72 Best Hotels in New Zealand

These rustic yet chic studio and one-bedroom villas sit on a clifftop with stunning views of world-famous surf beach Oakura. The villas are built of recycled 100-year-old French clay tiles and hardwood wharf piles. For bigger groups the "underground" villa, built against a bank and capped with a grass roof, offers two queen bedrooms, two bathrooms, and space to host a party. All units have cooking facilities, the owners provide breakfast on request, or you can drive five minutes to Oakura Village and its many cafés.

A central Dunedin hub with roots dating back to 1862, this luxurious five-star hotel is a fresh incarnation of the classic Wains Hotel, refurbished with all the mod cons such as large TVs and premium linens. Rooms are decorated in a sophisticated, neutral-hued style with Scottish touches such as a tartan throw and interesting modern lamps. Desks and good Wi-Fi appeal to business travelers. The Press Club eatery is a take on Dunedin's gold-rush era and presents regional dishes using local produce. Breakfast can be purchased as an addition to the room rate.

This stylish, purpose-built lodge is set on Blue Duck Station, a multiuse tourism, farming, and conservation venture beside the Whanganui River. Built according to strict environmental standards with extra-thick insulation and glazing, the super king and twin en suite rooms share a fully equipped kitchen and outdoor BBQ. Remote Blue Duck Station is a destination in its own right; you can head to the river for jet boating or canoeing, explore the farm on horseback, or find out more about conservation efforts to protect rare blue duck and kiwi that live around here on an ATV bush safari. There’s a café, too, and The Chef's Table Restaurant with dramatic views. Other lodges on the property cater to large groups.

Newly built on the hill behind Tekapo township, Galaxy's architectural design celebrates Tekapo's beauty from sunrise to moonrise. During the day, panoramic windows in each room frame the stunning lake and mountain vistas. At night, the single bedroom suites have expansive skylights above the bed, offering unparalleled stargazing of the International Dark Sky Reserve. The warm and modern interior is a welcome respite from windy and exposed environment of the Mackenzie Basin.

Offering luxury loft-style rooms, the Intrepid brings home comforts to your inner-city stay, and you'll be greeted in the morning with complimentary fresh coffee and tea, and maybe a sweet snack or two. Service is excellent and friendly. In keeping with the modern art deco aesthetics, below the hotel is the quiet, speakeasy-styled Puffin wine bar. The hotel's front door sits in the entertainment hub of Ghuznee Street and Cuba Street.

This unusual accommodation started life on the South Island in 1924—as a boat—which the current owner found, moved to Whanganui, turned it on its side, and embedded it into a hill as an exclusive accommodation overlooking the river and city. It's self-contained with a bathroom, hot tub, pool, and kitchenette, and it's less than a mile across a bridge to the city's restaurants and cafés. The tiny house is also right on the edge of the Mountain to Sea cycling trail and Whanganui's Round the Bridges walk.

Hidden behind an ivy-clad wall and pretty gardens, this lovely heritage villa boasts modern, spacious rooms. The interior is particularly welcoming with a large lounge and dining area, bathrooms are generous, and there is good off-street parking. The Canterbury Museum, Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery, Tram, and plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars are within easy walking distance. Arrive in time for a complimentary glass of wine at 5:30 pm. There are also three-bedroom apartments with leafy views that are fully self-contained, each spanning three floors.

Located next to a vineyard, this luxurious resort enjoys a parklike setting as well as its own on-site bistro, a small spa,  and a tennis court. Its spacious, airy cottages have rural views, some taking in a man-made lake or others with views of the Tararua ranges. There are complimentary shuttles to town.

With bold art on display everywhere you look, this hotel near the harbor is for the hip and trendy. Harbor-view rooms come with huge balconies, while in-room decor and bathrooms are just as design-friendly as the rest of the place. There are coffee machines in every room, and apartments are nicely fitted out for longer stays, including washers and dryers. The in-house restaurant Hippopotamus and Hot Sauce bar offer great cocktails and culinary delights. This is the closest hotel to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

It's quite a drive to get here, but there are not many places where you can stay in simple, understated luxury and hear kiwi calls at night. The lodge units are beautifully designed with recycled woods and insulated with recycled wool. All are fully self-contained, with floor-to-ceiling windows for the forest views. There's plenty to do here, including walking up the forest stream to a natural swimming hole, and watching the birdlife from your veranda. The café/restaurant serves wholesome local food and is open most days and summer evenings, but it's best to check ahead.

This former railway administration building was chopped into several pieces and relocated before being transformed into a small country hotel with seven well-appointed boutique suites in the main building and six other rooms in a garden courtyard. The suites are individually decorated with their own twist on old-country-meets-modern style. Nestled behind, six garden rooms are beside the neighboring park.

This lodge is conveniently located right in the heart of Methven, and is one of the larger accommodation providers in the village. You can choose between en suite lodge rooms, or family apartments. There's also a small camping ground out the back. The rooms are simple but adequate and come with flat-screen TVs, and there's also a cozy shared lounge and small bar. 

This lodge, run by a young local family, has twin, triple, and family rooms, all with private bathrooms and two have kitchenettes. All rooms have mountain views (though not necessarily of Aoraki/Mount Cook). The basic alpine-style decoration uses lots of native timber and glass, and there's a huge stone fireplace in the lounge. There are shared kitchen facilities, a laundry, bicycles you can rent, and a small shop.

Being fully self-catering is a huge plus with the lack of shopping in Mount Cook Village, and Aoraki Court Motel has 25 modern studio or two-bedroom units, all of which have kitchenettes. While Aoraki/Mount Cook itself isn't visible from here, you get spectacular views of Mt. Sefton and the surrounding mountains, and you may get mugged by the cheeky paradise ducks trying to break into your room. Buy groceries at Twizel or Lake Tekapo before you arrive, or dine at the Hermitage Hotel farther down the road.

Three self-contained cottages on the shoreline of the Waimea Estuary began life as apple pickers' cottages and have been refurbished in a pleasing rustic style. Separated by high plantings for privacy, each has a full kitchen, ample decks, and a wood fire. Karaka has an outdoor bath on a private deck overlooking the estuary. You can wander the foreshore and do some bird-watching, or explore the 5-acre organic farm and vineyard. Only children over 12 years are permitted to stay. 

Rooms are spacious, linens are fine, and the art collection is impressive at this villa that was built in the late 1800s. The owner has traveled extensively, and international influences sit nicely amid the decor. Look for the original leather wall linings and ornate leadlight windows. This grand old house has previously served time as a convent and a private home. The Red Room has an impressively large bathroom. Full cooking facilities are also available, there are three guest lounges, and the garden is delightful.

Check into this Canopy Camping operator, and you'll have 14 acres of bush-covered land to yourself—there is one permanent canvas tent here, which sleeps two, with access to buildings containing a kitchenette and bathrooms. There is also an outdoor shower with views over Ohiwa Harbour. It's a great spot for bird-watching and stargazing. The rate includes the use of kayaks, and there are plenty of walking trails around the property. The popular Motu Bike Trail is easy to reach from here, but you need to bring cycles with you.

You can step out of this tiny, family-run property's garden onto a breathtaking beach. There's no road, just the pohutukawa trees come between your room and the sand. The downstairs rooms claim the best beach access, but great views and the most sun are upstairs. Either way, seven of the eight rooms have beach views. The rooms are simple but stylish. Outside there's a garden, self-catering barbecue, and a hot tub. Sports equipment, including kayaks and body boards, is available at no extra charge. These are the only accommodations in Whitianga that sit right on the beach. There is one wheelchair-accessible unit.

The highly rated accommodations located right at Black Estate's award-winning winery–restaurant is a perfect escape for couples. The stunning, architecturally gorgeous building is stylishly decorated, with access to delicious food and wine. You'll also be able to rent bikes to explore the Waipara Wine Trail, which starts at Black Estate.

Local author Jane Tolerton has set up house in a Victorian villa in sunny Mount Victoria and, true to her passion, has lined the hallway with books. The three en suite rooms are comfortable and homey. Jane serves hot breakfast and a steady supply of homemade cookies. If you want to work off the calories, Booklovers doesn’t just enjoy close proximity to the city's bright lights—it’s also close by the green belt and Lord of the Rings walking trail.

Right at the edge of town, with views over the harbor, you can choose from a two-bedroom historic cottage or several two-story apartment units, each with a king bed and a sunset view. As you walk out of the driveway, turn left, and you will be at the water's edge and the historic Bow Street jetty site within a minute. Turn the other way, and you just need to walk 50 meters to the main stretch of shops and restaurants.

Part lodge, part boutique hotel, these slick accommodations were built around all that remained of the original Braemar Lodge—an impressive two-story-high river stone fireplace. Rooms are big and have expansive views across the river plain to Hanmer and its snowy backdrop (in winter). The warm sunny aspect is sheltered from the cold southerly winds that sweep through this area so you'll get real value from your own deck. The interior is neutrally contemporary; the rooms all have gas fires, swiveling TVs, and marble bathrooms. The on-premises Altitude Restaurant is worth a visit.  

Looking out over Whangamata and the islands in its harbor from your hillside suite, you'll feel rested and pampered, especially after being greeted with fresh flowers. The lodge suites are spacious, with an open plan lounge and bedroom, en suites, and great ocean views. The large gardens feature a refreshing pool for the warmer months.

These affordable one- and two-bedroom apartment-style units are just a two-minute walk from the center of town, surrounded by landscaped gardens. Shackleton's Bar and Grill features the best Canterbury produce, perfect after drinks in front of the open fire in the bar. They also do different packages including ballooning, golf, fishing tours, mountain shuttles, and ski and helicopter trips.

Built for a sea captain, this restored 1880s Victorian villa pairs antiques with modern fabrics and conveniences, so each bedroom has an en suite bathroom with shower; the three luxury rooms also have a separate bathtub. You can settle in with coffee or a drink in by the wood-burning fireplace in the guest lounge, or on the sunny garden deck, or lose yourself in the woodland garden. The house is near the town center. Hosts Karel and David will attend to your every need, and give you some great ideas for exploring the region they love.

A coastal vineyard a short drive south of New Plymouth offers the chance to stay in chalets with sweeping sea views. Perched on a hillside, balconies look out across grazing paddocks and the rugged coastline below, with Paritutu Rock and the Sugarloaf Islands visible to the right. In the other direction are expansive gardens and rows of vines, as well as views of Mount Taranaki. Family-owned and -operated Okurukuru vineyard also has a cellar door on-site, and the vineyard bistro conveniently serves lunch and dinner from Thursday to Sunday. 

The region’s only Qualmark-rated five-star hotel offers a mix of suites, apartments, and studios, all luxuriously appointed, some with full kitchens, dining areas, and laundry, and some overlooking the gardens of Seymour Square. Ask for one of the rooms facing the square for a leafy outlook. The hotel, which is locally owned and independent from major chains, also has an excellent restaurant, cozy bar, sheltered pool and courtyard, small but modern gym, and a lovely day spa.

This apartment-style hotel is smack-dab in the middle of the city—and if you can snag a suite at a weekend or special summer rate, it's one of the best-value lodgings in town. You have a wide selection of stylish studios and spacious one-, two-, or three-bedroom suites to choose from. Facilities are similar in all suites and include kitchens, washers, dryers, and dishwashers (they're also serviced). Despite the location, you don't get street noise.

Dating from 1903, the Edwardian-style building that now houses this stylish, luxurious hotel was originally the local post office, behind whose grand facade (check out the French antique tiles that line the roof) lie some of the city's most luxurious lodgings. Accommodations include Queen Deluxe, King Executive, and King Premiere rooms, the main differentiating feature being their size. The hotel is just on the edge of town, about a five-minute walk to the shops and restaurants as well as being handy to the waterfront.