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Northland accommodations vary from basic motels to luxury lodges. Your hosts, particularly in the bed-and-breakfasts, share their local knowledge and are a great resource on less-obvious attractions.
Paihia is a hub for Northland and has plenty of vacation apartments and standard motels. You'll also find in places like Russell, a range of high-end B&Bs, and luxury lodges sometimes with private bays.
High season runs from December through March. Some lodges have shoulder seasons in April and May, and September and October. Overall, room rates drop between May and October though many places also close for a break.
This complex sprawls along a peninsula within walking distance of the Waitangi Treaty House. Most rooms have a terrace or patio, giving them an airier feeling. It's the biggest hotel north of Auckland is a favorite with tour groups. It's especially popular at the beginning of February when the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi is commemorated.
This simple hotel offers low key accommodation without fancy add-ons—each room has en suite bathrooms, satellite TV, and tea/coffeemaking facilities and Wi-Fi.
This waterfront hotel is a favorite with the yachting fraternity, for whom ready access to the harbor and the bar downstairs are the most important considerations. That means staying here will place in you the thick of the noisy action during the busy summer breaks. Antiques add character and the rooms are bright and cheerful. The hotel has a history with fire---the previous three incarnations were burned down (the first by the legendary Māori chief Hone Heke). For more space, opt for one of the waterfront suites with large whirlpool baths, or there's a one-bedroom bungalow right on the waterfront. It gets very busy in the holiday periods so you must book ahead.
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.
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.
