15 Best Hotels in Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

This private lodge perched on a busy hillside just out of Coromandel Town has great views across the Hauraki Gulf. Bedrooms and bathrooms are minimalist in design, with huge windows and balconies with spectacular views of the surrounding native trees and countryside. Breakfasts are a delight, and the cozy library nook and "help yourself" fruit orchard add to the experience. There's even a small gift shop stocked with local art.  The deluxe double room is special. Its giant tub set beside an enormous window makes you feel as if you're bathing in the middle of the forest.

Rain-forest retreat describes this place well: four stylish double rooms and one two-bedroom apartment are nestled on a 15-acre property with native forest, bushwalks, streams, and hidden swimming holes for your enjoyment. You can warm up in the outdoor hot tub or enjoy a private balcony bath high above a ravine. At night, listen for the call of ruru, the native morepork. Continental breakfast is included, otherwise it’s self-catering in the conservatory kitchen and dining area. Whitianga is just 15 minutes—yet another world—away.

This motel is across the road from the marina and within walking distance of town. Rooms have a fresh nautical, cream-and-blue color scheme with marine-life art on the walls.

Set amid gardens and native bush and connected by winding paths are these character-filled studios and cottages. Each is decorated with stained glass and arched windows and come with a little porch overlooking the gardens. Some have wood fires, and all are built with recycled timber in keeping with the style of the adjacent Church Bistro restaurant. There's a mix of studios, self-contained cottages with kitchenettes and a separate bedroom, and a three-bedroom house in a separate, private setting. A communal lounge has a television and indoor/outdoor BBQ area.

Set amid 3 acres of gardens, with native bushwalks to the rear of the property and the Thames coast just across the road, this is a spacious, scenic spot to stay as you enter Coromandel. Accommodations include A-framed chalets, plus fully accessible units, family rooms, and budget cottages. Some units are elevated with sea views, great for watching sunsets and migratory seabirds. There's free Wi-Fi throughout.

While this three-level apartment-style accommodation bears little resemblance to a ship's lookout, it does provide a handy and comfortable base from which to explore the area. Apartments have decks (balconies) and large windows facing out to the ocean, and the furnishings are modern but fairly standard (the color white dominates). However, this is ideal if you are spending a few days in town, due to each unit having its own kitchen, microwave, and dishwasher. There are also larger units for families. If you're not preparing your own dinner, Whitianga's restaurants are a short stroll away.

These six independent units set amid a hillside garden overlooking the sea offer a relaxing ambience and great sunsets. All units are fully self-contained and individually designed, ranging from doubles (some with an upstairs bedroom) to sleeping four (one double and two singles). Guest treats include a swimming pool, hot tub, barbecue, garden dell, and children's play area, plus energetic, friendly hosts. 

This bright, modern inn features spacious, self-contained studio and one-bedroom units, all with cooking facilities; you can also order breakfast (full or continental) to be delivered. The bathrooms have spa baths. The motel is in Tauranga's central district, so you're in walking distance to the wharf, restaurants, and shops. Staff are friendly and welcoming.

Hosts Miria and Taroi Black provide true Māori manaakitanga (hospitality) and a cultural homestay experience. The doorway of the fully self-contained guest whare (house, in this case a cottage) is framed with traditional carvings while the interior is decorated with contemporary Māori art. Garden murals, sculpture, and carvings depict local history. Guests have the use of a hot tub and a barbeque and can rent kayaks. Those staying longer could well be invited to share a hāngi (a traditional method of cooking food).

Stylish studio suites or one-bedroom units overlook the beach here. Each comes with floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors that showcase unobstructed views of Mercury Bay. The executive studio suites feature double whirlpools. All have kitchenettes—cooktops, microwave, and refrigerator. Most units have their own patios, and all are located just a stroll across the street from the beach. Guest barbecue, Wi-Fi, kayaks, laundry, and secure parking are added features.

These self-contained apartments are located right in the heart of Whangamata, only minutes walking from shops, restaurants, and the beach. Each apartment has full kitchen facilities, and the grounds of the motel feature a pool, a hot tub, a sauna, and a tennis court. 

Simple, straightforward one-bedroom units and garden chalets in this harborside hotel offer kitchenettes and private patio areas. Amenities also thoughtfully include beach towels and shovels. The motel is well located; to reach the center of Tairua, it's a 10-minute walk around the waterfront, with views of Mount Paku along the way.

This resort complex offers much more than you would typically expect from a holiday park; it has the widest range of accommodations in the area, and they're all on the beach, about a 10-minute drive from the Mount Maunganui crowds. Choose from camping and campervan sites, cabins with shared bathrooms and kitchen, self-contained holiday units, or sleek beachfront villas just feet from the dunes. The resort is popular in peak summer holiday season (Christmas to end of January), so it's better to come another time of the year; the climate is always mild and nothing beats a good walk on the beach in winter, plus the pool is heated.

This lodge offers a range of accommodations (and prices) and is a four-minute walk from the beach. Each self-catering unit has its own BBQ. The backpacker-friendly Tatahi Cove has a large kitchen, two spacious lounges, landscaped BBQ area, and six private rooms with shared bathrooms. More private options include two-bedrooms apartments, a studio, and a cottage. The property is hidden away in park-like surroundings yet is close to the town center. It is a four-minute walk to Hahei Beach. Beach towels are complimentary.