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

Newly built on the hill behind Tekapo township, Galaxy's architectural design celebrates Tekapo's beauty from sunrise to moonrise. During the day, panoramic windows in each room frame the stunning lake and mountain vistas. At night, the single bedroom suites have expansive skylights above the bed, offering unparalleled stargazing of the International Dark Sky Reserve. The warm and modern interior is a welcome respite from windy and exposed environment of the Mackenzie Basin.

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.

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, the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Museum and theatre—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.

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 serves high-quality meals all day. Campervan parking is also available.

This genuinely fun and quirky hotel with countless small touches ensures a memorable stay. There's a DIY-martini kit in each room, and many of the in-room art pieces and amenities, such as the Bose speakers and coffee machines, can be bought and taken home with you. The bar is better than most standalone venues in town and the Bazaar restaurant delivers a street market feel for breakfast and dinner.

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.

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.

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 Aoraki/Mount Cook). The basic 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.

Being fully self-catering is a huge plus with the lack of shopping in Mount Cook Village, and Aoraki Court Motel has 25 modern studio or two-bedroom units, all of which have kitchenettes. While Aoraki/Mount Cook itself isn't visible from here, you get spectacular views of Mt. Sefton and the surrounding mountains, and you may get mugged by the cheeky paradise ducks trying to break into your room. Buy groceries at Twizel or Lake Tekapo before you arrive, or dine at the Hermitage Hotel farther down the road.

Somewhere between a boutique hotel and a bed-and-breakfast, Arrowtown House offers arguably the best service in Arrowtown. Located just off the main road into Arrowtown, you can easily walk to all local attractions. The five quiet rooms are all very spacious and well appointed, including a minibar and washer/dryer. It's ideal for just an overnight or a longer stay for a week of skiing.

Designed to blend in with Arrowtown's historic buildings, these five cottage-style suites are just a two-minute walk from the center of town. All have views toward the Arrow River gorge, which ideally will inspire you to go on one of the area's many beautiful day hikes.

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 Wānaka 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 Wānaka.

This one-of-a-kind, loft-style accommodation sitting above the boutique Fiordland Cinema and Black Dog Bar includes a welcome bottle of wine and tickets to a screening of Ata Whenua Fiordland Experience downstairs. The room is well appointed and quiet, and a rare modern find in this sleepy town.

On the lakefront in a quiet area away from town, this property is great for a longer stay in Wānaka. 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 Wānaka 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 Wānaka Tree.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 Aoraki/Mount 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.

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 tour package deals.

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.

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.

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 superking beds and there's a lounge with fireplace for guests to mingle.