The 20 Best Hotels in Otago

A beautiful region famed for its lakes and mountains. This is a place to come and get back to nature whether you are an adrenaline junkie, a rambler or a wildlife enthusiast. Our Hotel Gurus have compiled a list of the best hotels in Otago including cheap and chic stays suited to backpackers, secluded luxury Alpine lodges reachable only by helicopter, spa hotels, charming B&Bs, boutiques set on vineyards and smart urban boltholes. With something for all tastes and budgets, why not browse through our collection to start planning your stay?

For great value

• Larnach Castle is a 19th-century mock-castle with accommodation spread out across its manicured estate: the lodge is traditional, with heavy chintzy drapes and 4-posters, while the stables are chic and contemporary. A world of hills, forests and gardens, it's one of the best-value hotels in Otago for a country escape: the potential for wildlife is amazing, with lots of albatrosses and penguins in the area.
• Queenstown Country Lodge is a quiet country escape outside of Queenstown, a chic boutique offering lovely, intimate rooms perfect for couples. Breakfast is served on the terrace with views of the mountains, soak in the hot tub after a day of exploring the area on the hotel's bikes. Quiet, stylish, and secluded.

For foodies

• Elegant rooms can be found at Pen-y-Bryn Lodge, a charming boutique and member of both the Slow Food movement and Chaîne des Rôtisseurs - making it one of the best hotels in Otago for foodies. The rooms have antiques, fur throws, oil paintings and rustic furnishings, and the billiards room is decked out in period charm.

For a spa break

• Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa is one of Otago's best luxury hotels for couples on a romantic break. Stylish, luxury villas with private sundecks nestling quietly in a Pinot Noir vineyard. There's a vinotherapy spa, sauna, classy cafe, lounge and a brooding cinema.

For a famous hotel

• One of the last of the Goldrush-era buildings, Cardrona Hotel was built in 1863 and is rumoured to be one of the most photographed buildings in the country. Simple, cosy, light-filled rooms with balconies affording views of the hills. The restaurant is as equally snug, warm and inviting. Families with kids will love the play park outside. Undoubtedly Otago's most famous hotel.

For a golfing holiday

• One of the best hotels in Otago for a golfing holiday, Millbrook Resort features a range of sleek, contemporary cottages peppered across a 27-hole golf course. Framed by mountains, there's a spa, indoor pool, a choice of 3 restaurants, babysitting services and a playground - ideal for all the family.

For an active holiday

• Wanaka Haven is great for an active holiday. This luxury, modern lodge is flanked by mountains, not far from Lake Wakaka - with all its fishing and watersports opportunities - and 45mins from four ski areas. The rooms are spacious, chic and minimalist, with floor-to-ceiling windows letting in plenty of light. Woodburning stoves and geothermal heating make it a warm, welcoming and sustainable stay.
• In a spectacular canyon setting, like something out of Lord of the Rings, The Canyons is a charming B&B perfect for an adventure holiday. Paragliding, hand gliding, bungee-jumping and sky-diving are available locally and, after, you can relax in the outdoor hot tub, sunbathe on your private patio or sink into the plump bedding of your rustic-chic room.
• Sherwood is perfect for skiers hitting the slopes of the nearby Remarkables Mountain Range. In a quiet, riverside setting a few miles from Queenstown, the rooms are post-industrial bohemian-chic, with local artworks, while the restaurant serves organic food grown locally, or in the garden. Live music and stand up feature prominently, the huge rooms (and amazing rates) are great for families.

For a B&B

• For intimacy, Wanaka Homestead works wonders. A choice of an adults-only B&B or 2 self-catering family-friendly cottages, all adorned in a smart, rust-chic decor, you can relax in the outdoor hot tub, borrow mountain bikes and explore the area or gently stroll through the lovely garden.
• Set in a restored Victorian villa in Queenstown, Hulbert House is rich in period charm. Elegant and sophisticated, all the individually-styled rooms of this gorgeous B&B come with enchanting views of Lake Wakatipu or Skyline Hill.

On a budget

• At the north end of Lake Wakatipu, Kinloch Lodge is the perfect stay for backpackers. Built in 1868, it's unbelievably cheap; the chic and simple rooms range from shared dorms to double en-suites. There's a restaurant, shared kitchen, outdoor hot tub and garden BBQ. An area packed with watersports and hiking trails, this is a real steal!

For a vineyard

• Mt Michael Lodge offers 4 sleek, minimalist rooms in a boutique hideaway sprawling on a Pinot Noir vineyard. Take a helicopter tour, sample the wine, relax in the hot tub, swim in the pool flanked by the mountains, sunbathe on the terrace or relax in the cosy rooms. One of the best boutique hotels in Otago.
• Stoneridge Estate is a small boutique on a working vineyard, by a lake, surrounded by trees and mountains. The rooms are truly beautiful: simple, smart, and with artisan flourishes like handcrafted timber beams, archaic chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. Filled with light from the bay windows, the landscaped gardens roll effortlessly around you. Nearby there is white water rafting and bungee jumping for thrill seekers.

For luxury

• Minaret Station Alpine Lodge is truly special, undoubtedly one of the best luxury hotels in Otago. Perched in a remote glacial valley of gushing streams and Alpine meadows, reachable only by helicopter, these cosy chalets are rustic-chic, snug and warm. Expect fur throws, Persian rugs, roaring fireplaces and glass doors. Perfect for couples with no budget constraints.
• A luxury lodge on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, Blanket Bay is a snug getaway. Set on a sheep, deer and cattle farm the rooms are rustic and homely affairs with open fireplaces, schist stone and timber beams, antique furniture and private balconies with views of the bay. Try your hand at horseriding, heli-skiing and mountain biking while you're there!
• Mahu Whenua sits in a private national park spanning 200 square miles, a luxury boutique lodge offering warm and rustic rooms decked out with exposed stone, wooden rafters and sheepskin throws. Gothic chandeliers hang from the ceiling, the restaurant tailors the menu to your desires, and the windows are like gigantic paintings of plains, lakes and mountains. Complete with a spa, horse riding and guided safaris - unbeatable.
• Azur Lodge is the ultimate romantic luxury hideaway, one of the best hotels in Otago for couples, offering luxury open-air apartments in a lakeside setting framed by mountains. Snug and contemporary, the apartments have open fires and jacuzzis, offering breakfast and pre-dinner canapes. Perfect for a ski holiday, sightseeing tour or just an escape to the great outdoors.

For an urban bolthole

• For a chic, urban bolthole, you can't get better than Hotel St Moritz. In Queenstown, perched by the lake, the cosy rooms are smart and brooding, the light-filled restaurant is a fine-dining experience, and the Lombardi Bar serves up bespoke cocktails.

Still not sure which to book?

• Try our list of 5-star hotels on North Island;
• Or our collection of the best hotels in Southland;
• There's also our top picks of Auckland's most romantic hotels to consider;
• For something gourmet, try this guide to the best wine hotels in Canterbury or New Zealand;
• Expand your search to include all our properties in New Zealand;
• Contact one of our Gurus for advice.

 

Written by Edmund Wise

posted Tuesday, 20th September 2022