237 Best Hotels in New Zealand

A friendly, family-run business offers appealing cabins, motel units, and campervan and tent sites nestled off the main road at Amodeo Bay. The beach is just over the road, and it's a fisherman's paradise. There’s a guest barbecue area, plus a swimming pool, trampoline, children's play area, game room, and boat and fish-cleaning facilities. If you don't have your own boat you can take a four-hour fishing trip charter (NZ$180 per person, minimum three people). Bush walks, a creek, and a lagoon for safe swimming are all right here. The motel is 7 km (4½ miles) south of Colville.

This gem set on a private farm at Pigeon Bay is made up of four secluded villas, including an ultramodern waterfront home and a magnificent Victorian homestead surrounded by expansive heritage gardens with an impressive pool and spa facilities. You can customize packages to suit couples, families, or larger groups, adding extras like helicopter transfers from Christchurch, private gourmet meals, and wildlife boating tours.

A blend of upscale "flashpacker" lodge rooms and stylish self-contained suites and apartments give visitors to the Anndion Lodge lots of flexibility. There’s a shared lodge kitchen and outside you'll find a covered barbecue area, saltwater pool, hot tub, and infra-red sauna. Inside, there's a cozy TV lounge with an extensive DVD library and pool table.

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.

Aimed primarily at business travelers, the spacious digs here, with their handsome yet comfy decor and convenient location are popular with tourists, too. A stylish mix of accommodations include studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. All are self-contained, serviced, and soundproofed. Continental and cooked breakfasts are available at extra charge.

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.

Somewhere between a boutique hotel and a bed-and-breakfast, Arrowtown House offers arguably the best service in Arrowtown. Located just off the main road into Arrowtown, you can easily walk to all local attractions. The five quiet rooms are all very spacious and well appointed, including a minibar and washer/dryer. It's ideal for just an overnight or a longer stay for a week of skiing.

Designed to blend in with Arrowtown's historic buildings, these five cottage-style suites are just a two-minute walk from the center of town. All have views toward the Arrow River gorge, which ideally will inspire you to go on one of the area's many beautiful day hikes.

The largest hotel in town, an eight-minute drive from the town center, is a rambling complex with different types of spacious, modern rooms, most with small balconies. Some rooms in a motel-style building have kitchenettes. An on-site restaurant serves traditional and contemporary New Zealand fare, adding to the allure of this hospitable place, which will be a welcome sight if you've just battled some of the rugged gravel side roads of the Catlins.

Each bright, well-maintained unit here has an individual whirlpool tub, which helps distinguish Ashleigh Court from the many motels on Fenton Street. It's near Whakarewarewa and the golf course, and not too far from city shops and restaurants.

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.

This motel is across the road from the marina and within walking distance of town. Rooms have a fresh nautical, cream-and-blue color scheme with marine-life art on the walls.

Clean, spacious, and comfortable apartment-like units and full apartments have decks with views that take in Halfmoon Bay, and from these "busybody" perches you can observe the comings and goings of the wharf and pub, as well as the antics of the kakas (bush parrots). The studio spa with a two-person jetted tub is nice after a day of tramping. All rooms have central heating and Wi-Fi; some are wheelchair-accessible. Other facilities include laundry, barbecues, and freezer storage (in case you've been out fishing and need to store your catch). There's a free shuttle service to the national park. 

A contemporary luxury waterfront lodge built to complement the surrounding native bush and seascape, the property's spacious suites and apartments are built into the hillside. Cuisine, featuring the best local produce, is served in the stylish Foredeck Restaurant and Kumatage Lounge or the casual Bight Café on the jetty. Getting there is part of the treat: you can catch a water taxi from Picton, helicopter in, or walk in on the Queen Charlotte Track (the Lodge is a two-hour detour). Dolphin and bird-watching cruises, bushwalks, kayaking, and fishing charters are all at your door. Booking options include a bed-and-breakfast option, or a dinner, bed, and breakfast. 

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.

Within walking distance to Akaroa township sits an historic Victorian house, which now stands as a bed-and-breakfast. Nestled among well-kept gardens, a petite vineyard and an avocado orchard, the birdsong here is a delight, especially from the native bellbird. Well-known for its outstanding hospitality, hosts Noel and Sharon will put on drinks and homemade hors d'oeuvres for all guests at 6 pm. Breakfast is a delight with both hot-cooked and continental fare. All six rooms are elegantly decorated; the architecture and the setting are superb, and the owner's passion for collecting has transformed the home into a living heritage museum.

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.

This lakeside hotel with its immaculate gardens, tennis court, and beach offers luxury accommodation with convenience. You could spend the whole day here but it's also an excellent base for making the most of the geothermal region. The rooms and suites are beautifully appointed with either lake or garden views. The restaurant offers gourmet modern New Zealand cuisine and a picnic basket is available if you take a sightseeing drive.

A five-minute drive past town on the road to Milford, these four cozy and comfortable cottages make a good base for local exploration and an early start if you're driving to Milford Sound. They are quiet, very clean, and offer lovely views of Lake Te Anau and the mountains beyond.

A short walk from restaurants and inner-city shopping, each of these contemporary-style studio apartments has a patio or balcony. All windows are soundproofed and double-glazed, and the apartments have kitchenettes, laundry, and a home theater system with Sky TV. Most have whirlpool baths, and all have heated bathroom floors.

Well-known to upscale business travelers, this independently owned hotel is great for extended stays, with some rooms containing full kitchen facilities and washer/dryers. Artisan, the in-house restaurant, is incredible, and it's worth staying in for a night just to experience dinner there. It's not in the heart of downtown, which is preferable to some guests.

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.

Roughly 30 miles upriver from Pipiriki, this private farm enclave can only be reached by jet boat or kayak. The remote location rewards with magnificent river and forest vistas. Accommodations range from fully catered lodge rooms to self-catering bunkrooms and cabins. Lodge owner Jo also runs jet boat tours upriver to the Bridge to Nowhere and provides jet boat shuttle services for hikers and mountain bikers within the national park. Canoe trips and rentals are also available.

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.