One of Tauranga’s very first hotels, was Ellis’s Commercial Hotel. It was located on The Strand, west side, between Wharf Street and Spring Street around 1880.

Ellis’s Commercial Hotel Tauranga. c. 1880

Another historic hotel was aptly called The Tauranga Hotel. It was located on The Strand, west side, north of Hamilton Street and run by John Menzies circa 1880.

The Tauranga Hotel. c.1880

The Star Hotel, built in 1880 and demolished in 1984. The Star Hotel was located on Devonport Road, Tauranga

The Star Hotel Tauranga. 1880 – 1984 (Photo by Mary Humphreys c.1900)

And there was of course Tauranga’s longest standing hotel until it was demolished in 1993; The Masonic Hotel. Built in 1865 and run by George Henry Whitcombe, The Masonic Hotel was located on The Strand, west side, between Hamilton Street and Wharf Street.

The Masonic Hotel Tauranga 1865 – 1993 (The Strand Tauranga c.1924)

Quirk’s Commercial Hotel Tauranga located on The Strand, Tauranga.

Quirk’s Commercial Hotel, The Strand, Tauranga. Sometime between 1911 and 1916. Nicholas Quirk and Johanna Quirk in front with baby Veronica

As you can see Tauranga has always had numerous hotels to stay in while visiting Tauranga. While none of the hotels listed above are still standing we so have one hotel which has been standing a very long time.

The Hotel Armitage has been serving Tauranga for nearly 40 years. Although it started out as the Willow Park Hotel, then some years later the Quality Hotel group bought it out, but that didn’t last too long, so now we have the Hotel Armitage.

Though the hotel was extensively refurbished when it changed hands, I personally found it very outdated and in definate need in a major overhaul. Luckily it is not the only hotel in Tauranga!

Hotel Armitage Tauranga