6 Best Hotels in Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island, New Zealand

A central Dunedin hub with roots dating back to 1862, this luxurious five-star hotel is a fresh incarnation of the classic Wains Hotel, refurbished with all the mod cons such as large TVs and premium linens. Rooms are decorated in a sophisticated, neutral-hued style with Scottish touches such as a tartan throw and interesting modern lamps. Desks and good Wi-Fi appeal to business travelers. The Press Club eatery is a take on Dunedin's gold-rush era and presents regional dishes using local produce. Breakfast can be purchased as an addition to the room rate.

The largest hotel in town, an eight-minute drive from the town center, is a rambling complex with different types of spacious, modern rooms, most with small balconies. Some rooms in a motel-style building have kitchenettes. An on-site restaurant serves traditional and contemporary New Zealand fare, adding to the allure of this hospitable place, which will be a welcome sight if you've just battled some of the rugged gravel side roads of the Catlins.

This boutique hotel is visionary in its modernist architecture, which comprises concrete, steel, and glass, and its big focus on modern New Zealand art. Each level has its own central atrium lounge exhibiting works by contemporary New Zealand artists. A large mural on the hotel's exterior tells a story from the site's history: the reclaimed Otago Harbour tidal flats are where the first settlers arrived on their wakas (Māori seagoing vessels) from Polynesia. The impressive glass curtain wall showcases 30 digitally printed glass panels. There's a café on-site.

The big advantage of this modern but somewhat bland full-service hotel is that it's really central, in just about the ideal location if you're not driving. The rooms facing the back are quieter. There are options for a room only or for bed and breakfast. 

This handsome, historic, renovated building dominates the main road in Oban and offers comfortable rooms, some of which (in the front) have sea views. This is an old-fashioned hotel, which means that you share a bathroom with other guests if you stay upstairs in the original building. If you'd like your own bathroom and a more peaceful room, ask for a studio unit behind the hotel. Downstairs is the local-favorite pub and restaurant, so you don't need to go far after a few drinks or to have breakfast in the morning.

The world's southernmost YHA hostel is in the center of Invercargill, next door to the Speight's Ale House and the main city library. The Tuatara has the usual group of bunks, twins, and double rooms, along with a few private doubles with en suite bathrooms, TVs, and stereos. An on-site café serves good coffee and breakfast, and the hostel also has two lounges, a kitchen, secure parking, a laundry, and Wi-Fi.