FAQ’s

Arrival instructions will be emailed to you, but If you need and further help, please get in touch with us, and we will give you clear instructions and answer any questions.
Office:  +64 9 4037188
Donna: +64 27 503 7188
Cameron: +64 27 932 6815

Arrival instructions will be emailed upon completion of the 50% balance payment. The check in time at Russell Cottages Collection is usually 3:00pm and check out is usually between 9.30am – 10am. Wherever possible, we will certainly try to accommodate earlier and later check in and out times, but this may not always be possible in the busier periods. Please get in touch with us if you have any special requests.

No, Russell Cottages Collection has a strict no pets policy, sorry.

No. Russell Cottages Collection has a strict No Parties, No Venue Use, No unannounced guests policy. We do not permit properties to be booked for use as party or function venues. Properties are made available on a per person basis and only for guests that form part of the booking. Please contact us if you have any questions in regard to this policy or you need to update your booking details.

Quality bed linens and towels are supplied in each of the cottages. For your convenience, you’ll also find tea, coffee, sugar, oil, salt, pepper and all the necessary cleaning items and basic household items such as starter toilet rolls (3 per bathroom), washing up liquid and washing powder.

Yes, we have a fridge and pantry supply service. We can get provisions in for you. We will stock the pantry and fridge so all will be in place for your arrival. You choose and let us know what your specific requirements are. Bread, eggs, milk, butter, bacon, cheese, wine or beer etc… just let us know.

Would you like a champagne welcome you to get into holiday mode? If you would like step into your holiday home and be greeted by flutes on the table and the champagne chilled in the fridge ready and waiting for you, simply get in touch with us.

Our holiday homes are fully equipped with self-catering kitchens, but if you would like to just sit back and have a chef prepare your meal, we can arrange this for you. We can organise a personal chef to prepare either brunch, lunch or your evening meal by the pool or in the garden. Simply get in touch with us.

Yes, departure clean, portable cots, highchairs, can be provided at an additional cost. Please get in touch with us, so we can help.

No, at our comfortable accommodation in Russell NZ, all our recreation facilities are communal. Our self-contained cottages are independently managed cottages set in the grounds of 17 holiday cottages. The heated in-ground swimming and spa pool are open till 8:00pm. The pool is available for use from 1st of October till 30th of April. Our communal facilities include the BBQ and picnic area, games room with TV, table tennis, pool table, toilets and communal kitchen, and children’s playground.

Russell is only a 3.5-hour drive from Auckland.
The closest airport to Russell is Kerikeri Bay of Islands, approximately 45 minutes by road and ferry. There are a number of taxi shuttle operators who will be available to transport you from the Kerikeri airport to Russell and a local taxi company meets all scheduled flights. Rental cars are also available.

Russell is accessible by road via the Old Russell Road, which turns right off SH1 at Whakapara, approximately 20 minutes north of Whangarei. This is a very scenic road but quite windy and best taken only if you have time on your hands.

The easiest way to take State Highway 1 from Auckland. About Kawakawa, about 45 minutes north of Whangarei, take SH11 to Opua and catch a vehicle ferry from Opua (5 minutes). Drive to Beechy Street in Opua. On the other side, at Okiato, follow the main road for approximately 7km to Russell.

The Opua car ferry runs every 10 minutes from 6.40am (Okiato side) until 9.50pm from Opua. The cost is $13.00 per vehicle, and there is no need to pay for passengers.

Additionally, you can catch the passenger ferry from Paihia, which takes around 15 minutes. Ferries run from 7:00 from Russell and 7:30 from Paihia. From October till May the last ferry runs from Russell at 10:00pm and 10:30 pm from Paihia. From June till September the last ferry runs from Russell at 7:00pm and 7:30 pm from Paihia.

Yes, every booking will be charged a $75 booking fee. All payments by credit card will incur a surcharge of 3.5%.

The deposit required to confirm your booking is 50% and must be paid within 48 hours of your request to confirm the booking.

The balance payment is the outstanding 50% of your booking. The balance payment is due 60 days prior to your arrival as per our terms and conditions. Arrival instructions will be emailed upon completion of the 50% balance payment.

A complete in-house compendium is provided in each holiday home. The compendium contains detailed instructions on appliances as well as the entertainment systems, pools and spas. Useful local information is also included, such as a list of local restaurants, phone numbers for doctor, dentist and police, as well as information on local activities.

Emergency numbers including doctor, dentist, police and fire are detailed in each holiday house in-house compendium. We are only a phone call away should you need to contact us.
Office:  +64 9 4037188
Donna: +64 27 503 7188
Cameron: +64 27 932 6815

Cancelation within 60 days of arrival date: 30% forfeit of the total booking price. Cancelation within 30 days of arrival date: 100% forfeit of the total booking price. If government-directed Covid-19 alert level change prevent travel to Russell, booking dates can be changed (subject to availability), or alternatively any funds paid toward the booking will be held as a credit to be booked and stay within 12 months of the original booking date. Booking rates vary between seasons, and any additional cost accrued due to this will be the guest’s responsibility. For bookings made through an external travel agent or booking portal, the credit amount will be less than the portal commission.

There is no mains water reticulation in the Russell area. So, like all accommodation in Russell NZ, we collect rainwater in storage tanks, it does take a lot of rain drops to fill the tank! The water is then pumped into the house by the water pump, please keep your water usage to a minimum.

Please refrain from allowing friends and family who are not staying from using the facilities. Do not leave taps running unattended. During a power outage you will have no water as the pump will not operate without power! Outages of power are not common however they do occur, please be patient once the power is restored your pump will function again.

• All dishes must be clean, dry and put away, don’t leave dishes in the dishwasher.
• Remove all linen from beds (leave the duvet covers on please), put all linen/towels in the bathroom/s if you have paid for hire linen/towels,
• Clean all appliances, microwave, oven etc.
• Clean the fridge/freezer
• Bathrooms and toilets tidy
• Please place all TV, air-conditioning, stereo remotes etc; next to the actual appliance
• Clean the BBQ and ensure it is covered (if it has a cover)
• Check all doors and windows are locked
• Put all furniture back as it was when you arrived
• Prior to your departure, please ensure that you have disposed of all of your rubbish/recycling at the local Transfer Centre at the top of Florence Avenue.