14 Best Hotels in Upper South Island and the West Coast, New Zealand

Three self-contained cottages on the shoreline of the Waimea Estuary began life as apple pickers' cottages and have been refurbished in a pleasing rustic style. Separated by high plantings for privacy, each has a full kitchen, ample decks, and a wood fire. Karaka has an outdoor bath on a private deck overlooking the estuary. You can wander the foreshore and do some bird-watching, or explore the 5-acre organic farm and vineyard. Only children over 12 years are permitted to stay. 

Rooms are spacious, linens are fine, and the art collection is impressive at this villa that was built in the late 1800s. The owner has traveled extensively, and international influences sit nicely amid the decor. Look for the original leather wall linings and ornate leadlight windows. This grand old house has previously served time as a convent and a private home. The Red Room has an impressively large bathroom. Full cooking facilities are also available, there are three guest lounges, and the garden is delightful.

Built for a sea captain, this restored 1880s Victorian villa pairs antiques with modern fabrics and conveniences, so each bedroom has an en suite bathroom with shower; the three luxury rooms also have a separate bathtub. You can settle in with coffee or a drink in by the wood-burning fireplace in the guest lounge, or on the sunny garden deck, or lose yourself in the woodland garden. The house is near the town center. Hosts Karel and David will attend to your every need, and give you some great ideas for exploring the region they love.

The region’s only Qualmark-rated five-star hotel offers a mix of suites, apartments, and studios, all luxuriously appointed, some with full kitchens, dining areas, and laundry, and some overlooking the gardens of Seymour Square. Ask for one of the rooms facing the square for a leafy outlook. The hotel, which is locally owned and independent from major chains, also has an excellent restaurant, cozy bar, sheltered pool and courtyard, small but modern gym, and a lovely day spa.

These spacious and stylish studio apartments have plenty of conveniences, including washer-dryers and very comfy leather lounger chairs. Outside is a heated pool and there's also handy off-street parking. Guests can charge meals at the lovely Tides Restaurant, at nearby Trailways Hotel, to their room.

A short drive north of Franz Josef village, these stylish, well-equipped one- and two-bedroom villas are in a quiet rural location away from the tourist bustle and helicopters. Each has a spacious lounge, dining area, and kitchen, and opens to private decks with mountain views. Kids can run off energy on the trampoline, or the little farm with its sheep. Gas barbecues are available for guests. 

You'll be lulled by the constant roar of the ocean in these secluded, stylish, and spacious apartments with recycled native timbers and contemporary furniture; there's also a few rustic studio cottages (Rimu or Miro), a larger cottage with sea views and a bath on the deck, a seaside house (Takutai) for larger groups, and a quaint cottage for couples (The Stables Hut) near the lagoon and among the bush. All are completely private, with delightful gardens and some sea views. Look for the entrance about ½-kilometer south of Pancake Rocks. There is a two-night minimum stay. 

The cozy wood walls and simple furnishings of the guest quarters are part of the philosophy here: Kimi Ora means "seek health" in Māori, and this aims to be an environmentally friendly, health-oriented resort. There's a vegetarian restaurant (not always open, so call first), and activities and therapies are geared to holistic health. For all the pampering, the overall vibe is low-key. Day visitors are welcome for therapies, including spa, steam room, and pool facilities.

Set along State Highway 6, this laid-back oceanfront resort borders Paparoa National Park. It's a 15-minute walk from the iconic Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. The rooms are clean and spacious with nice patios or balconies overlooking a mix of beach, ocean and rainforest garden views. There's a cozy lounge with a large fireplace, and a restaurant serving good-quality food all day and sunset views. 

Private, boutique accommodation in an 1886 Victorian villa, this is one of Picton’s most historic homes. The verandas overlook 5 acres of lush landscaping and bush. The suites and apartments feature carved wooden bedsteads, stained-glass windows, en suite bathrooms, and lounge and dining areas. Generous, fresh breakfast provisions are included. The Picton shops are a 1-km (½-mile) walk.

This rural retreat has four self-contained cottages dotted around an expansive rambling garden and surrounded by vineyards. The boutique cottages are in fact former farm buildings, ungraded and furnished in comfortable rural-style with private outdoor spaces, barbecues, and verdant views. Breakfast is delivered to your accommodation. This is also a great place for kids, with a swimming pool and a cool kids' play hut. 

At this friendly, traditional B&B in the center of town, accommodation is in five rooms in the house (upstairs and downstairs) and in a cute, stand-alone cottage set in a delightful "miner's garden" behind the house. Fully cooked breakfasts are included and guests can share the lounge in the main house. The inn is named for famous Hokitika surgeon-mountaineer-conservationist, Dr. Ebenezer Teichelmann, who built the original part of the house. Hosts Frances and Brian will encourage a visit to the museum across the road, which Brian helps run.

Located in central Nelson, on the banks of the tidal Maitai River, this hotel has everything you need for a comfortable stay, with many of the city's attractions within walking distance. Featuring an on-site restaurant and a heated outdoor pool, it also offers accessible suites on the ground floor. Book a riverfront or river view room, some of which feature spa baths and hydro massage showers.