Best Independent Style Hotels in New Zealand

This 10-storey hotel strikes the balance between maintaining excellent eco-cred and cosseting its guests in the lap of local luxury (the bed linen is organic, the slippers compostable and the food is sustainably sourced). Indigenous materials such as reclaimed Kauri timbers, driftwood and volcanic black sand are woven into the decor along with materials by artisans, such as decorative boulders by stonemasons and exterior handmade brickwork. Designer Emily Priest is responsible for much of the look, which creates a calming and enveloping feel. Guests can also gain a taste of New Zealand, at Britomart’s restaurant, Kingi.

Look out onto working farmland, rugged cliffs, rare plants, endangered wildlife and the Pacific Ocean from The Farm at Cape Kidnappers. At the Relais and Chateaux property, you can play golf at the award-winning Tom Doak-designed course, swim in its infinity pool, take a countryside picnic personally prepared by the hotel’s chef and dine in James Honore’s dining room. Each of the suites has a sitting area and a private balcony and is situated in either the Lodge Building, on the hillside, or atop the skyline ridge – there’s also a four-bedroom cottage available. The Lodge Building has a guest lounge, a library, a wine cellar and a snug.

On Auckland’s Waiheke Island, Delamore Lodge is just over half an hour by ferry (transfers are included in rates) or a quick heli-hop from the capital. The lodge’s architecture takes the form of a Maori fish hook, shaped into the hillside and overlooking Owhanake Bay. It has a Mediterranean feel but contains lots of indigenous crafts and artworks. Guests are accommodated in two-bedroom apartments, villas or four suites with views of the Hauraki Gulf. Partake in a winemaker’s dinner, dine at the chef’s table and feast on dishes created from produce grown in the lodge’s garden and served in the main restaurant. Treatments in the spa use organic products from Nellie Tier (100% New Zealand owned).

On the South Island, this lakeside hideaway hosts just 27 guests in its boutique lodge, along with two self-contained lodges and a four-bedroom cottage for families and larger groups. The accommodation boasts timber beams, river stone fireplaces, high ceilings and large windows, allowing the outside in. Breakfast and dinner are included, taken in the lodge restaurant overlooking Lake Te Anau, with a stone terrace for alfresco meals. Close to Fiordland National Park, the resort is found in a World Heritage Area and close to Milford Sound and the Te Anau caves where you can visit glowworms.

This country estate may be set on a working sheep and cattle farm, but it’s one of the most exclusive and fancy around. The Relais & Chateaux property sits above Palliser Bay. It comprises 16 cottages (one with four bedrooms and its own pool), the main lodge, a gym, Hauora Spa, a tennis court, a games room, a 24-metre indoor heated swimming pool, a library and pretty gardens. Guests drink water from a natural spring and feast on produce grown and reared on site, sumptuously prepared by the able kitchen team. Meals are akin to a high-end dinner party, with a personal feel.

Azur Lodge Queenstown, New Zealand provides a unique getaway for travellers who wish to experience luxury amidst unbeatable scenery. There are nine private one-bedroom villas fitted with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and a private sun deck to soak up the lush landscape that surrounds you. Guests can enjoy the views from a relaxing bath which can be found in the bay windows to give a new perspective to the stunning surroundings. A range of dishes and drinks can be delivered straight to your door or savoured in the main lodge for dinner while a stay in this hotel includes breakfast and pre-dinner drinks and canapés. There is also a shuttle service to the nearby town of Queensland for those wishing to explore and experience something new outside of the hotel. A host of activities are offer and specialist staff are on hand to arrange something to suit individual desires.

Sleep in one of 70 bedrooms (king and queen sized, or suites with separate living areas) within this 1928 Heritage Listed building, one of the city’s original skyscrapers. Set on a precinct in a lively pocket of the Downtown area, Fable highlights the building’s period elements, while maintaining a contemporary feel through grounding tones of grey, earthy brown and deep plum. Guests can feast on an array of nutritious international dishes packed with wholefoods, or hunker down in the lounge with a drink, at its Cookes Restaurant and Bar. Fable became a five-star hotel in 2017.

QT Queenstown is a luxurious boutique hotel in the lively remarkable New Zealand landscape and offers spacious and luminous guestrooms with spectacular views, some overlooking the lake. Guests can opt to dine with a view at the Bazaar restaurant which serves a range of delicious delicacies. Reds bar invites guests in for a cosy après-ski or a simple tipple in a welcoming atmosphere. For added comfort, guests can also order from the extensive room service menu and enjoy restaurant-quality food from the comfort on their own rooms. This hotel boasts an array of event spaces for any occasion – these spaces present breath-taking views of mountains and lakes. Simple business meetings are made more stylish while dream wedding celebrations are ready to be had.