The Hilton Hotel, Auckland – Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation – Central to Everything

Hilton Auckland Hotel has an enviable location, surrounded by Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour at the end of the nautically inspired Princes Wharf complex. The hotel is just a short walk or wheel from Auckland CBD, Viaduct Village, Wynyard Quarter, home of an abundance of cafés, bars and restaurants along the picturesque waterfront. The Britomart precinct and the ferries are just a 5-minute walk or wheel the opposite direction.

Plenty of buses from the Britomart with kneel down capability can take you up the road to the Sky City, Sky Tower, the Civic Theater, Auckland Museum and Auckland Art Gallery. All just 10 minutes from the hotel.

Entrance and Foyer

Well ramped entrance.

Foyer with the reception desk.

Valet only parking exists and is located on either side of the hotel entrance. The cost per day is $45 with plenty of room for high-top vehicles. You will find ramping with an easy gradient to welcome you in through the large glass opening doors. Plenty of assistance on hand to open doors and look after your luggage and see you comfortably to your room. The hotel also provides a full concierge service to aid with your day to day plans.

The Reception is directly in front of you as you enter the hotel with elevators just to the right that will take you up to the rooms, gymnasium and pool. The foyer is full of light with ceiling to floor glass windows boasting incredible views of the Auckland Harbour and CityScape. Just next to the main reception desk, you will find a smaller desk which is used for their wheelchair using guests. Service dogs are welcome and they have two courtesy wheelchairs on hand.

Meeting area and business centre.

The concierge desk and used for assisting wheelchair users.

The Restaurant and Bar

On the same ground level, you will find the Fish Restaurant where complimentary breakfast is served in the mornings along with lunch and evening meals from an ‘a la carte’ menu. The restaurant is accessed by a gently sloping ramp to the side. The Bellini Bar is open till late and serves up a wicked cocktail. The Duty Manager pointed out that all the furniture is moveable so can be placed appropriately to allow better access for guests.

Fish Restaurant – accessible seating area.

The Bellini Bar seating.

The Bellini Bar staff making some delicious coffee.

Accessible Toilets on the ground floor next to restaurant and bar.

The Lifts

The lifts to access the room levels can be found beside the hotel entrance. The touch buttons to choose which floor are at seating level with Braille.

Elevators to access all levels.

Floor keypad with Braille.

The Standard Accessible Room

The hotel boasts 8 standard accessible rooms that are located on the side with the inward outlook over the swimming pool. They each have an interconnecting door that allows the guest to connect with a standard room if required. Great option if you are travelling with companions who don’t need an accessible bathroom but need to be close by. The rooms comprise of a king size bed with glass sliding doors that open out to a balcony and a 32″ TV on the wall right in front of the bed. All light switches and TV Remotes can be accessed from the bedside and are located around the room at a good height from sitting. The alarms are audible and not flashing in case of an emergency.

Standard Access Room

Standard Access Room showing the interconnecting door.

Accessible bathroom – toilet area.

Accessible bathroom – Shower and Basin.

A shower stool is available on request. We did note that certain items, for example, the wall telephone and toilet flush were placed in hard to reach locations for anyone in a wheelchair. The mirror also could do with being lowered to provide better access. Below is the view from outside the balcony, there is a lip to negotiate to access the balcony but the hotel management has this covered with a ramp available on request.

The view from the accessible rooms.

Accessible room overlooking the pool.

The Fitness Centre

As so many of us are keen on fitness I popped in to check out the Gym facilities. Great accessibility and fantastic views towards the city. The accessible changing room had good space to move around in, although again lacking a shower seat – so a good idea to organise one to be put in place if you wish to use the shower. The lap pool has no hoist provided or ramping but is heated and has an amazing view out over the harbour because of an underwater window at one end.

Fitness Centre

Accessible Changing Room

Good wide and lit corridors.

Access from the gym to the heated lap pool.

The Deluxe Harbour View Room

I had the opportunity to check out the Hilton’s typical Deluxe Harbour View Room. These rooms are not identified as accessible but they may suit many as they provide a lot more room to move around. On measuring the doorway into the bathroom it was 740 mm. Although, the shower is a glass cabinet style (there is no lip) the bath also could be an option. The mirror and vanity in this bathroom are accessible. The toilet, however, does not provide adequate transfer space from the side for many.