10 of the best NZ hotels for a luxe staycation
The travel bubble with Australia may be on hiatus, but that doesn’t mean holidays are on hold, far from it! Our backyard is chock-full of stunning scenery, culinary delights, and fabulous hotels, and it’s time to get amongst it.
With help from our friends at Booking.com, who used intel from the site’s community reviews, we have selected the best hotels around the country for a staycation. From comfy beds to picture-perfect views, onsite spa to activities nearby, there is something for everyone right here.
Relax and unwind at Park Hyatt Auckland, one of New Zealand’s most luxurious hotels perfectly positioned on Auckland’s waterfront to offer expansive views across Lighter Quay and out across the Waitematā. It’s a feast for the senses, from the sumptuous spa and hydrotherapy area with Himalayan salt sauna, to the dramatic architecture of the vast lobby area and the stunning art pieces on display, and the delectable onsite dining options. The 5-star rooms and suites are beautifully designed and let’s be honest, large, with spacious marble bathrooms that feature rain showers and separate tubs, with floor to ceiling windows for the perfect view. You don’t need to leave the hotel for dinner, with flagship eatery Onemata on site and Captain’s Bar, with its extensive menu of fortified spirits, the perfect place for a nightcap.
If a day on the slopes is more your jam, but you don’t want to compromise on extravagance, then QT Queenstown offers the peak of alpine luxury. Wake up to majestic mountain views from this impeccably styled lakeside haven, best enjoyed from your Juliet balcony. Rooms are designer sleek with cosy touches including a package of free entertainment, and the signature quirk the boutique hotel chain is known for. After an action-packed day on the snow, head to Reds Bar, where locals and guests alike order up a cocktail or a boutique brew. Foodies with adventurous tastes will be enticed by the bustle and aromas of the interactive Bazaar Marketplace, where chefs create dishes before your eyes.
Woodhouse Mountain Lodge, Warkworth
Looking to escape from it all, without travelling too far? Described by guests as ‘a little bubble of serenity’, the Woodhouse Mountain Lodge on the Kourawhero Estate offers a little slice of paradise in Warkworth, just an hour’s drive from Auckland. Private villas are set amidst the luscious gardens, with views from the mountaintop vista extending as far as the Hauraki Gulf. In the main lodge are three sophisticated dining areas, a comfortable guest lounge, snug library and lounge bar. The large open fires and wide verandas offer the perfect place to unwind, or to bliss out following a relaxing spa treatment. Watching the sun set from the spa bath in your room is recommended!
Tucked into the rugged mountain country of the Ben Avon station near Omarama in the heart of the South Island, on a 6,000-acre dramatic plot of land with dreamy mountain ranges is the perfectly secluded boutique hotel The Lindis. Take your pick from the plentiful walking trails that criss-cross the surrounding station, or borrow one of the 16 horses stabled on site for an easy ride to the lagoon or a trek through the beech forest. Spend your evenings star-gazing and your days taking part in guided target-shooting or fly-fishing activities, or indulging in stress-melting spa treatments and private cookery lessons. Decadents breakfasts and multi-course dinners are included with each stay.
Located in the heart of Dunedin, the Fable Dunedin is housed in a beautifully renovated and elegant Victorian-era building. The 5-star boutique hotel offers everything you could possibly need for a dreamy night’s sleep and in-room relaxation. The rooms are beautifully styled with elements of the local Scottish settlers with hints of tartan. Enjoy dinner in the hotel’s café style restaurant The Press Club, which pays homage to Dunedin’s original haunt for editors and publishers in the 1870s and serves sharing plates created using locally- sourced organic produce by award-winning Chef Jinu Abraham. There is also an extensive whiskey menu, perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail or to finish off the evening in style.
The 5-star InterContinental Wellington is located by the harbour waterfront, within easy striking distance of the Te Papa Museum as well as the Capital’s best shopping in the ‘Golden Mile’ area and the lively bars and restaurants on Cuba Street. The guest rooms are elegantly styled and spacious, featuring large bathrooms with modern amenities. Guests have access to the fitness centre with indoor heated pool, spa, sauna and massage treatments. There are three eateries on site offering a range of delights, from High Tea in the Lobby Lounge to brunch at Two Grey – bar and brasserie or enjoy fine cuisine from the comfort of your guest room.
Set amongst acres of beautiful orchards and gardens, and offering stunning boutique, luxury accommodation in Hawke’s Bay is the Mangapapa Hotel. With just 12 guests rooms, each unique in their own individual way, the property is split between the characterful historic homestead, which dates back to 1885, and the two cottage suites that feature private balconies. There are extensive leisure facilities including spa, sauna, gym, lawn tennis, bike hire and the seasonal outdoor pool, and the hotel is well situated for visiting a number of the region’s popular wineries such as Craggy Range and Elephant Hill. The on-site restaurant offers a five-course menu inspired by the food produced on the hotel’s estate.
The Marlborough Lodge, Blenheim
Set beside a working vineyard in arguably New Zealand’s most famous wine region, The Marlborough Lodge is a boutique hotel that is perfect for both wine lovers and outdoorsy types. Inside this former convent are 10 unique guest rooms as well as a cosy library and Harvest restaurant, which overlooks the garden. Guests can enjoy dips in the pool, sets of tennis and private wine tastings at the wine shack within the grounds, as well as hikes through the region’s dramatic landscape and sea kayaking through the Marlborough Sounds if they do decide to venture a little further afield. There’s a petite spa in the far end of the revamped chapel, where stained glass windows cast a colourful glow over the treatment room.
Centrally located in the garden city of Christchurch, overlooking Hagley Park and the Avon River, the George is a luxurious 5-star boutique hotel that is repeatedly recognised as ‘New Zealand’s Leading Boutique Hotel’. The hotel features 52 stylish and comfortable guest rooms with contemporary furnishings and modern conveniences. Enjoy impeccable service and a beautiful setting as you dine at on-site restaurant 50 Bistro, which serves contemporary cuisine and offers al fresco dining on the terrace. The George is just steps away from a morning run along the river or the cultural precinct of Christchurch with its arts centre, Botanic Gardens, restaurants and theatres.
Boasting breath-taking panoramic views of the Hauraki Gulf is this elegant and exclusive luxury lodge on Waiheke Island. Inspired by the Mediterranean with a unique New Zealand flavour, this elegant and exclusive luxury lodge is designed in the shape of a traditional Māori fish hook (Matau) and is literally moulded into the hillside. The four suites and two apartments are filled with international and indigenous New Zealand craft and artworks, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private patio to enjoy the sunshine. The lodge’s courtyard features a stairway which leads to an infinity pool with waterfall, as well as a cave-like spa pool and a sauna. The executive Chef offers a Chef’s Table experience or an individually tailored five-course meal along with a wide range of local award-winning wines.
