuous breakfast spread each morning consisting of homemade bread and pastries, cured salmon, cold meats, fruit salad, selection of cheeses, French toast with caramelised banana one morning and the French omelette with camembert and bacon on another and the list goes on. What made it extra special was the pear frangipane tart they made on the morning of my husband's birthday (see photo).

In the evening, we had an intimate candlelit three-course epicurean dining experience with the best ricotta ravioli starter in tomato sauce, main course fish medley of gurnard, monkfish and salmon in the most delicious creamy white wine sauce, followed by a dessert trio of crème caramel, tiramisu and strawberry sorbet.

We also had their handpicked Paritua wines which we really enjoyed, so much so we went to the Paritua winery the next day and bought some to take home.

Most important of all was the warm welcome and hospitality of Armando and Marianne. It was like meeting wonderful old friends and sharing life experiences while being pampered by them.

Thank you for a perfect memorable getaway, and we will be back for more!

Scenic ocean view, all-glass villas, luxurious breakfast, best hospitality. If you want to stay in luxury in NZ, I definitely recommend this.

A couple with a career in Switzerland will welcome you with the best hospitality. The glass-enclosed villa is a perfect construction that you wouldn't think you built yourself, and you can enjoy a luxurious time without any compromise.

I stayed with three family members with my 8-year-old daughter, and I think it is a perfect place not only for couples but also for families.

Breakfast is gorgeous as shown in the picture. Everything was delicious.

The ocean view is by far the most beautiful I've ever seen. The sunrise was also the most beautiful. My daughter was playing around in a large garden (or rather a hill?). It is a very nice garden that matches the ocean view with nice planting. Hawke's Bay is a city full of attractions, but it may be a luxury to spend a day here without going anywhere.

From the moment we arrived at the Bay Guesthouse, we were treated as special guests by Marianne and Armando who are such lovely, welcoming, kind and talented hosts. 

The Captain's House has all you need for a perfect romantic getaway. We enjoyed a luxury honeymoon package here after our wedding, and I'm certain you couldn't find another experience like this anywhere else in New Zealand! 

Armando and Marianne have thought of everything, a fridge stocked with homemade treats like Crème Caramel, a dressing gown and towel warmer, romantic mood lighting in the Captain's House, the list goes on. 

With uninterrupted ocean views, we watched the beautiful sunrise from bed each morning, relaxed in the spacious bath which has the best views of any bath we'd ever seen and found it a wonderful place to celebrate our honeymoon as well as rest and recharge. 

Marianne and Armando generously shared their Swiss and Italian culture with us, and prepared amazing food. The whole experience made us feel like we were in Europe, but with a bonus of one of the best views in New Zealand and sunny, warm Hawke's Bay weather to enjoy too. 

We enjoyed the amazing and DELICIOUS breakfast on the deck with uninterrupted ocean views, which was prepared with such skill and love.

We celebrated on one of the evenings with a beautiful romantic candlelight dinner as well. We loved our stay at the Bay Guesthouse so much that we decided to extend it an extra day – lucky for us they had an available night.
 
The thing we loved the most about our stay was that everything was done with such love and attention to make a stay at the Bay Guesthouse an experience you will never forget!

This place is the prime example of New Zealand paradise. 

The two hosts Armando and Marianne take the best care of you. From the stunning east coast views to the 5-star 3 course dinner, The Bay Guest House was a warm and comfortable welcome that made our Honeymoon a time we will never forget. 

Armando and Marianne took the time to get to know us and made the whole stay absolutely exquisite. 

The Bay Guest House is nicely located as it's a 40min drive to Napier and a 15-minute drive to gorgeous wineries such as Craggy Range, Black Barn and Te Mata Estate as well as being close to the stunning Mangapapa Hotel. 

Nice walking options close by, from Waimarama Beach to Maraetotara Falls, plenty to do for all couples and families alike. 

We came back from our honeymoon relaxed and rejuvenated; we will definitely be back as it holds a special place in our hearts. 

Do yourselves a favour and book a trip ASAP!