When we headed to the Bay of Plenty for the opening of the new accessible changing facility at Waihi Beach, finding accessible accommodation nearby proved a little more challenging. With most accessible rooms around the beach already booked, we widened our search and discovered the charming town of Katikati, just a short drive away. Known for its murals, orchards and welcoming community, Katikati turned out to be a delightful surprise.
During our stay, we checked into ASURE Kaimai View Motel and, as we always do when travelling with Finlay, took a close look at how the accommodation works for wheelchair users and those travelling with hoists and other adaptive equipment.
Location
Asure Kaimai View Motel is located at 84 Main Road, it’s a great location with a short walk and wheel into Katikati town centre.
Reception
The reception area itself isn’t particularly accessible for wheelchair users, but we found both Erin and Lawrence were always nearby and happy to help whenever needed. They knew we were arriving, so they were already on the lookout for us.
The motel is also pet-friendly, so if you’re travelling with a pet, it’s best to call ahead to discuss arrangements, as a small surcharge applies.
Pool Area
On arrival, Lawrence offered us pool towels in case we felt like a dip after our drive from Auckland. The pool is solar-heated with steps into the water and step-free access into the gated pool area.
For our family, the pool wasn’t accessible as we’re unable to perform standing transfers or safely lift Finlay in without a hoist, but it may work for others depending on their access needs.
Room Accessibility
We stayed in Unit 12 – the Accessible One Bedroom Unit, which sleeps up to four people. The layout includes a queen bed in the lounge area and two single beds in a separate bedroom.
There is also a dining table, an LCD TV with SKY, and free unlimited WiFi.
The room also features a small kitchenette with:
- Cooktop
- Mini fridge
- Toaster
- Microwave
- Electric frypan
- Tea and coffee facilities
Erin told us that a previous wheelchair user who stayed in the unit had built a sturdy ramp to access the room and kindly left it behind for future guests. We can confirm it worked perfectly for us and made access much easier.
We were able to bring in all our adaptive equipment and Finlay in his powerchair without any issues. A solid ramp really does make a huge difference. We parked our van slightly to the left to ensure we didn’t block the ramp entrance.
Our standard Ministry of Health mobile hoist travelled with us this time, as I’ve temporarily misplaced the battery and charger for our Molift travel hoist. I’m hoping we didn’t leave it behind on our Air New Zealand flight from Queenstown last September. Considering the amount of gear we travelled with on that trip, it wouldn’t entirely surprise me.
Room Layout
The unit includes:
- Large lounge area with queen bed
- Small kitchenette
- Separate twin bedroom
- Accessible bathroom
The lounge area also contains armchairs, a table and chairs, TV, and a desk.
Circulation in the compact hall landing beside the kitchen measured around 1.3 metres, meaning it was easiest to drive forward and then reverse when moving between the bedroom and bathroom.
Door Widths
- 780 mm into the twin bedroom
- 760 mm into the bathroom
Personally, my gold standard for accessible accommodation is 810 mm door widths. These slightly narrower building-code standard doorways are workable, but Finlay’s elbows occasionally take a knock.
Finlay slept in the bedroom in one of the twin beds. All the furniture was movable.
Hoisting Setup
Whenever we travel, we need to set up the room so we can safely hoist Finlay.
To allow clearance for the hoist legs, we raised the beds, this time using Finlay’s rice pudding cans as makeshift bed raisers.
It worked… until the wheels shifted and one fell straight onto my ankle.
Note to self: buy proper travel bed raisers.
Bathroom
The bathroom features a wet-floor shower with:
- Fold-down shower seat (60 cm x 40 cm)
- Stand-alone shower chair available on request
- Sliding rail shower head
- Wall-mounted soap dispenser
- Higher toilet (around 48–50 cm)
There is no clearance under the basin, although the mirror is positioned at an accessible height.
Food Options Nearby
Just a few doors down from the motel, we discovered several great takeaway options. On the morning of our departure, we stopped in for a cooked breakfast and coffee at Robert Harris Café, which conveniently has a mobility parking space located right outside.
Accommodation Snapshot
What Worked Well
- Solid ramp access into Unit 12
- Supportive and welcoming hosts
- Power points well located for charging equipment
- Accessible wet-floor shower with fold-down seat
- Easy walk or wheel to cafés, takeaway food and shops in Katikati
- Close to the beautiful Uretara Stream walkway
Things to Be Aware Of
- The reception area is not accessible to wheelchair users
- Bathroom and bedroom door widths measure around 760–780 mm
- Circulation space in the hall landing space is 1.3 sqm, so manoeuvring can be a little tight with larger chairs
- No clearance under the bathroom basin
- Higher toilet (approx. 48–50 cm)
Good For
- Travellers who can manage slightly tighter spaces
- Families travelling with portable hoists or adaptive equipment (manageable)
- People wanting an accessible base close to Waihi Beach
Read more about exploring Katikati and the accessibility initiatives happening at Waihi Beach.