Taupo & the Ruapehu Region
These stylish and thoroughly modern apartments, at the end of a cul-de-sac, both have two bedrooms and sleep up to four people (or two adults and three…
Must-see hotels in North Island
New Plymouth
Metrotel is just a handful of years old, but there are hints of history in its original 1920s warehouse walls. Rooms are simple and slick – all glass,…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Accessible only by boat or eponymous flying fox (park on the side of Whanganui River Rd and launch yourself across the river), this eco-attuned getaway is…
Bay of Plenty
With its white, glass-covered facade, this flashy beachside complex looks a bit like a cruise ship coming into dock. Two apartments get the full ocean…
Gisborne
Beyond lovingly tended lawns and flowerbeds, this good-looking 1920s villa (yes, it's green) offers a bright guest room with a private bathroom adjacent…
Hauraki Gulf Islands
In the north of the island, on Kawau's best sandy beach, this upmarket complex has diverse accommodation options. Choose from beachfront suites, rooms…
Rotorua
Situated near the racecourse (if you hadn't already guessed), this friendly complex has 16 spiffy, comfortable units. Some have their own thermal spas,…
Wellington
A bit like a dorm-less hostel for grown-ups, this backstreet hotel has 13 compact rooms, all with different configurations, spread between two…
Bay of Islands
Built in the 1930s by an oddball Scotsman with an Asian fetish, this lodge features pagoda-shaped roofs grafted onto wooden cottages. The property…
Rotorua
This pleasant place offers three en-suite B&B rooms in a suburban house beside the Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest. Two have views over the lake, while the…
Napier
From high on Bluff Hill, make your way down a long driveway past a jasmine-hung fence to this cosy little wooden cabin for two. Dutch owners have infused…
Hastings & Around
A two-minute walk to the beach and almost equidistant from Hastings, Napier and Havelock, these three tasteful kitchen cottages encircle a courtyard…
Taranaki & Whanganui
With just one guest suite available, book ahead for a berth in this elegant, early-20th-century house – so much nicer than a motel. An absurdly…
Wellington
Two conjoined heritage houses comprise this terrific modern hostel, straddling the political divide between the US and Chinese embassies. There are no en…
New Plymouth
The 15 en-suite rooms upstairs at this former pub are stylishly fitted out with NZ art, patterned cushions and flamingo wallpaper for extra flair (one of…
Coromandel Peninsula
This impressive two-storey kauri villa (1875) has a modern kitchen and bathrooms, while staying true to the building’s historic credentials (there are no…
Wellington
Within staggering distance of Courtenay Pl, Apollo Lodge is a loose collation of a couple of dozen varied units, ranging from studios to family-friendly…
Taupo
Reef Resort stands out among Taupō's waterfront complexes for its classy, well-priced studios and one-bedroom suites (plus a two-bedroom and a three…
Rotorua
Built as flats in 1936, this heritage hostel retains original features, including deep bathtubs and geothermally powered radiators. Dorms have no more…
The Wairarapa
A classy accommodation enclave 15 minutes' walk from town, the Claremont has two-storey, self-contained units in great nick, modern studios with spa baths…
Taupo
Charm isn’t typically high among the qualities of a motel, but this ranch-like block, festooned with hanging flowers, manages to seem almost rustic. It's…
Bay of Islands
Each of Bellrock's four self-contained units has its own terrace offering awe-inspiring views over the bay. The rooms are pleasantly furnished but it's…
Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
Absolute seclusion, exclusivity and camping comfort at two hidden-away locations on the shores of Lake Tarawera, named Kanuka and Te Rata. Each site…
Napier
Inside this Victorian seafront earthquake survivor (1906) are three richly coloured themed rooms (Chinese, Indian and Turkish), decorated with a…
Palmerston North
Clean, comfortable and with a feminine touch (pastel cushions, artwork and lush throw blankets) Hacienda's little touches make all the difference. Studio…
Coromandel Peninsula
Located among 6 hectares of farmland and rose gardens, this two-storey cottage is a relaxing retreat. Look forward to excellent breakfasts from the…
Bay of Islands
Holding NZ's oldest pub licence but opulently renovated in recent years, the Duke boasts about 'refreshing rascals and reprobates since 1827', although…
Taranaki & Whanganui
This early 1907 property is set on 300 sq metres of manicured trees and gardens with a lush outlook from the only room, the Garden Suite, which boasts…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Bunkhouse-style accommodation behind the North Egmont Visitor Centre in a historic 1860 corrugated-iron building, complete with gun slots in the walls …
Rotorua
Plonked on a rural hilltop surrounded by lush gardens, this interesting brick house takes the shape of three interconnected octagons, one of which…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
This farmhouse accommodation is a beaut spot to relax amid Waikato’s rural splendour. There are two stylish suites and a self-contained cottage. Flat…
East Cape
Right on the eastern shore of the lake, this place has Swiss-looking chalets, fishers' cabins and campsites, most with watery views, plus an on-site shop…
The Wairarapa
Fronted by quirky sculptures and a white picket fence, this elegant retreat on the edge of town is a winning spot for the romantically inclined. Seven en…
Bay of Plenty
This cruisy, shoe-free beachside pad has a sunny, hammock-hung deck, sea views and a very wide sandy backyard. Beyond the dorms and breezy lounge are…
Rotorua
Beauty comes from within at this completely overhauled 1960s motel. The structure is unmistakably motel, but inside it delivers glitzy glam in spades,…
New Plymouth
Opposite the racecourse and a short roll downhill into town, low-slung BK’s has 18 ground-floor units and oceans of parking. Rooms are comfortable and…
Tauranga
Tauranga's flashiest offering by far, this big white block of a hotel near the bridge has a slick, contemporary lobby decorated with white tiles and spiky…
New Plymouth
Poised on a bluff with grassy lawns and pohutukawa trees, Belt Road has a brilliant outlook over the shimmering (and often tempestuous) Tasman Sea. The…
Palmerston North
Not a motel person? This could be what turns you. These luxury rooms with oversized double spa baths beside the beds, roomy work stations and handsome…
Rotorua
This resort in the 'burbs was undergoing a massive refurb when we visited, with 26 new apartments and a restaurant being added. Sporting Tuscan colours,…
