8 Best Hotels in The Southern Alps and Fiordland, New Zealand

Newly built on the hill behind Tekapo township, Galaxy's architectural design celebrates Tekapo's beauty from sunrise to moonrise. During the day, panoramic windows in each room frame the stunning lake and mountain vistas. At night, the single bedroom suites have expansive skylights above the bed, offering unparalleled stargazing of the International Dark Sky Reserve. The warm and modern interior is a welcome respite from windy and exposed environment of the Mackenzie Basin.

This lodge, run by a young local family, has twin, triple, and family rooms, all with private bathrooms and two have kitchenettes. All rooms have mountain views (though not necessarily of Aoraki/Mount Cook). The basic alpine-style decoration uses lots of native timber and glass, and there's a huge stone fireplace in the lounge. There are shared kitchen facilities, a laundry, bicycles you can rent, and a small shop.

Being fully self-catering is a huge plus with the lack of shopping in Mount Cook Village, and Aoraki Court Motel has 25 modern studio or two-bedroom units, all of which have kitchenettes. While Aoraki/Mount Cook itself isn't visible from here, you get spectacular views of Mt. Sefton and the surrounding mountains, and you may get mugged by the cheeky paradise ducks trying to break into your room. Buy groceries at Twizel or Lake Tekapo before you arrive, or dine at the Hermitage Hotel farther down the road.

Situated at the bottom of Fernhill, the Heritage is quieter than other local hotels and has panoramic views of the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu. The hotel was built almost entirely out of South Island materials, including Central Otago schist stone and cedar. Rooms are notably spacious, and are fitted with writing tables and comfortable sitting areas. It's a nice walk along the waterfront to the center of town, but it may challenge those less able.

This boutique hotel captures elegant and cozy alpine ambience in an unexpected place. High up in the suburb of Fernhill, Kamana celebrates the panoramic views of the Remarkables Mountain Range in its gorgeous communal areas---and if you book the right room, from your private balcony. It's worth forgoing a night in town to enjoy the cuisine and cocktails at the on-site Nest Kitchen & Bar, then finish your evening unwinding in their lake-view soaking tubs.

A nice midrange alternative with good family-style facilities, this resort is in the center of town. The big Penthouse Suite is available if you're traveling with family, and studio-style rooms are also on offer if you are solo. Once settled in, it's a very short walk to the lakefront.

These modern apartments provide nice family-size accommodations in a particularly central location. The units have views across the lake to the mountains beyond; the penthouse is particularly spectacular. Each apartment (from one to three bedrooms) has a wide balcony, a full kitchen, and laundry facilities; some have whirlpool baths, and all are very popular in the winter when skiers want to be comfortable for a longer stay.

The fabulous lake views and the personal touches make this lakefront motel a great place to stay; it also has spacious, modern rooms and is a few minutes' walk from town. All beds are super or king-size and five units have whirlpool baths. The owners are longtime locals with plenty of helpful advice for travelers to the area; ask about their tour package deals.