237 Best Hotels in New Zealand

A few kilometers out of Te Anau on the road to Milford Sound, glass, stone, and timber blend together to make a stylish place to spend a few days. Each room has a wide-ranging lake view, and there are log cabins that are especially well-suited for families. They have guides that specialize in fly-fishing, and offer packages that include Fiordland tours or Great Walks.

Even just arriving here is an exceptional experience—whether by boat or the namesake Flying Fox, a cable car that carries you across to the remote, west bank of the Whanganui Rive; once here, you can choose between two-bedroom cottages, an off-grid tiny house, Treetops studio, or a glamping tent. The cottages were hand-built using salvaged materials; inside, rug-covered floors, tie-dye throws, carved screens, and wood-burning stoves create a warm, cozy ambience. Distinctly eco-friendly, facilities here include wood- and gas-fired showers and solar lighting; moreover, the entire property is certified organic. Both self-catering and bed-and-breakfast options are available, and other meals can be provided (ask in advance). Glamping and camping facilities are available in the summer months. A little store carries a few products as well as home-grown produce. You can get to the Flying Fox from Whanganui on the Whanganui River Road Mail Tour; if you're driving, there's secure parking on the road side of the river.

One block from Dunedin’s main shopping and dining area, these clean and spacious apartments come with full kitchens in one-bedroom units and refrigerators and microwaves in the studios. The separate terrace apartment offers a perfect family home-from-home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. All units offer off-street parking.

At this beautiful B&B a short walk from town, you can have private views over Paterson Inlet from two double rooms and a cozy wee single. Kakas (parrots) are frequent visitors to the deck, and the gorgeous garden is nice for strolling. Continental or cooked breakfasts are available.

A short drive north of Franz Josef village, these stylish, well-equipped one- and two-bedroom villas are in a quiet rural location away from the tourist bustle and helicopters. Each has a spacious lounge, dining area, and kitchen, and opens to private decks with mountain views. Kids can run off energy on the trampoline, or the little farm with its sheep. Gas barbecues are available for guests. 

These six independent units set amid a hillside garden overlooking the sea offer a relaxing ambience and great sunsets. All units are fully self-contained and individually designed, ranging from doubles (some with an upstairs bedroom) to sleeping four (one double and two singles). Guest treats include a swimming pool, hot tub, barbecue, garden dell, and children's play area, plus energetic, friendly hosts. 

A bonus of staying at this central city hotel is the specially commissioned artwork by top New Zealand artists hanging in the soaring lobby, an example of the great attention to design throughout. Even the staff uniforms are designed by local fashion mavens. Beautifully furnished rooms are decked in netural, contemporary hues. Some 53 floors up is the Sugar Club, which adds stunning views to its innovative menu and offers some special deals. You'll also find some fantastic eateries just outside the front door.

This hillside hideaway, managed by the international Accor hotel chain, is nestled in native bushland near Pauanui Beach. Timber chalets are furnished with a designer's flair. Sliding glass doors lead to a balcony perched among the treetops. Miha Restaurant, with its elegant interior or casual alfresco spaces, describes its menu as Pacific Rim with a modern European twist. Guest facilities include a swimming pool, hot tub, gym, and tennis court. They have bikes for rent and there's an international 18-hole golf course down the road.

This hotel is close to the Aotea Centre performance venue, and its central locale close to many well-priced restaurants appeals to business travelers. The best guest rooms are large and have views overlooking the adjacent park or down to the harbor.

Local original art gives this small villa hotel on a quiet street off Ponsonby Road a special touch. Each room is well furnished, and the cozy lounge is stocked with music, films, books, and magazines; it also has an honor bar. Five of the rooms have kitchenettes and open to the courtyard. Breakfasts are made to order. A few minutes' walk puts you in the thick of the Ponsonby cafés. It's often booked up but keep an eye on the website for specials.

Set in beautifully landscaped gardens, this hotel is across the road from the thermal pools, and staying here will remind you of the grand, genteel era in which it was built. There are garden suites and three-bedroom self-contained villas that are great for families, too. Breakfast is served on the front courtyard or in Isobel's Restaurant, which also offers excellent evening dining and a top local wine list.

This bright, modern inn features spacious, self-contained studio and one-bedroom units, all with cooking facilities; you can also order breakfast (full or continental) to be delivered. The bathrooms have spa baths. The motel is in Tauranga's central district, so you're in walking distance to the wharf, restaurants, and shops. Staff are friendly and welcoming.

Close to the center of Havelock North, this Harvest Lodge has spacious units with original artwork and comfortable king-size beds. All are outfitted with whirlpool baths, kitchenettes, and windows that open wide onto the lovely courtyard.

Built to the exacting standards of the Living Building Challenge, The Headwaters is an inspiration to those with an interest in sustainable building and living. Separate cabins and a communal lodge for cooking and socialization mean this place isn't for everyone, but if you are brave enough to pay upmarket prices to use composting toilets, you will be very pleasantly surprised. You will leave feeling rejuvenated and eager to apply some of the wellness principles touted here when you get home.

Inside the beautifully restored Old Government Building built in 1913, with its sweeping central staircase and high ceilings, the Heritage has suites in an Italian High Renaissance Palazzo style complete with stained-glass windows and dark-wood paneling. It has sports facilities, a fitness center, a heated lap pool, sauna, spa, and the highly rated O.G.B. Bar on the ground floor.

Situated at the bottom of Fernhill, the Heritage is quieter than other local hotels and has panoramic views of the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu. The hotel was built almost entirely out of South Island materials, including Central Otago schist stone and cedar. Rooms are notably spacious, and are fitted with writing tables and comfortable sitting areas. It's a nice walk along the waterfront to the center of town, but it may challenge those less able.

This large comfortable hotel has everything you need for a base for exploring the region. The 19th-century building unites Victorian charm with modern amenities including swimming pools, fitness center, and tennis courts. It's a short hop from town.

Just opposite St. Joseph's Cathedral, this late-1800s former bishop's residence (once called Rockmount) is now a comfortable hostel with a few touches of Harry Potter (fans may want to look for Hedwig in Room 9 3/4) and plenty of nice spaces. Your best options are a double in the main building with en suite facilities; the Stables (with two self-contained studios); and the Coach House (two rooms with private bathrooms—only one en suite—and shared kitchen). The home's original dining room has been transformed into a charming, spacious five-bed dorm, and all other rooms are singles, doubles, and triples that share clean, modern bathrooms and two equally smart kitchens. There's a cozy dining area, reading room, TV/DVD lounge, and laundry, as well as Wi-Fi throughout (for a fee). The clientele is a diverse mix of guests from late-teens to octogenarians.

This luxurious hotel in central Tauranga has earth-tone guest rooms that look out either over the city or the harbor. In terms of design and attitude, it’s a groovy little place with big-city character. In winter, you'll be greeted with a cozy fire in the foyer. Fresh continental or cooked breakfasts can be delivered to your room.

An 1860s Victorian mansion just a three-minute walk to the center of town, Hulmes Court was originally built for one of the founders of the Otago Medical School (it maintains scholarly ties by employing University of Otago students) and is paired with a 1907 house. Continental-style breakfast and all-day tea and coffee are served in the Victorian drawing room and a casual, relaxed feel extends to a warm welcome thanks to such touches as a computer, photocopier, books, and newspapers available for guests. Hosts Norman and Zina Wood live on the premises with their family and resident cats. Amenities also include free Wi-Fi, laundry, and off-street parking.

You'll be lulled by the constant roar of the ocean in these secluded, stylish, and spacious apartments with recycled native timbers and contemporary furniture; there's also a few rustic studio cottages (Rimu or Miro), a larger cottage with sea views and a bath on the deck, a seaside house (Takutai) for larger groups, and a quaint cottage for couples (The Stables Hut) near the lagoon and among the bush. All are completely private, with delightful gardens and some sea views. Look for the entrance about ½-kilometer south of Pancake Rocks. There is a two-night minimum stay. 

In the heart of the business district and a stone's throw from the waterfront, this landmark high-rise gets the details right, delivering a sleek, contemporary look with a warm yet sophisticated ambience. The bedrooms are luxuriously equipped, and the chic reception area has light, modern furniture. There's a 24-hour car service and even an on-site spa.

Stylish, well-sized guest rooms, with kitchenettes and en suite bathrooms, overlook the town to the main harbor. Thoughtful touches include fans, and DVD players with a library of movies. Some bathrooms have either a whirlpool tub or a multihead shower. A supermarket just opposite is handy for stocking up before hitting the remote areas of the Marlborough Sounds. The friendly hosts are happy to share their wealth of Kiwi traveling advice.

This heavenly spot encapsulates what Nelson is all about, with a focus on eco-values in its B&B room, a studio unit in the main house, and a delightful studio cottage in the garden with its own water garden and turf roof. Throw in some lovely hospitality and intelligent conversation with host Paulina, a Tomatis sound therapist, and this is the perfect place to stop a few days and recharge. With three thoughtful villas, there is also a cheaper "the den" option, which sleeps one traveler. 

A charming seaside hotel conveniently located on Kaikōura's Esplanade, at the south end of town, this quaint venue has sea and mountain views galore. Quirky décor decorates the waterfront rooms on the first floor of the historic building. Everything else is on ground level, including the courtyard rooms, which open into a gardened area. A basic continental breakfast is served daily from 8 am, and the bar offers a platter menu every afternoon until close, where an extensive champagne, wine, craft beer and martini list is also on offer.

Halfway up the Tākaka Hill from Motueka, these homey cottages with timber interiors and verandas have all you need for a comfortable stay in the country. The decor has a rustic appeal while the modern kitchens with dishwashers take the hard work out of your day. Your stay can be fully self-catered, or with breakfast or dinner provided. It's within easy reach of Golden Bay, Motueka, and the Abel Tasman area, and the owner might take you out on the 4,000 acre historic farm, depending on what's happening—ask when you arrive. One of their farm-sights is  Parliamentary Pond, once a quarry where all the marble rock for New Zealand's parliament was sourced from. 

This boutique hotel captures elegant and cozy alpine ambience in an unexpected place. High up in the suburb of Fernhill, Kamana celebrates the panoramic views of the Remarkables Mountain Range in its gorgeous communal areas---and if you book the right room, from your private balcony. It's worth forgoing a night in town to enjoy the cuisine and cocktails at the on-site Nest Kitchen & Bar, then finish your evening unwinding in their lake-view soaking tubs.

This small cluster of chalets is a notch above the usual, with contemporary style and a magnificent setting among fruit trees adjacent to farmland. Each unit has a veranda and colorful furnishings. Kauri Park is a little out of town, with a more rural setting, but it's still only a few minutes' drive from the historic sights. The owners will provide packages that include platters and hampers.