Palmerston North
Managed by Pepper Tree Hostel next door, Primrose Manor is a more upmarket guesthouse. It has a fancy central communal kitchen and lounge, with two en…
Must-see hotels in North Island
Palmerston North
Spotless motel rooms with well-equipped kitchenettes, La-Z-Boy recliner chairs and in some units, spa baths, B-Ks is a new motel worth knowing. Rooms…
Whanganui
Astrally aligned with the very terrestrial Dublin Bridge nearby, rooms here are dated and a tad noisy but are well serviced and roomy, have big TVs and…
City Centre & Britomart
Following a late-2017 rebranding, the luxury hotel formerly called the Langham is now infused with more contemporary style as the Cordis. The service…
Taupo & the Ruapehu Region
Two kilometres from town along Ohakune Mountain Road and open throughout the year, this campsite operates on a first-come, first-served basis and has 12…
Hauraki Gulf Islands
This low-key backpackers is 2km from the Great Barrier Aerodrome and Claris and close to forest walks and hot springs. Covered walkways connect the…
Wellington
It's big and more than a little corporate but this apartment-style hotel, right in the commercial heart of the city, has a range of plush studio, one- and…
The Far North
Tauranga Bay Holiday Park has well-maintained accommodation on the picturesque beachfront, but it lacks trees and bears the brunt of the weather. A charge…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Over 100 years old, this snug little cream-coloured weatherboard cottage above the road in Koriniti sleeps four people and a fifth for an extra few bucks…
Tauranga
This hotel is what passes for a futuristic high-rise in Tauranga, meaning every player wins a prize: harbour view or city view. It’s slick rather than…
Tauranga
Plumb in the centre of the action, this sociable hostel (a former hotel) sits directly above the Strand’s bars and restaurants. Rooms are smallish but you…
Napier
A two-storey waterfront number with views from every room, kitchenettes, mod-deco decor, spa baths, private balconies and an in-house restaurant (not that…
Bay of Islands & Northland
A total of seven self-contained villas and apartments dot this rural property around 10 minutes' drive on a partly unsealed road from Mangawhai. They're…
Hastings & Around
Smack-bang in the middle of Havelock North, this modern motel does the job well. Tidy, clean and simple one- and two-bedroom units feature spa baths, nice…
Bay of Plenty
Occupying a 19th-century wooden house, this central hostel is a snug spot with spacious rooms, a crackling fire and a lush garden to hang out in. There's…
Taranaki & Whanganui
This old railway cottage is now self-contained accommodation, sleeping up to eight people across three rooms and a sofa bed, with a full kitchen and wood…
Taranaki & Whanganui
At the northern end of the Whanganui River in Whakahoro, Blue Duck comprises five tidy accommodation buildings on the same property – everything from cosy…
Gisborne
Overlooking Gisborne's Pacific harbour, this two-tier motel offers well-kept units with kitchenettes and dinky little postmodern perforated-metal…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Shiny, two-tier Hawera Central looks a little dated, but that doesn't mean its tired. It offers a grey-and-blue colour scheme, frameless glass showers …
Lake Taupo Region
This older motel has seven one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units, all tidy with red decor highlights, kitchenettes and outdoor decks for relaxing. If you…
New Plymouth
With an outdoor furniture setting for each room and photos of Taranaki sights on the walls, this smart and contemporary motel is our pick along this main…
Lake Taupo Region
Basic backpacker accommodation in two, three and four-bedroom units. Cabins available are ideal for families and larger groups of up to eight and 11. The…
Wellington
Many of the 21 rooms in this neat, well-maintained mini-tower building near the top of Cuba St do indeed enjoy capital views – especially the large, good…
Stratford Kiwi Motels & Holiday Park
Taranaki & Whanganui
A trim caravan park offering one-room cabins, backpackers’ bunks and newer studio motel units (the pick of the bunch). Neat little hedges separate…
Bay of Islands & Northland
This ideally positioned beachfront resort consists of a hodgepodge of buildings from different eras.The original Victorian villa at its centre is an…
Bay of Plenty
This lovely old art-deco pub has basic but decent rooms upstairs. It's what you'd expect from pub accommodation of its era: rooms have high ceilings, many…
Bay of Plenty
This hostel occupies a converted funeral parlour, so a restful sleep is on the cards. Rooms range from serviceable dorms to a couple of private en-suite…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Wedged between the cliffs and the sea, this better-than-average beachside park caters best to caravans, but some of the self-contained units have…
Coromandel Motel & Holiday Park
Coromandel Peninsula
Well kept and welcoming, with nicely painted cabins, attractive units and manicured lawns – it gets busy in summer, so book ahead. Also hires bikes ($20…
Palmerston North
A quality option along Palmy's motel row, the two-tier Rose City has a touch of postmodern style and is super-tidy. The complex backs onto a full-size…
Auckland Region
Smack-bang on the beach, this camping ground is great for those seeking an old-fashioned, cheap-as-chips, no-frills family holiday. To keep unruly teens…
Taupo & the Ruapehu Region
Situated between National Park village and the SH48 turn-off heading to Whakapapa, this basic roadside DOC campsite has 21 bushy nooks, cold water and pit…
Wellington
Housed in a curvy art-deco hotel (1937) at the railway end of town, this budget hotel and hostel has tidy rooms and plenty of capacious, character-filled…
Bay of Islands & Northland
Situated next to the Waipoua River and the visitor centre, this peaceful camping ground offers hot showers, flush toilets and a kitchen. The cabins are…
Waiheke Island
This secluded hostel is surrounded by native bush and has a barbecue, stone-tiled pool, spa pool, sunny deck and casual lounge area, plus its own walking…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
Marokopa Campground ain’t flash but it’s in a nice spot, close to the coast. There’s a small shop for grocery basics, and it also offers accommodation in…
Bay of Islands
Peppertree has simple, clean rooms with high ceilings and good linen, as well as a separate self-contained studio unit. Bikes, rackets, kayaks and two…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
Good-value accommodation with simple self-contained kitchenettes just a short walk – via a handy footbridge – to the cafes, restaurants and shops of…
Rotorua
With its Italian-inspired architecture and pointy conifers, this family-owned eye-catcher pitches itself at both corporate and leisure travellers, all of…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
A neatly maintained outfit with lots of sleeping options, on the spit across the inlet from town (there’s a footbridge, or drive the long way around). No…
