Best Hotels in New Zealand
New Zealand is a dazzling country with tremendous scenery, dynamic culture, world-class cuisine and incredible activities. Its luxury hotels are often an ode to the landscapes they occupy, with everything from magic treehouses perched in untouched bushland to dramatic mountain-view lodges.
This design-loving hotel set in a Downtown street dotted with interesting independent shops has a sassy city New Zealand hotels centre vibe. Its rooms feature vintage lights, boldly striped wool carpets and cherry-picked mid-century furnishings.
1. The George
Top of the heap in Christchurch, The George showcases a unique blend of New Zealand charm and world-class hospitality. Its swanky accommodation overlooking Hagley Park and the Avon River invites couples, families and experiential travellers to revel in sophisticated comfort.
The hotel breathes new life into what modern design can be with its smart elegance and cosy amenities. Guest rooms feature a king or twin beds, ensuite bathrooms (the deluxe options have a bath), sensor lights, flatscreen TVs, underfloor heating, electronic bidet toilets and out-of-this-world premium bathrobes.
The George is also a champion of sustainability with its ‘Caring Luxury’ programme. From minimizing its environmental footprint to supporting local charities like native bird rewilding and building close partnerships with local suppliers, this hotel truly puts its guests’ needs first.
2. The Grand by SkyCity
New Zealand’s dazzling landscapes lend themselves to high-end hotels that fit the land like a glove. From quaint boutique hotels in Christchurch and Auckland, to country mansions and luxury lodges amid the pristine fjords and soaring Southern Alps, these top properties offer comfort and style with an epic backdrop.
In the capital city of Auckland, The Grand by SkyCity is a sleek business hotel with 316 rooms including self-contained suites for long stays and families. All feature signature MyBed mattresses, marble baths with Lanvin products, and walls of windows looking out on the city and harbor.
A darling of the Auckland boutique scene, SO/Auckland boasts a confident style powered by in-your-face contemporary art. This 183-room design hotel has an equally stylish restaurant, Harbour Society, and a rooftop bar that attracts a hipster crowd.
3. Hotel Britomart
This boutique hotel packs a big punch of personality into its compact footprint. Its cool, hip vibe attracts a trendy, well-heeled crowd to its top restaurants and bars. The rooms are designed to be contemporary and functional with luxuries such as in-room free-standing baths.
Located in the heart of Auckland, the hotel is a modern urban oasis with soul and serenity, just a short stroll away from the city’s best restaurants, bars, and cafes. Its 99 timber lined rooms and five suites are spacious, with Laneway, Galway and Waitemata room-types offering varying views of the laneways, streets or waterfront of downtown Auckland.
The hotel showcases Kiwi craftsmanship with everything from woven rugs to Maori artwork and kauri wood furnishings. Its green credentials are complemented with sustainable features including biodegradable slippers and organic linen.
4. Hotel Matakauri
New Zealand is the place to experience epic landscapes, a dynamic culture and world-class cuisine. And the country’s luxury hotels are a fitting ode to this breathtaking scenery, with everything from magic treehouses perched above the forest canopy to opulent suites in booming cities and exclusive lodges that are the epitome of romance.
Matakauri in Queenstown is a stylish twelve-suite lodge where the view from your suite is the highlight of your stay. The stunning mountain panorama is a photographer’s dream: icy-blue lakes and snow-capped mountains. And the hotel’s interiors are all about simple elegance with caramel and cream hues and natural timber accents. Private dining is the order of the day, either on your suite patio or in cosy nooks around the property.
5. The Dairy
The Dairy is an Auckland boutique hotel that oozes confidence and quirky style. Its reclaimed-brick exterior dates back to 1841 and the Housebar was originally a pub where you can still enjoy cocktails and local wines today.
Located on the edge of Britomart shopping district, this 185-room luxury hotel is one to consider for your family trip. There’s plenty of space for kids and teens, plus a rooftop pool and a spa. The Cordis kids’ programme also adds to the fun.
The pristine wilderness of New Zealand is a feast for the senses and the best hotels here are designed to complement its wild beauty. From soaring mountain peaks to awe-inspiring glacier-carved fiords, there are high-end escapes here to suit any dreamy itinerary. These top hotels include a range of room types and locations but all have luxury and comfort in common, according to the 2023 Traveller’s Choice awards.