We loved our bedroom at the Trinity Wharf Hotel, Tauranga, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand.
We were on the second floor (the ground floor being called first floor), of the three storey hotel on the waterfront. The name Trinity Wharf is named after the three wharves.
Sea water means you will see boats and birds. The boats are static. But the birds are constantly moving.
Best birds
Three birds trotted along the ledge outside our balcony.
New Zealand farmers don't like birds which demolish the crops voraciously and have to be scared off with noise machines and lasers and restricted by nets.
However, we tourists are entranced, mesmerised by birds. Watching them is better than TV. As the birds stroll left and right, it's as engaging as watching tennis at Wimbledon.
They even drank the pool water. I searched online and managed to identify black backed gulls.
The only disappointment for me at the hotel was the swimming pool.
Lovely for strong swimmers.
We always try to book at hotel with a pool so that I can get my daily swim. At this hotel, I didn't.
The pool looked good. But it was small, with a deep end and the only ladder was at the deep end. My husband said, "It is just round rungs, not flat steps, so don't risk it."
I could not see a convenient overhang enabling me to pull myself along to the shallow end after letting go of the ladder, or getting puffed out or panicking half way along.
Besides, I am the feet and inches generation. I could have mistaken 1.5 metres for being shallow enough for me. I am the wrong side of five feet.
Even if I survived, it would have been stressful.
I told another guest.
He commented, "It's a safety issue."
I mentioned it to the front desk. They said, "There is nothing we can do."
There are five things they can do.
1 Call a contractor to add a ladder at the shallow end.
Move the ladder from the deep end to the shallow end.
2 Install two ledges or steps, semi-circular, around the corner of the pool.
3 Make a spa bath with a step and barrier in the shallow corner nearest the hotel.
4 Mark the base of the pool to separate the deep end from the shallow end.
5 Put a rope along the edges so you can pull yourself up at the shallow and deep ends, all pull yourself along.
6 Put a rope across the middle of the pool separating the shallow end from the deep end, and/or paint the base a different colour.
7 Raise the pool so it is all shallow.
8 Have a life guard and assistant in attendance to help people in and out and ensure their safety.
9 Install a video camera.
10 Have a lifeguard in the hotel on call for an emergency.
11Display the number to call for assistance displayed. (All pools in Singapore have the numbers of ambulance displayed by private pools. I think it must be a requirement or insurance or government regulation or both.)
12 Have a life ring on the wall.
13 Have resuscitation instructions on the wall.
14 If guests complain, send a note of apology, a voucher for a free cocktail, or champagne and chocolates or more biscuits
Biscuits
That reminds me. A plus point. Biscuits on arrival. One for each of us two guests.
Buffet Breakfast
The buffet breakfast was great. Perfect scrambled eggs. Danish pastries which looked dry had a moist apple puree centre.
In conclusion, if you wanted to swim in the hotel pool from the shallow end, like me, a total disappointment. If you are a strong swimmer like my husband, a great hotel.
However, after using the bedroom's bath which had spouts I felt mollified. The hotel has many types of room. We had chosen a room with a sea view.
On balance, a lovely hotel with great water views of passing boats from the dining room.
We had booked through booking.com where my husband leaves reviews.
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