24 Best Hotels in The Southern Alps and Fiordland, New Zealand

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 Mt. Cook). The 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.

Near the end of a long road, this imposing schist lodge is surrounded by thousands of acres of sheep-station land. At the heart of the lodge is the Great Room, with a grand fireplace, vaulted wharf-timber beams, and antique wooden floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows open out to breathtaking views of Lake Wakatipu and the Humboldt Mountains. All lakeside rooms have a private balcony or terrace. Suites have stone fireplaces and large bathrooms. The chalets and new four-bed villa echo the main lodge's structure and luxuries.

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.

This classic mid-19th-country hotel and pub, 20 minutes from Wanaka on the Crown Range Road, is the Cardrona après-ski spot for mulled wine in front of the outdoor fireplace. Another fireplace roars inside the spacious bar and restaurant. In the summertime, the outdoor beer garden is a great place to relax after a day spent in Wanaka.

On the lakefront in a quiet area away from town, this property is great for a longer stay in Wanaka. Some rooms are fully self-contained and there's a nice restaurant on-site, where the locals make a point of visiting on weekends for their house-made scones. If you take the walking trail to Wanaka township, you'll pass one of the most photographed trees in New Zealand, a solitary crooked, cracked willow growing out of the lake known as That Wanaka Tree.

Patronized by gold miners during the 1860s, Eichardt's is now an elite boutique resort hotel. Guest rooms are rich cocoa brown and cream; all have sitting areas with fireplaces, dressing rooms, luscious bathrooms, and lake or mountain views. Staff are exceptionally helpful and the penthouse package comes with a car and 24-hour butler. Eichardt's also has cottages nearby, with full kitchens, two bedrooms, and a common area.

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.

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.

Famed for its stupendous mountain vistas from most rooms (there are floor-to-ceiling windows), the Hermitage is also home to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, a tribute to one of the most famous New Zealanders. There's a planetarium and 3D theater showing mountain and nature films---perfect for when the clouds roll over. As the only hotel in the area, tours groups stay en masse over summer, so it pays to book well in advance.

A nice midrange alternative with good family-style facilities, this resort is in the center of town. The big Penthouse Suite is available if you're traveling with family, and studio-style rooms are also on offer if you are solo. Once settled in, it's a very short walk to the lakefront.

These modern apartments provide nice family-size accommodations in a particularly central location. The units have views across the lake to the mountains beyond; the penthouse is particularly spectacular. Each apartment (from one to three bedrooms) has a wide balcony, a full kitchen, and laundry facilities; some have whirlpool baths, and all are very popular in the winter when skiers want to be comfortable for a longer stay.

Filled mainly by busloads of package tourists, the stone-and-timber buildings have comfortable rooms, and large lounges complete with welcoming fires, that make quite an impression in this otherwise nondescript town. The 108 rooms range from deluxe to superior.

This lodge is ideal for anyone wanting to enjoy the hikes and activities of the Mt. Cook area; it's particularly nice for fly fishermen. Expect to be treated like family whether you are staying for a night or much longer. You can arrange for a guide to the nearby rivers to go after rainbow and brown trout. Each room has a veranda with mountain views, and your room rate includes breakfast and predinner drink. Spring for one of the higher-priced rooms to enjoy the double whirlpool.

Just 1 km (½ mile) out of the Milford settlement, on the banks of the Cleddau River, this lodge provides riverside chalets with either one super-king or twin bed, kitchenette, and spectacular mountain and river views. The on-site Pio Pio restaurant and bar offers three meals a day.

A 20-minute drive from Queenstown, this glamorous resort has a special appeal for golfers: a 36-hole course first designed by New Zealand professional Sir Bob Charles. There's a spa to pamper you, and extensive exercise options. Accommodations range from rooms in the main hotel to villas and multibedroom cottages. Standard rooms have private balconies and fireplaces. The villas have kitchens, laundry facilities, and large lounge–dining rooms.

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.

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 farm tours.

The Chalet's six fully self-contained apartments stretch beside the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, with units ranging from studio size to a two-bedroom cottage apartment. Swiss-born hosts Walter and Zita provide a touch of the Alps with their well-appointed apartments and lovely service. The best rooms have spacious living rooms and lake views; two of the rooms open onto a small patio area and pretty alpine gardens. Tekapo Township and Church of the Good Shepherd are both accessed by scenic five-minute walks. 

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.

From the peaceful rural setting and exceptionally good food to the warmth of the hospitality and finest linen on your bed, this is a memorable place to stay. Ann and Blyth are wonderful hosts and go to great lengths to ensure their guests enjoy every moment. Predinner drinks and canapes in the evening are just a hint of what's to come. Make sure you take up the dinner option; Blyth is a sought-after chef for good reason.

The owners used local schist and timber from the farm buildings that once stood here to build their fine solar-powered lakeshore lodge. Cottages (two- and three-bedroom) are fully self-contained with extras such as smart TVs and free laundry use. Children are accepted for cottage stays but not in the main lodge. Lodge rooms all have en-suite bathrooms and super king beds and there's a lounge with fireplace for guests to mingle.