The Best Hotel in Upper South Island and the West Coast, New Zealand

Bed-and-breakfasts, farm stays, and homestays, all a variation on the same theme, abound in the South Island in some spectacular coastal and mountain environments. Your hosts will generally feed you great breakfasts and advise on where to eat and what to do locally. Other choices include boutique luxury lodges and hotels, or less expensive but well-equipped motel rooms and backpacker lodges.

Locals generally take vacations from Christmas through January, so book early at these times. From March through November everything settles down, and in most towns you can book at short notice. Heating is standard in virtually every room, especially in cooler southern regions, and most places around Nelson and Marlborough, which can be hot in summer, provide air-conditioning.