3 Best Hotels in North Island's West Coast, New Zealand

Hosts John and Helen treat you like family when you stay in one of the comfortable rooms here; each comes with a local decor theme (bush, cave, farm, and swamp), superqueen bed, and a second deck entrance. The cozy guest lounge features recycled native timbers, books, a wide-screen TV, honor bar, stellar views of the green countryside, and an appealing outdoor barbecue area and fire pit. The communal complimentary breakfasts—including free-range eggs and local honey—are seriously good. Located on the edge of Waitomo Village, the sign warning that anyone who mentions the steep driveway will be fined NZ$2 sets an appropriately convivial tone.

Roughly 30 miles upriver from Pipiriki, this private farm enclave can only be reached by jet boat or kayak. The remote location rewards with magnificent river and forest vistas. Accommodations range from fully catered lodge rooms to self-catering bunkrooms and cabins. Lodge owner Jo also runs jet boat tours upriver to the Bridge to Nowhere and provides jet boat shuttle services for hikers and mountain bikers within the national park. Canoe trips and rentals are also available.

Elegance and character team with modern amenities in this renovated Edwardian inn in the center of town. Rooms are decorated in Victorian furniture with lots of mahogany. Four of the eight suites have whirlpool baths. Downstairs, the restaurant–bar has traditional English character with a Kiwi twist; expect a cozy roaring fire (in winter), historic Whanganui pictures on the walls, standard bistro-pub fare, a wide choice of imported beers, and more than 50 single-malt whiskies.