231 Best Hotels in New Zealand

Tucked in among giant kahikatea trees and native forest, and overlooking Little Mt. Peel (which isn't so little), this comfortable log lodge provides a haven of peace and quiet. Opened as a hunting and fishing lodge it's a nice getaway if you want to experience the great outdoors without hiking miles up into the hills. There are four bedrooms—two share a bathroom—all looking out to the mountains. You can self-cater, have breakfast provided, or request a fully catered service. Nearby there's rafting, fishing, hunting, horse trekking, hiking, helicopter tours, and visits to Mesopotamia Station up in the high country. It's available for exclusive bookings only.

Tucked away down a quiet street, yet just a two-minute walk to Whangamata marina and a 10-minute walk to the beach, this motel has two studios and two one-bedroom units, all self-contained with modern kitchens, big bathrooms, peaceful pastel colors, and small private decks. The three-bedroom Pipinui Beach Road Apartment, which is just around the corner, is also available. Hosts Barry and Jenny will tell you all about the local walks, cycleways, and attractions.

This comfortable lodge is at the foot hills of the UNESCO World Heritage Tongariro National Park in the heart of the National Park Village. It offers a range of accommodation from two bedroom hotel-style apartments, cozy studio pods, en suite rooms, and private lodge rooms. There's a communal lounge and for those who like to cook, fully equipped kitchens. Alternatively there are breakfast and lunch options and if you are biking or skiing, storage for gear. There's also an area for entertaining children.

Well-appointed cabins and motel units, with various bedding configurations and some with full kitchens, are set on 5 beachfront acres with plenty of trees for shelter. You can get closer to nature on a tent site, or park your campervan on a powered site. The park's shared facilities (kitchens, bathrooms, laundry) are modern, spacious, well laid-out, and lacking for nothing in appliances. Feel free to enjoy the balmy evenings and cook on the barbecue outside. The well-stocked Pohara Store nearby means you will make fewer trips to town for supplies. 

Conveniently located near the center of Hastings, this motel has 20 modern units surrounding a spacious courtyard; 10 have whirlpool baths, and all are comfortably equipped. The outdoor swimming pool and warm, welcoming hosts are added bonuses.

This ornate timber hotel was built in 1897 on the Coromandel Peninsula; its large, wonderfully appointed guest rooms were transported here in 1920. The bathrooms have both tubs and showers. The restaurant has live shows weekend evenings, and there's a deck where you can pull up a chair and gaze across the street at the Government Gardens.

With its great location across from Auckland University, the Pullman offers a mix of hotel rooms and apartments; the Residences wing has beautiful balconied rooms, some with partial harbor views, while the Tower offers more conventional rooms and suites. An indoor pool and fitness center are appealing amenities, and the hotel has a restaurant and bar. 

This plush hotel is located in the center of town, and you can walk to the lake, shopping, dining, and tour departure points in just five minutes. If you check in before dinner, guests are invited to drinks and canapes in the foyer, where you can share notes on the day's activities. The Remarkables rooms are bigger and quieter, facing away from the street, and better if you are staying for more than a couple of nights.

This is a fairly standard apartment-style chain hotel, but it's the newest in town, and it's as close as you'll get to the central city. It comes with some extras like access to an off-site gym and secure car parking. The one- and two-bedroom apartments have separate living and dining areas, and even the studios have a small kitchen and laundry facilities.

The fabulous lake views and the personal touches make this lakefront motel a great place to stay; it also has spacious, modern rooms and is a few minutes' walk from town. All beds are super or king-size and five units have whirlpool baths. The owners are longtime locals with plenty of helpful advice for travelers to the area; ask about their tour package deals.

This model for this grand old lodge has been given a thorough overhaul since pandemic times, and nowadays it only offers all-inclusive dine-and stay-deals November through April, on select dates only. Each year in September, a list of these dates is released. There is a choice between a two-, three-, or four-night stay, and includes chef-cooked breakfast, lunch, and three-course dinner. The rest of the year, the lodge is booked out for exclusive use only. The recently renovated facilities overlook the forest-covered hills and waterfront. If relaxing on the veranda gets too tiresome, try an adventure on a paddleboard, kayak, or mountain bike, or try your luck with a fishing rod—all are complimentary for guests. Getting here is half the fun, with the only access being by water transfer or helicopter.

The location (a five-minute walk from town and from the harbor) and family-friendly facilities are key attractions here. Accommodations range from studio units to a self-contained, two-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment with a kitchen, lounge/dining area, and private courtyard. Shared guest facilities include a large, sheltered courtyard with a barbecue, well-equipped kitchen, and hot tub. The owners are a mine of local information if you need a few pointers.

Named for Queenstown's first European settler—who oversaw the birth of the town during the 1860s gold rush—this hotel's accommodations range from rooms and apartments to multibedroom lakeside residences. The True South restaurant is worth sacrificing a night on the town to dine in.

The well-appointed studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites at this resort, located 2 km (1 mile) from downtown Rotorua sit amid spacious grounds. You can happily lounge on the patio, take a dip in the outdoor pool, hit a few tennis balls, purify in the sauna, or while away the evening in front of the fire in the lounge bar.

This two-story luxury lodge sits in the country, high above the Hokitika River valley. The views stretch across the river, farms, and native forest to the Southern Alps. The lodge, with four spacious guest rooms, is framed by 3 acres of native bush and garden. Two ground-floor guest rooms open out to a large breakfast deck. Upstairs the rooms are larger, as are the views. The social hub of the lodge is the Great Room, with its spectacular cathedral ceiling and big fireplace.

Elegance and character team with modern amenities in this renovated Edwardian inn in the center of town. Rooms are decorated in Victorian furniture with lots of mahogany. Four of the eight suites have whirlpool baths. Downstairs, the restaurant–bar has traditional English character with a Kiwi twist; expect a cozy roaring fire (in winter), historic Whanganui pictures on the walls, standard bistro-pub fare, a wide choice of imported beers, and more than 50 single-malt whiskies.

Set on leafy Latimer Square, this newly built low-rise hotel is just a few minutes' walk from the central city, but far enough away to be quiet and relaxed. Many of the rooms and family-size suites overlook the square, and there is a spacious penthouse taking up the entire top level. It's just a short walk to the Transitional "Cardboard" Cathedral, a must-visit symbol of the new Christchurch. Do dine in the splendor of Bloody Mary's steakhouse restaurant—and don't forget to ask about the intriguing story of how it got its name.

This harborside hotel looks onto a view that has not changed, according to legend, since the Polynesian navigator Kupe first arrived in New Zealand 1,000 plus years ago. The hotel has a low key warm atmosphere, switched-on staff, and comfortable rooms and villas for a more private two-person stay. The restaurant and bar are low key and cozy.

Just a two-minute walk from Pohara Beach, this inn has striking adobe and tile construction, wide verandas, a turf roof, and a touch of Mediterranean decor. There's a small (and popular) restaurant, focusing on local-grown organic foods; you can take breakfast and dinner here, but be sure to book ahead. The big communal bathroom is adorned with subtropical plants, and the garden abounds with grape and kiwifruit vines and big leafy shade trees. The rooms are truly comfy, light and airy, though all but one (which is self-contained) share the large bathroom complex.

Set along State Highway 6, this laid-back oceanfront resort borders Paparoa National Park. It's a 15-minute walk from the iconic Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. The rooms are clean and spacious with nice patios or balconies overlooking a mix of beach, ocean and rainforest garden views. There's a cozy lounge with a large fireplace, and a restaurant serving good-quality food all day and sunset views. 

Private, boutique accommodation in an 1886 Victorian villa, this is one of Picton’s most historic homes. The verandas overlook 5 acres of lush landscaping and bush. The suites and apartments feature carved wooden bedsteads, stained-glass windows, en suite bathrooms, and lounge and dining areas. Generous, fresh breakfast provisions are included. The Picton shops are a 1-km (½-mile) walk.

This property has peaceful apartments and studios set off Amuri Avenue, the main street into Hanmer. Upstairs rooms have balconies with views of Mt. Isobel, and two apartments have private courtyards. Handcrafted slat beds and furniture have been installed in all the rooms, and each unit has either a full kitchen or kitchenette. A continental breakfast is available on request.

Built on the bones of an older motor inn, this hotel has reinvented itself as an eco-conscious alternative to the standard hotel experience. Most rooms don't have a television, but there's good Wi-Fi and the communal outdoor firepits are a great place to unwind. The restaurant grows most of its own vegetables and the ever-changing menu makes it worth staying in for dinner at least one night of your stay. The retro, industrial style furnishings won't suit everyone, but they're fun.

These stylish oceanfront wooden cabins, chalets, and motels are as close to the beach as you'll get. Chalets have full kitchens, and some are equipped with whirlpool baths. Cabins at the back of the camp have relaxing views to a grassy enclosure where alpaca, goats, sheep, and pigs graze. There are also campsites and powered campervan sites here, a well-equipped shared kitchen, and a barbecue area. There's even a glowworm dell just out the back; take a look when it gets dark. A continental breakfast is available on request.

The rooms at this Marine Parade place are well-appointed and well-equipped; each comes with its own hot tub, a flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms facing the beach offer superb views to distant Cape Kidnappers.

This lodge has comfortable and heated self-contained apartments and private rooms. It features a popular restaurant and bar, with cozy indoor dining by a roaring fire, or alfresco with mountain views. A light continental breakfast is included, and there's also the option to use the free ski storage and laundry facilities. Relax in the shared lounge area; watch TV and play a game of pool. 

In celebration of its proximity to the Wellington Botanic Garden, this sophisticated hotel has a strong but subtle floral theme throughout the rooms and shared spaces. The Jardin Grill restaurant serves buffet and à la carte breakfast, and is a great place for a quiet, elegant dining experience. It's a short walk up the hill to the botanic garden or downhill to the city and waterfront.

This handsome, historic, renovated building dominates the main road in Oban and offers comfortable rooms, some of which (in the front) have sea views. This is an old-fashioned hotel, which means that you share a bathroom with other guests if you stay upstairs in the original building. If you'd like your own bathroom and a more peaceful room, ask for a studio unit behind the hotel. Downstairs is the local-favorite pub and restaurant, so you don't need to go far after a few drinks or to have breakfast in the morning.

This rural retreat has four self-contained cottages dotted around an expansive rambling garden and surrounded by vineyards. The boutique cottages are in fact former farm buildings, ungraded and furnished in comfortable rural-style with private outdoor spaces, barbecues, and verdant views. Breakfast is delivered to your accommodation. This is also a great place for kids, with a swimming pool and a cool kids' play hut.