The Hotel Guru
8 Best Hotels in Southland

8 Best Hotels in Southland

Southland, which encompasses the southermost region of New Zealand, is a natural playground: Fiordland Park teems with wildlife and walking routes, Lake Te Anau boasts sublime views of mountains and Stewart Island is home to a fantastic array of sea birds. In our collection of the best hotels in Southland, we've selected the best with breathtaking views, and wildlife and walking trails on their doorstep. Use our guide and start to plan your trip to this remote part of the world.

For a Back to nature experience

No, you haven’t landed in Middle Earth, but it sure feels like it! Cabot Lodge looks out over a wide lake framed by majestic snow-capped mountains. Luxurious yet homely, the plush, rustic-meets-contemporary rooms have wooden vaulted ceilings, and they’re bathed in an auburn glow at sundown. A truly unique stay with unbeatable views, it promises tranquility for the world-weary modern soul.

For a Seaside escape pad

Embodying the sort of wholesome, clean-living that best encapsulates Kiwi life, Church Hill Lodge and Restaurant is an intimate, eco-friendly and contemporary affair: the restaurant serves homegrown produce and local seafood and the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the ocean. A particular highlight is the wood-fired hot tub, not to mention the penguins only a stone’s throw away.
Perched like a white bird on a windswept, rugged, arm of land coiling into the sea on Bluff Island, Lands End Boutique Hotel hugs you with comfort upon arrival. Spacious yet cosy rooms offer splendid views of the hills or sea, plus there's an excellent seafood restaurant next door. A delightful escape-pad for couples or solo travellers, and a great base camp for exploring the southernmost point of New Zealand.

For romance

High Leys Lodge is a prime stay for couples on a romantic break. Surrounded by colourful gardens, it’s an intimate and modern affair: the rooms are spare and contemporary, furnished with splashes of modern art, and open out to a patio facing a deep blue lake beneath tree-clad mountains. There’s no finer way of enjoying your morning cup of coffee.

For a cosy and intimate B&B

Prospect Lodge in Te Anau offers comfy, contemporary light-filled rooms with views of the lake and mountains rising in the distance. A great base to explore the world-famous walking trails nearby, it’s a cosy and intimate guesthouse run by a husband-and-wife team.
Dunluce B&B offers cosy, minimalist rooms with astounding views. A modern, eco-friendly B&B set on a valley plain beneath the mountains, each room is defined by understated charm and cosiness, boasting underfloor heating, goose-feather bedding and a private patio.

For a luxury apartment

The Cinema Suites looks like the luxurious home of a woodsman who's won the lottery but refuses to forget his roots. Situated in the centre of Te Anau and looking out over Dock Bay, it’s a two-bedroom townhouse above a cinema, next-door to a trendy bar. The rooms feature superking beds with fur throws, forest wallpaper, pinegreen carpets and wood-panelled walls. Luxurious-yet-homely, it’s ideal for families.

Rustic chic boutique

A truly outstanding property: from the outside, Fiordland Lodge looks like a viking longhouse; on the inside, it offers luxurious, light-filled, spacious, wood panelled rooms that are the embodiment of rustic-chic, with patios a few steps from the too-blue waters of Lake Te Anau. It combines breathtaking scenery and beautiful rooms with an environmentally-conscious attitude, showcased by the exemplary restaurant serving local produce. A romantic nest of comfort, beauty and serenity.

Still not sure?

Expand your search and check out our pick of the best hotels in Queenstown
or the all our South Island recommendations.
Alternatively, you could contact one of our Gurus for advice.
- Fiordland Lodge Te Anau 12 rooms from $512
  
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  Great walks  -  Follow a private guide on nature walks through some of the 500km of trails criss-crossing the Fiordland National Park area
  Other Activities  -  Marvel at the Te Anau Glow-Worm Caves, take to the skies with a heli tour or take a private cruise on Doubtful Sound
  Back to Nature  -  A beautiful lodge from which to explore the wilderness of the Fiordland National Park & to enjoy outdoor activities
  Families  -  Families or groups can book a charming log cabin for the ultimate escape
  
  Ten rooms in a charming lodge & two self-contained loft-style log cabins with views to Lake Te Anau. Rooms are clad in muted natural colours and textures reflect the landscape, and have outdoor seating areas. Next to Fiordland National Park, with great walking trails, adventurous activities & food. See More
  
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- The Cinema Suites Te Anau 1 rooms from $474
  
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  Active Holiday  -  Take a ride with Fiordland Helicopters, visit the Milford Sound and trek through the beautiful South Island wilderness
  Quirky  -  A little bit different, this property conjoins two large bedrooms into a very spacious suite above the local cinema
  Hotel Entertainment  -  Pop downstairs for a free showing of local film, The Ata Whenua Fiordland Experience
  Sights nearby  -  Famed for it's natural beauty, the Fiordland Sound fjord and the Livingston and Eglinton mountain ranges are in easy reach
  
  A cosy retreat in the heart of Te Anau sleeping up to 5 guests. Taking design cues from the leafy surroundings, locally crafted furnishings complement the homely but modern open lounge area. Added luxuries include Egyptian cotton linens and a bottle of complimentary wine. A chic home-away-from-home. See More
  
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- Prospect Lodge Te Anau 2 rooms from $404
  
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  Back to Nature  -  With views of the unspoiled national park from the windows, guests are immersed in nature from the moment they arrive
  Country Escape  -  Escape from the hustle and bustle and relax in the South Island countryside in this charming and comfortable B&B
  Active Holiday  -  Guests can hike, cycle and swim (if they're feeling adventurous) in the property's scenic surroundings
  Sights nearby  -  Fiordland National Park offers some of the world's most impressive scenery
  
  An impressive yet welcoming piece of architecture just outside Te Anau. The home of Ross and Joan Cockburn offers 2 guest rooms, each comfortably furnished, with private patios, excellent views and home cooked hot breakfasts. A cosy and comfortable base from which to explore Fiordland National Park. See More
  
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- Dunluce B&B Te Anau 4 rooms from $261
  
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  Country Escape  -  Offering great access to the quiet town of Te-Anau and sumptuous views of its impressive and wild mountain ranges and lakes
  Romantic Break  -  This quiet, comfortable and adult only B&B is an ideal destination for a romantic and active escape in captivating scenery
  Great walks  -  Both the grounds and local area offer excellent opportunities for gentle strolls and countryside walks
  Birdwatching  -  Te-Anau boasts a bird sanctuary, birdwatching trails and a wealth of native bird species
  
  10 minutes walk from Lake Te Anau, Dunluce B&B is an attractive modern construction, nestled in 1.5 acres of neat gardens with mountain and lake views. The adult only property will appeal to couples with its comfortable goose-feather beds, plush and cosy room design, and glorious romantic vistas. See More
  
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- High Leys Lodge Patience Bay, Te Anau 3 rooms from $205
  
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  Romantic Break  -  The small, intimate setting allows couples plenty of quiet and space, as well as opportunities to meet like minded travellers
  Active Holiday  -  A prime property for active visitors to Te Anau, with easy access to the lake, cycle trails and mountain ranges
  Back to Nature  -  Guests can immerse themselves in nature amongst the expansive gardens and surrounding Fiordland
  Charming  -  Endearingly small, charmingly decorated and contained in peaceful surroundings
  
  Set in 5 acres of luscious and verdant gardens, the High Leys Lodge is a modern, crisp and well presented yet cosy escape for adults. Share in a luxury lounge that encourages guests to get to know each other whilst taking in the sumptuous views of Lake Te Anau and the Fiordland National Park. See More
  
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- Lands End Boutique Hotel South Island 5 rooms from $307
  
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  Country Escape  -  Escape to the quiet island of Bluff, and the southernmost town in NZ, settled in rugged and peaceful windswept coastline
  Beach Life  -  Bluff plays host to one of the south island's best beaches, with wide expanses of white sand
  Local exploring  -  Explore Bluff Island and the surrounding Foveaux Strait coastline from this cosy base
  Restaurant  -  Oyster Cove Restaurant & Bar in partnership next door with excellent a-la carte menu and seafood
  
  A smart modern hotel settled on a strip of rugged and striking coastline on Bluff Island. Large rooms are bright and contemporary with simple white-on-white style and wonderful sea or garden views. Dine in the neighbouring seafood restaurant and spend days in the great outdoors. A laid-back stay. See More
  
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- Church Hill Lodge and Restaurant Stewart Island 3 rooms from $382
  
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  Foodies  -  With five greenhouses, expansive gardens, and seafood on the doorstep - this the real deal in homegrown organic cooking
  Groups  -  The self-contained cottages sleep up to seven and are ideally suited for small groups
  Restaurant  -  Fabulous menu highlighting the best of local and national produce
  Private Hot Tub  -  Foveaux Room has its own outdoor wood-fired hot tub
  
  A boutique property located on the coast in Oban, Stewart Island. This is a family-run affair with a real focus on the restaurant which uses homegrown produce and local seafood. Accommodation is simple and contemporary with large floor-to-ceiling windows framing the ocean views. A homely stay. See More
  
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- Cabot Lodge Manapouri 4 rooms from $384
  
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  Local exploring  -  Packages available featuring active exploration of the local area, there are hiking, cycling and climbing options for everyone
  Back to Nature  -  Set in glorious countryside, guests can reconnect with the natural world on expeditions or at the property on the farm
  Views  -  The real centerpiece of this property, the views at the Cabot Lodge are simply astounding
  Fishing  -  Take advantage of the 2 day trout fishing package and explore idyllic lakes and rivers on a guided tour of the best spots around
  
  These attractively rustic yet supremely comfortable suites are set in some of New Zealand's most beautiful landscapes. Spacious interiors feature working fireplaces and large picture frame windows to take in the views. With numerous once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the area, this is a unique stay. See More
  
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