New Zealand newbie: The InterContinental Auckland
Many points enthusiasts spent years eagerly awaiting the opening of the Park Hyatt Auckland, which occurred while New Zealand’s borders were still closed due to COVID-19. Meanwhile, another points hotel was quietly in the works and opened in January.
Situated at the end of Queen Street across from the Ferry Building, the InterContinental Auckland might be the most ideally located hotel in the city for both business and leisure travelers. Not to mention, it's priced attractively for both demographics.
A last-minute trip to Auckland in April presented the opportunity to check out the world’s newest InterContinental. Here’s what the experience was like.
Getting there
The InterContinental Auckland is across from the city’s waterfront and close to the major thoroughfares of the central business district.
A taxi or ride-hailing service from Auckland Airport (AKL) will take around 30 minutes, depending on the time of day; it'll range from $35 to $50. The hotel is conveniently close to Te Komititanga, a public square where the Britomart train station is located. It's at the harbor end of Queen Street, so if you prefer public transport, there are plenty of bus lines servicing the surrounding streets.
If you choose to rent your own vehicle so you can explore the surrounding region or embark on a New Zealand road trip, overnight parking at the hotel costs 70 New Zealand dollars ($42).
Booking details
The InterContinental Auckland is on the small side, with just 139 rooms and suites on its sixth to 11th floors. It only has two room categories, Classic and Premium, and three types of suites; however, the room categories are further classified by the type of view they offer.
The best way to book a stay at InterContinental Auckland is directly through IHG, so you can earn or redeem points and enjoy any elite status benefits.
Rates in entry-level Classic rooms with either a king or two queen beds start at $216 or 39,000 IHG One Rewards points per night. If you find availability, you can put one of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card’s annual free night certificates (worth up to 40,000 points) toward a stay. I stayed in a King Classic City View room, which starts at $261 per night (see rates and fees).
When booking the InterContinental Auckland, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for IHG stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic IHG One Rewards elite status for value-added benefits. These include:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus automatic Platinum Elite status.
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus automatic Platinum Elite status.
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 5 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus automatic Silver Elite status.
Standout features
- The property has a phenomenal location in the heart of the city within walking distance of various business and leisure locales.
- Rooms are sleek and contemporary, with beautiful stone, wood and woven accents.
- The nightly rates are reasonable, whether you use either points or cash.
Drawbacks
- While it has a business-chic vibe, the hotel doesn’t have a distinctive personality.
- Dishes at Advieh, the on-site restaurant, are hit or miss and expensive, even for Auckland.
- There are still some new hotel kinks to work out.
The vibe
Occupying the lower levels of a gleaming new glass-and-steel edifice that anchors the end of Queen Street, the InterContinental strikes a balance between making a statement and blending into the surrounding skyscrapers.
You’ll catch most guests gawking at the dramatic hanging glass installation as they take the escalators from the ground-floor driveway entrance up to the small first-floor reception area. The crowd is a mix of business groups and tourists in town for a night or two. There are also locals passing through on their way to the shops and food court at Commercial Bay — an upscale, multilevel emporium attached to the hotel.
With few public or coworking areas to speak of beyond its restaurant, Advieh, you won’t find many guests hanging around for casual meetups.
You might find it thronged at busy times of the year. However, even when the hotel was mostly sold out, it accommodated my early morning arrival at 7 a.m. by getting a room ready for me; I was able to squeeze in a quick nap before a day out in the city.
The room
My King Classic City View room was on the 10th floor and measured around 375 square feet. It looked out east, over the always-bustling Te Komititanga square and beyond to Waitemata Harbour.
The predominant palette was muted grays, browns and blacks. Wood paneling accents framed the bed (along with a sculptural pendant lamp); additionally, there was a taupe headboard and silvery carpeting that appeared to be inspired by New Zealand’s active geology.
Another uniquely Kiwi touch? The whariki, or woven wall panel, next to the wall-mounted smart TV (with casting capability) was created by the Ngati Whatua Orakei weaving collective.
The room felt spacious thanks to a semi-separate living room area with a small gray sectional; a circular table was topped with white-veined black marble, and a Scandinavian-style curvilinear wooden chair completed the space.
The glass-encased minibar featured a De'Longhi espresso machine, as well as New Zealand treats like Explorer pinot noir from Central Otago and a Marlborough sea salt Honest Chocolat bar.
The room’s entry foyer included a high-profile table — handy for leaving your room key or other belongings — and a bench for donning shoes or dropping a bag. Across from it, a large (admittedly somewhat cumbersome) sliding door rolled one way to reveal the closet and the other to access the bathroom.
Tiled in black stone and anchored by a dramatic marble countertop with a single sink and backlit vanity, the bathroom was elegant but still functional. To one side, a frosted glass door concealed the toilet; on the other side, the walk-in shower had another frosted-glass peekaboo window into the bedroom and an array of full-size Byredo products.
The hotel also stocked various amenities, including dental kits and combs, for guest use. These were thoughtful touches, as were the on-floor water stations so guests could fill provided carafes at their convenience.
The only snafu was a Saturday morning situation where an alarm of some sort had cut off power to the elevators; an escort by housekeeping was necessary to navigate the fire stairs and exit via the ground floor. Hopefully this type of issue has since been fixed.
Food and drink
The hotel’s main (and, for now, only) eatery is Advieh Restaurant and Bar, which sits next to the reception area. There’s another entrance from Commercial Bay for the general public to use.
The restaurant’s name is derived from the Persian word for “spice.” Chef Gareth Stewart proffers a menu of Mediterranean-skewing dishes, many of which feature New Zealand produce and proteins.
Diners can watch chefs prepare their orders thanks to the open-kitchen concept. They can also peruse the crowds passing to and fro on Quay Street from one of the window-adjacent tables.
Diners can sample dishes like crispy kataifi-wrapped shrimp and crayfish with tarragon mayo ($12 each), Lachlan Ridge kingfish with rhubarb and pomegranate ($19) and a dramatically served shish of harissa-spiced wagyu beef with Lebanese toum and pistachios ($18).
The plates deserve plaudits for presentation and creativity but were not all flavorsome. Despite requests to course them out dish by dish so as not to rush the evening, they were all served at once. This meant it was not possible to enjoy each at its optimal timing.
Advieh is also where you’ll find the hotel’s breakfast buffet. It offers plenty of homemade pastries and fresh fruits, as well as hot dishes made to order. However, given the number of trendy cafes and restaurants in Commercial Bay and in nearby Britomart, you might want to venture out for your first flat white of the day.
The hotel will also field a 21st-floor rooftop bar later in 2024 (around September) operated by hospitality group Five Fellas.
Amenities and service
Three months after opening, the hotel was still light on amenities. A fitness center has since opened, but during my visit, the hotel was providing daypasses to a gym called Les Mills.
Les Mills was about a five-minute walk away and had an extensive selection of cardio and weight equipment, as well as classes. It's a good thing I took advantage since I stopped on my way back to the hotel for some pastries at a Saturday street fair in Britomart.
The hotel has since opened a club lounge where guests can enjoy a light breakfast, bites throughout the day, and evening drinks and canapes.
Out and about
The InterContinental Auckland is truly one of the best-situated hotels in the city, thanks to the plethora of entertainment venues and districts within close proximity. Simply walk across the street to the Ferry Building to catch a vessel to idyllic Waiheke Island, where the only decision you have to make is whether to head to a vineyard or the beach first.
The hotel sits within steps of Queen Street, where you'll find many of the city’s flagship fashion and beauty boutiques. Walk east a few blocks to get to trendy Britomart; this area has some of Auckland’s most happening restaurants and designer stores. Venture the same distance in the other direction, and you can bar hop along Viaduct Harbour and the Wynyard Quarter.
Accessibility
In compliance with current New Zealand accessibility standards, the InterContinental Auckland offers wheelchair-accessible guest rooms. In-room features include extra turning space for maneuverability, tall-height toilets with grab bars, roll-in showers with handheld showerheads and built-in transfer seats and safety bars.
Some rooms offer visual alarms, while there are audible alarms in the hallways for people who have visual impairments.
All the public spaces of InterContinental Auckland are wheelchair accessible thanks to no-step or ramp entries; there are plenty of elevators with buttons within easy reach. Access to the rest of Queen Street and Commercial Bay is also available via ramp.
Checking out
The InterContinental Auckland is yet another exciting addition to the hotel scene in New Zealand’s largest city. Not only is it reasonably priced, but its small size ensures a personalized experience. Its guest rooms offer an ideal balance between luxury and functionality.
The property's location at the waterfront end of Queen Street makes it an excellent choice for business travelers, as well as travelers who want a central base to explore the city and its environs.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.