Every Place We Stayed in New Zealand (Would We Stay There Again?)

ByDarcy Vierow Updated:

New Zealand is a treasure trove of unique and beautiful places to see and visit. When planning your ultimate New Zealand adventure, the struggle comes around narrowing down what you have time to see and for how long.

And then you have to choose accommodations for each overnight stop. In this article, I’ll take you through our stays. I’ll discuss what we liked, what we didn’t, and whether we would stay there again.

I do want to note that we had exceptionally good luck on this trip with good stays everywhere we chose. For nearly every place we stayed the pros far outweighed the cons. All of the photos in this post were taken by me. None of them are stolen from the accommodation’s website.

Choosing where to stay at each stop on a long road trip can cause stress and anxiety. Hopefully, I can help you with narrowing down your choices at least a little bit.

This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See disclaimer.

Silver Fern, Rotorua

Located on Fenton Street in Rotorua, Silver Fern is just a short drive from the city’s main attractions. It’s a good location for exploring the broader area; however, it wasn’t close enough to be able to walk to any of the things we wanted to see in town.

It’s important for me to note that we originally had reservations at Aura Accommodation, but unfortunately, shortly before our trip, they experienced a geothermal issue that forced them to close temporarily and cancel all of their reservations through the end of that month. Their staff very kindly offered suggestions for alternate accommodations and one of their suggestions was Silver Fern.

Silver Fern’s accommodation includes rooms with spa tubs, which was a fun feature we never actually tried out. We appreciated the well-equipped kitchenette.

King size bed with a spa tub in the background. The bed has white linens with modern decorative pillows.
The spa tub was an interesting feature of our Silver Fern Room, which we didn’t try. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

What we liked about Silver Fern

  • Spacious room.
  • Spacious bathroom.
  • They honored our request for a top-floor room.
  • Well-equipped kitchenette
  • Free parking
  • Kind and helpful staff.

What about Silver Fern was not our favorite

  • The walls were a little thin. When we were in our bathroom, we could hear everything the couple in the neighboring room were doing. *Ahem.*
  • The sliding glass door entry to the room made us feel a little on display, so we had the curtains drawn all the time we were in the room. In my opinion, sliding glass doors are not as secure as hotel rooms should be.
View of a small hotel room kitchenette.
The kitchenette made it easy for us to do breakfasts in our room at Silver Fern. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

Would we stay here again?

Although our stay at Silver Fern was perfectly adequate, if we ever return to Rotorua, we plan to try Aura Accommodation since that was our original first choice.

Book a stay at Silver Fern Rotorua Suites & Spa.

Other popular places to stay in Rotorua

Aura Accommodation: Highly rated by guests, affordable, and located in the heart of Rotorua.

Ripple Rotorua: Sister property of Aura Accommodation (above), Ripple has a restaurant on site and is located outside of the city center.

Lake Lodge Rotorua: Located near Rotorua attractions such as Government Gardens and Eat Street (yum!).

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Rocky Mountain Chalets, Ohakune

The next overnight stop on our New Zealand trip was one night in Ohakune following an afternoon exploring Tongariro National Park. We chose to book a night at Rocky Mountain Chalets.

The chalets are spacious and well-equipped, with options for two or three bedrooms. The interiors are modern yet cozy, featuring a seating area with a large TV, a full kitchen, and a dining area.

There are two hot tubs and a sauna available on-site for those who need extra relaxation after a day of hiking. The location was convenient to town where we shopped for some groceries for our dinner.

Living room area with two grey loveseats, a glass-top coffee table, and a flatscreen TV mounted on the wall above a white wooden entertainment stand. In the background, heavy grey drapes are drawn across a large glass door.
Our chalet was comfortable and had plenty of room. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

What we liked about Rocky Mountain Chalets

  • Full kitchen, including oven.
  • Washer and dryer with enough detergent for a load.
  • Lots of room to spread out.

What we didn’t care for

  • There was not a lot of room in the carport for our car…and we were using a compact SUV.
  • Though they had laundry detergent and dish soap in the room, they didn’t provide shampoo.
  • Barebones decor in the bedrooms.
Queen size bed with a grey quilted comforter and several pillows. Two white towels are rolled up on the bed and there is a set of brown wood skis mounted on the wall above the bed's headboard.

Would we stay here again?

Yes, I would stay at Rocky Mountain Chalets again, but it might not be my first choice. Ohakune was a convenient stop for our North Island itinerary, but the large chalet was overkill for only a one-night stay. My hesitation to stay again on a return trip would have nothing to do with the accommodations themselves, which were quite good.

Book a stay at Rocky Mountain Chalets.

Other popular places to stay in the Tongariro National Park area

Parkview Apartments: This is what I have my eye on for a return trip. Located in National Park, these accommodations are only about a 10- to 15-minute drive to popular short hikes in Tongariro National Park such as the Mounds Walk and Gollum’s Pool.

The Powderhorn Chateau: Like Rock Mountain Chalets, The Powderhorn is located in Ohakune, just about a 15-minute drive from the lovely Mangawhero Falls.

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Boulcott Suites, Wellington

If you’re planning to stay in Wellington, Boulcott Suites is an excellent choice. Located centrally, this serviced apartment hotel offers plenty of space for a reasonable price.

You can choose from studio apartments, single-level suites, or two- and four-bedroom townhouses. We stayed in a two-bedroom suite which featured a full kitchen, living room, dining area, and full laundry facilities, plus two bathrooms.

Parking was not free, and they required reservations, which were easy to arrange ahead of time by email.

Large bed with white linens and a black and gold striped decorator pillow. There are small, red lamps on each of the two nightstands and there is a grey quilt folded up at the end of the bed.
I slept really well in my Boulcott Suites bed in Wellington. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

What we loved about Boulcott Suites

  • Tons of space for a reasonable price.
  • Washer and dryer.
  • Full kitchen with oven.
  • Close to groceries.
  • We were able to walk to many Wellington attractions including the waterfront and the Cable Car.
  • Friendly and helpful staff.
  • Heated towel racks in the bathrooms made things feel just a little more luxurious.
  • Comfortable beds.

What about Boulcott Suites was not our favorite

  • Getting in and out of the parking garage with the car was not super easy.
Hotel living area with a blue sofa and two blue armchairs. There is a brown wood coffee table and a flat screen TV on a wooden entertainment stand.
I loved how much room we had at Boulcott Suites, including a full kitchen (no photo). Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

Would we stay at Boulcott Suites again?

Yes, absolutely. I found the apartment quite comfortable, and for a three-night stay had plenty of space to spread out. I loved that we had a full kitchen and washer/dryer in the room. 

Having said that, there are so many wonderful places to stay in Wellington, that I’d seriously consider trying something else, just to try something else. But that would be no reflection on Boulcott Suites at all.

Book your stay at Boulcott Suites in Wellington.

Other popular places to stay in Wellington

TRYP by Wyndham Wellington: This highly rated hotel is just a 5-minute walk from the amazing Te Papa Museum and about a 10-minute walk from the quirky, fun Cuba Street.

Quest 256 Lambton is next to the Wellington Cable Car station at Lambton Quay and is just a short walk from the Harbor.

InterContinental Wellington: Luxurious 5-star accommodations in the heart of Wellington, only a couple of blocks from the Cable Car and the waterfront.

Explorer Motel and Apartments, Te Anau

Te Anau on the South Island is a popular place to stay for those planning a visit to Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound. When you visit Te Anau, staying at the Explorer Motel and Apartments is a great choice. It’s in a quiet part of an already quiet town near a park and residential areas.

The motel’s location is incredibly convenient, just a 5-minute walk to both Te Anau town center and Lake Te Anau’s shores. Our room was spacious and comfortable (nice bed!), and all of the staff we interacted with were very nice.

Motel room with a large bed near a sliding glass door in front of a balcony. Also in the room there is a flatscreen TV mounted on the wall and a small glass-topped dining table with white chairs around it. Through the window you can see the beautiful sunny day.
While we quite liked the Explorer Motel, our room didn’t really have a living area. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

What we liked about Explorer Motel & Apartments

  • The price! We got a one-bedroom apartment for only about $100 (USD) per night.
  • The location. You can walk to the supermarket and the center of town, the lake, just about anything you need.
  • Friendly staff.
  • Comfortable bed.

What we didn’t care for at Explorer Motel & Apartments

  • This was another place with sliding glass doors for room entry, which I didn’t care for or find secure.
  • The bathroom/toilet also had sliding doors. Why??

Would we stay here again?

Maybe. It was a great value and the location was good, but I’d be very interested in trying a place without those sliding glass doors. In case you missed it, I really don’t like those.

Check out Explorer Motel & Apartments here.

Other popular places to stay in Te Anau

Fiordland Lakeview Motel and Apartments: This highly rated property offers lake views a little farther out from the center of town than where we stayed.

Dusky Motels: Guests love this place for its location, cleanliness, comfortable rooms, and easy check-in.

Hotel St. Moritz, Queenstown

For our two nights in beautiful Queenstown, we stayed at the luxurious Hotel St. Moritz on the hill overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range

The rooms and suites at Hotel St. Moritz are beautifully decorated. We booked a lake-view room with a balcony. I’m not really sure why I booked a balcony room in winter, but nevertheless, there it was.

The best views will be from the more expensive rooms than the one we stayed in. While we did have a view of the lake…it wasn’t a particularly good one.

View of the back of a hotel that is beige with a green roof. Beyond the hotel there is a lake and some mountains with snow.
We had a lake view, but not an awesome lake view. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

What we liked about Hotel St. Moritz

  • It is a beautiful hotel with beautifully decorated and comfortable rooms.
  • The location. While not right in the heart of “town,” it was a short walk.
  • The breakfast is reasonably priced for all the wonderful food options you get.

What about Hotel St. Moritz was not our favorite

  • Parking was tight and the garage was not the easiest to get into and out of.
  • The price. But you’re paying for luxury accommodations.
  • Dinner in the hotel restaurant was overpriced, in my opinion.
  • Though we loved the breakfast food, we were disappointed that for Hubby to get decaffeinated coffee (he can’t drink caffeine for health reasons) we had to pay for a specialty coffee. There was no carafe of decaf out with the other breakfast beverages that were included in the buffet price. 
Warm hotel room with a large bed with white linens. There are large golden yellow pillows on the bed and a golden yellow armchair near the window. Through the window you can see another hotel, a little bit of lake and some mountains.
The rooms at Hotel St. Moritz are beautifully decorated and comfortable. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

Would we stay here again?

Probably not. While we liked the hotel, thought the staff was wonderful, and enjoyed the food, my opinion leans toward Hotel St. Moritz being overpriced. On a return trip to Queenstown, I’d look for alternate accommodations.

Take a look at Hotel St. Moritz here.

Other popular places to stay in Queenstown

The Spire Hotel is highly rated for its staff and comfort. It’s located in the heart of Queenstown just steps from the shores of Lake Wakatipu. It’s just a 10-minute walk from Skyline Gondola and about a 15-minute drive from the Queenstown Airport.

The Waterfront offers apartment-style accommodations on Beach Street along the lake. You can get a studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartment with mountain or lake views.

Hulbert House offers luxury boutique accommodations in a restored Victorian villa in the heart of Queenstown. 

Lakeside Apartments, Wanaka

If you’re staying in Wanaka, Lakeside Apartments is a great place to stay. We thought it was exceptionally comfortable, and the people there were great. 

We stayed in a 1-bedroom apartment. They also offer 2- and 3-bedroom apartments. What they do is close off parts of the apartment you won’t use if you book a smaller number of bedrooms.

While this is a great idea in theory and it worked well for the most part, the only drawback (and it’s a small one) is that if you reserve a 1-bedroom then the only bathroom you get is in the master suite. 

The great location meant it was easy for us to walk to dinner nearby. It’s also close to the lakefront (of course!) and shopping.

Large bed in a hotel room next to large sliding glass doors that open onto a patio with lounge chairs.
We had a decent view of Lake Wanaka from our patio. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

What we loved about Lakeside Apartments

  • Great location. It’s an easy walk to food, groceries, and the main drag of shops and restaurants on the lake.
  • Lots of space, and probably overkill for us for one night.
  • Full kitchen with oven.
  • Washer and dryer.
  • Lovely and helpful staff.

What we didn’t care for at Lakeside Apartments

  • Although the parking was free and you get your own little private garage behind the hotel, it was a little dodgy getting in and out because there was not much space. Hey. We get it. Space is at a premium on the lake.
Hotel apartment living area with two leather sofas and an armchair in front of a large glass door opening onto a patio. Dining table and chairs in the foreground.
We had SO much space at Lakeside Apartments, much more than we needed for a one-night stay. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

Would we stay here again?

Probably. Any hesitation on my part, like for the Rocky Mountain Chalets above, would center around staying in such a large place for just one night. And I don’t think I would want to stay at Wanaka for two nights or more.

Book your stay at Lakeside Apartments.

Other popular places to stay in Wanaka

Edgewater Hotel: This is the place we originally were going to stay in Wanaka on our first planned trip to New Zealand that we had to cancel in 2020. When we replanned the trip, I decided to find a place closer to town so we could walk to dinner, groceries, etc.

Clearbrook Motel offers condo-hotel accommodations just blocks from beautiful Lake Wanaka. Guests love the location and how clean and spacious the rooms are.

Aoraki Court Motel, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

When you visit Aoraki Mount Cook, staying at Aoraki Court Motel is a fantastic choice.

The location is excellent. Whether you’re into hiking, stargazing, good food, or just taking in the beauty of the national park, you’ll find everything conveniently close. 

This modern motel is tucked away in the picturesque Aoraki/Mt Cook Village and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. It was just a short drive to the Visitor Center, Hermitage Hotel, and all the trailheads.

Here you’ll find clean, spacious units equipped with very comfortable beds, kitchen facilities, flat-screen TVs, and free parking.

One large and one small bed in a hotel room. In the background there is a sliding glass door.
Hubby rated Aoraki Court Motel’s beds his favorite of our entire trip. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

What we liked about Aoraki Court Motel

  • Beautiful location in the heart of the park.
  • Good kitchenette.
  • Kind and helpful staff.
  • Spacious and comfortable room.
  • Great beds.
  • Beautiful views.

What we didn’t care for at Aoraki Court Motel

  • Um…I got nothing. This is a great place to stay.
View of the New Zealand Southern Alps at Dawn. In the foreground there is a small, single-floor motel building with a couple of red cars parks out front.
Sunrise our first morning at Mount Cook Village, and I fell in love. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

Would we stay here again?

Yes, absolutely. On a return trip to New Zealand, I think going back to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park would be a must-do for me and I can’t imagine staying anywhere other than the Aoraki Court Motel.

Book your stay at Aoraki Court Motel.

Other popular places to stay at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Hermitage Hotel is an iconic and historic part of Mount Cook Village. Even if you choose not to stay here, I highly recommend you at least stop by to eat a good dinner, get a cup of New Zealand coffee with a stunning mountain view, or visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.

The Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Lodge offers affordable accommodations in the heart of Mount Cook Village, just a short walk from the park’s Visitor Center (which you MUST check out). Guests enjoy the lounge and shared kitchen.  

Lakeview Tekapo, Tekapo

Lakeview Tekapo offers quiet and comfortable accommodations with a lovely view of the lake. We loved that we could explore the lake area and the town and then drive a little outside of the main town area once we were ready to get some rest. 

We stayed here near the end of our long New Zealand road trip, so we were ready to just enjoy a comfortable room with a nice view. Lakeview Tekapo is a great place to do that.

One great thing to know about staying at Lake Tekapo is that it is part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve and we were able to get a beautiful view of the stars here just by turning out the lights in our room and stepping out onto our patio. Seriously.

Modern hotel studio living area with a grey sofa, arm chair, and coffee table. There is a large sliding glass door that opens out onto a small patio with two chairs and a small table. Beyond the patio is a road and a large lake.
Lakeview Tekapo has lovely views. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

What we liked about Lakeview Tekapo

  • Lovely, quiet, and comfortable studios.
  • Convenient self-check-in with a key code similar to many AirBNB and Vrbo accommodations.

Things we didn’t care for at Lakeview Tekapo

  • Although the skyview window over the bed was a selling point of this room for us, we really couldn’t see anything through it. Could have been a user error?
  • The layout of the room was a little weird, but not bad.
  • Parking is tight (this is a common theme from several of the places we stayed in New Zealand).
The slightly odd layout of our room meant the kitchenette and front door was right next to the head of our bed. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go.

Would we stay here again?

I don’t think we’d make a point of staying overnight at Tekapo on a return trip to New Zealand. But if we did, Lakeview Tekapo would be at the top of my list of potential lodgings.

Book your stay at Lakeview Tekapo.

Other popular places to stay at Lake Tekapo

The Mackenzie Suites offers apartment accommodations with lake views. Guests love the comfortable, well-equipped rooms.

The Cairns Resort offers six individual, modern alpine lodges. Fun available amenities include a fireplace, hot tub, etc. 

Sudima Christchurch Airport, Christchurch

Sudima Christchurch Airport is a great place to stay just a short walk from the airport terminals. It’s a very convenient place to stay when you arrive in Christchurch after a long flight or before an early morning flight out.

The in-house restaurant made it very easy for us to have a good breakfast before our flight home.

We loved that we could return our rental car at the airport the afternoon before we flew out of New Zealand and then just walk back to the hotel to enjoy a quiet evening before our flight the next morning. We timed the walk from the Air New Zealand check-in counters to our room and it took us only 8 minutes.

I regret that I don’t have a photo of this room because it was lovely and quite comfortable. I was so tired from this long trip and stressed about our flights the next day that I simply forgot. Oh well.

What we liked about Sudima Christchurch Airport

  • The location. We had a short (only 8 minutes) walk to the airport.
  • Nice staff.
  • Comfortable room.
  • Good breakfast (we prepaid for breakfast with our room rate).

Things we didn’t care for

  • It took us a bit of time and effort to get served for lunch at the hotel restaurant. Yes, it was open.

Would we stay here again?

Sure. For one night before or after a flight, it’s a great place to stay. If I were going to spend any real time exploring Christchurch, I’d look for something else probably.

Book your room at Sudima Christchurch Airport.

Other popular places to stay near the Christchurch Airport

Novotel Christchurch Airport is even closer to the terminals than Sudima and also includes an onsite restaurant. Guests appreciate the location and comfortable rooms.

Commodore Airport Hotel: Although not close enough to walk, the Commodore is only about a mile from the airport, making it a great option for those arriving in Christchurch late in the day and needing a comfortable place to stop for the night. Guests love the staff and comfortable rooms.

The bottom line

One of the most overwhelming parts of planning our New Zealand trip was deciding where to stay for each of our stops along our road trip route. There are so many great places to choose from.

Each of the places we stayed on your trip had many wonderful features and amenities to recommend them and overall had few downsides. And even the downsides were sometimes very minor complaints.

Without exception, every motel or inn we booked had wonderful, friendly, and helpful staff who wanted to make sure we had an excellent stay.

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Darcy Vierow is a busy professional and travel planning expert with years of experience maximizing travel with limited time and on a less-than-average salary. Her tips have been published by Forbes, MSN.com, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Aol, Newsbreak and GOBankingRates. Read more about Darcy Vierow.