Satellite dishes under domes are the only hints of audio visual equipment at the spy base.

Looking for a place to buy or rent the latest audio visual equipment? Don't listen to Google Maps and head for a controversial government spy base.

The GCSB-run Waihopai spy base, in Marlborough, is listed on Google Maps as an "audio visual equipment rental service", prompting some light-hearted reviews.

But if the reviews are anything to go by, their service is a bit hit and miss.

GOOGLE MAPS The spy base, as seen on Google Maps, described as an "audio visual equipment rental service".

Reviewer Clemens Zlami had heard great things about the place before visiting.

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"I heard this is the best audio visual equipment supplier in the country, and now I know why. My experience was incredible ... on my arrival I was greeted by a man I'd never met. He seemed to know a lot about me, I don't know how.

SUPPLIED When contacted about the Google Maps listing, GCSB director-general Andrew Hampton responded with a partly redacted statement.

"Then, inside, another man predicted exactly the audio visual equipment that I was looking for. He said he heard me on a phone call he'd listened to the night before but I don't know what he was talking about. 10/10 would visit again," Zlami said.

From the 11 reviews it received, the spy base had an average rating of 4.2 stars out of five.

When contacted about the Google Maps listing, Government Communications Security Bureau director-general Andrew Hampton responded with a partly redacted statement.

GOOGLE MAPS Reviewers made the most of the spy base being listed as an audio visual equipment rental service.

"I can neither confirm nor deny the capabilities of the Waihopai Station. In saying that, I am pleased to say that the Waihopai Station plays a key role in keeping New Zealand and New Zealanders safe by [redacted] and [redacted] and [redacted].

"The rating of 4.2 out of a possible five stars is pretty good, but there's room for improvement," Hampton said.

RICKY WILSON/STUFF Anyone wanting to get audio visual equipment at Waihopai will have to go through security first.

Reviewer Jon Wroth received a complimentary set of the region's fabled wine with an order.

"Top rate commercial espionage on demand. Free crate of Marlborough sauv blanc with every order," the reviewer wrote.

Other reviews were more blunt and pointed out the obvious.

SCOTT HAMMOND/STUFF Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom and politician Laila Harré giving the spy base a thumbs down in 2014.

"Very rude. Wouldn't let me in for a look," a user named "Duff Man" wrote.

"They spy on you here," Tim Devaney said.

Another Google user, "faildroid" praised staff at the government facility.

"Great reception, discrete and professional staff. Would eavesdrop again."

Every January, protesters stand outside the station's gates calling for the surveillance base to be shut down.

Last month, they called for New Zealand to stop "spying to make America great" and to stop "working for Trump".

Others who had called on the spy base to close included Internet entrepeneur Kim Dotcom and former Internet Party leader Laila Harré.

This was not the first time a blunder had appeared on Google Maps.

Last year in Australia, hundreds of confused sightseers who wanted to go to the Blue Mountains followed Google Maps directions to a dead-end road in Dargan, New South Wales.

They had typed "Blue Mountains" into the search engine or app, but for some reason this had pointed them to a street about 30 kilometres north of where they should have been in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.

In Norway, an error on the online maps led people looking to visit the Preikestolen rock formation to the town named Fossmork, 32 kilometres away.

Residents of Fossmork said hundreds of tourists mistakenly swamped their town and got "quite upset" when they realised they were in the wrong place.