30 Best Hotels in Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

This private lodge perched on a busy hillside just out of Coromandel Town has great views across the Hauraki Gulf. Bedrooms and bathrooms are minimalist in design, with huge windows and balconies with spectacular views of the surrounding native trees and countryside. Breakfasts are a delight, and the cozy library nook and "help yourself" fruit orchard add to the experience. There's even a small gift shop stocked with local art.  The deluxe double room is special. Its giant tub set beside an enormous window makes you feel as if you're bathing in the middle of the forest.

This lodge on 6 acres of manicured gardens and vineyards is an outstanding example of the boutique home-hosted properties in this region. There are two suites, the Merlot Room (private balcony, en suite with double shower) and the Cabernet Suite (large patio with hot tub, en suite with double shower). Both have a complimentary minibar, big windows, and grand views. You could putter on the driving range, work-out in the gym, enjoy the hot tub, or order up a massage. Breakfast is included, while an optional dinner is worth staying in for; don't forget to take advantage of the excellent wine cellar.

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.

Rain-forest retreat describes this place well: four stylish double rooms and one two-bedroom apartment are nestled on a 15-acre property with native forest, bushwalks, streams, and hidden swimming holes for your enjoyment. You can warm up in the outdoor hot tub or enjoy a private balcony bath high above a ravine. At night, listen for the call of ruru, the native morepork. Continental breakfast is included, otherwise it’s self-catering in the conservatory kitchen and dining area. Whitianga is just 15 minutes—yet another world—away.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Set amid gardens and native bush and connected by winding paths are these character-filled studios and cottages. Each is decorated with stained glass and arched windows and come with a little porch overlooking the gardens. Some have wood fires, and all are built with recycled timber in keeping with the style of the adjacent Church Bistro restaurant. There's a mix of studios, self-contained cottages with kitchenettes and a separate bedroom, and a three-bedroom house in a separate, private setting. A communal lounge has a television and indoor/outdoor BBQ area.

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.

Set amid 3 acres of gardens, with native bushwalks to the rear of the property and the Thames coast just across the road, this is a spacious, scenic spot to stay as you enter Coromandel. Accommodations include A-framed chalets, plus fully accessible units, family rooms, and budget cottages. Some units are elevated with sea views, great for watching sunsets and migratory seabirds. There's free Wi-Fi throughout.

Whether you choose a luxury villa, cottage, self-catering motel room, cabin, or powered campervan site, you can enjoy the amazing facilities at this park, which include a large swimming pool, barbecues with indoor/outdoor dining, laundry, and fish- and boat-cleaning facilities for fishers. Holiday programs like peninsula bike tours and a summer kids' club are also offered by the friendly hosts. Camping rates begin at NZ$22 for basic tent sites without electricity.

While this three-level apartment-style accommodation bears little resemblance to a ship's lookout, it does provide a handy and comfortable base from which to explore the area. Apartments have decks (balconies) and large windows facing out to the ocean, and the furnishings are modern but fairly standard (the color white dominates). However, this is ideal if you are spending a few days in town, due to each unit having its own kitchen, microwave, and dishwasher. There are also larger units for families. If you're not preparing your own dinner, Whitianga's restaurants are a short stroll away.

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. 

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 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.

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.

Hosts Miria and Taroi Black provide true Māori manaakitanga (hospitality) and a cultural homestay experience. The doorway of the fully self-contained guest whare (house, in this case a cottage) is framed with traditional carvings while the interior is decorated with contemporary Māori art. Garden murals, sculpture, and carvings depict local history. Guests have the use of a hot tub and a barbeque and can rent kayaks. Those staying longer could well be invited to share a hāngi (a traditional method of cooking food).

Stylish studio suites or one-bedroom units overlook the beach here. Each comes with floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors that showcase unobstructed views of Mercury Bay. The executive studio suites feature double whirlpools. All have kitchenettes—cooktops, microwave, and refrigerator. Most units have their own patios, and all are located just a stroll across the street from the beach. Guest barbecue, Wi-Fi, kayaks, laundry, and secure parking are added features.

Located on top of a hill, this four bedroom retreat has panoramic views of the ocean and countryside. Mount Maunganui can be seen down the coast and White Island directly offshore. Guests have exclusive use of the retreat, no matter whether you book one or all four of the rooms. A spacious open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area opens up through bi-fold doors to a patio area with superb views from the comfortable outdoor furniture. There's a hot tub, positioned to take advantage of sea views, and local artwork is showcased throughout. Hosts Mike and Sheryl live offsite, but personally welcome guests and are happy to arrange massages, beauty treatments, or personal chefs. 

With a grand Pacific-style portico, this resort property on the main street in Tairua looks like a tropical island getaway. It contains a cluster of island-style chalets connected by a white shell path, some of them overlooking the Tairua Inlet. The units are spacious and quiet, with fully equipped kitchens and the added bonus of parking outside your door. Furnishings are simple and comfortable, and all the touches expected in an upmarket hotel are present. One honeymoon suite has a king bed and private hot tub.

These self-contained apartments are located right in the heart of Whangamata, only minutes walking from shops, restaurants, and the beach. Each apartment has full kitchen facilities, and the grounds of the motel feature a pool, a hot tub, a sauna, and a tennis court. 

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.

Simple, straightforward one-bedroom units and garden chalets in this harborside hotel offer kitchenettes and private patio areas. Amenities also thoughtfully include beach towels and shovels. The motel is well located; to reach the center of Tairua, it's a 10-minute walk around the waterfront, with views of Mount Paku along the way.

This resort complex offers much more than you would typically expect from a holiday park; it has the widest range of accommodations in the area, and they're all on the beach, about a 10-minute drive from the Mount Maunganui crowds. Choose from camping and campervan sites, cabins with shared bathrooms and kitchen, self-contained holiday units, or sleek beachfront villas just feet from the dunes. The resort is popular in peak summer holiday season (Christmas to end of January), so it's better to come another time of the year; the climate is always mild and nothing beats a good walk on the beach in winter, plus the pool is heated.

This lodge offers a range of accommodations (and prices) and is a four-minute walk from the beach. Each self-catering unit has its own BBQ. The backpacker-friendly Tatahi Cove has a large kitchen, two spacious lounges, landscaped BBQ area, and six private rooms with shared bathrooms. More private options include two-bedrooms apartments, a studio, and a cottage. The property is hidden away in park-like surroundings yet is close to the town center. It is a four-minute walk to Hahei Beach. Beach towels are complimentary.

Perched over the edge of Tauranga Harbour, this is one of the city’s higher-end hotels. There are several guest room categories (executive rooms to a three-bedroom penthouse), and the best have over water views. All of the bathrooms have bathtubs (unusual in this region) along with heated floors. Facilities also include an infinity swimming pool. With great water views the hotel's restaurant and bar are frequented by locals and guests alike for meals or cocktails. This is also a popular conference hotel, so book well ahead.