Where to Stay
New Zealand is rightly famous for its warm welcome and generous hospitality, and this delightful side of the Kiwi nature shines through at virtually every property you’ll stay at. We have split ‘accommodation’ down into five broad categories, and whilst they can differ vastly in price, a mix of all five categories will leave you with a true New Zealand experience:
Homestay
Typically, a Homestay is based on a private home, hosted by the owner, welcoming you as part of the family. All Homestays are different and can vary in standard, but will often open the kitchen for your use for tea and coffee, and offer use of the laundry facilities for example. The picture to the right is one of our favourites, located in the lovely Motueka Valley on the South Island.
Motels and Hotels
We would often opt for a hotel or motel in a city (although not exclusively by any means) as location is so important. A motel will offer a good basic room with private facilities, the property may or may not have a restaurant, but will 
often be close to local facilities. Some motels will offer kitchenette facilities – although this is not universal. The property to the left is another firm favourite, privately owned and well located for exploring the Fjordland National Park.
A property called a hotel may be part of a chain or corporate group – the property usually having more facilities on site. Hotels and motels will often have tea/coffee facilities in the room, and will probably have coin operated laundry facilities. Some hotels will be privately owned, and therefore a little more individual, whilst others may follow the corporate or chain ‘theme’. The hotel to the right is modern with excellent facilities, and offers a perfect base to further explore Hawkes Bay on the North Island
Bed and Breakfast
If the image that springs to mind here is a terraced house in a seaside town, think again. Bed and breakfast in New Zealand is full of surprises, and can easily fall into either the ‘comfortable’ or ‘luxury’ category!! We definitely have our favourites, and these include those managed by the owners, adding a personal touch, and passion for perfection. B&B’s will often have only a few rooms, often individually furnished and decorated, and differing in size and in-room facilities. Some, such as the property to the right will offer dinner (with or without a choice), which would need to be booked in the morning, whilst others may offer an evening meal only on certain days of the week.
The property to the right does not offer dinner, but does invite guests to join the hosts for a pre-dinner drink and a good opportunity to discuss the activities of the day, the choice of restaurant for dinner, and catch up on the local gossip too!! B&B’s are great to use, but do need to be booked well ahead to ensure your first choice.
Apartments
A popular choice in New Zealand, and nice to use as part of a balanced itinerary. They offer an excellent choice for a small group travelling together, or for families, and will usually have good kitchen and laundry facilities. We often recommend at least one self catering option, be it an apartment or a cottage simply to have a ‘break’ from restaurant eating all the time. A simple bowl of pasta, a fresh salad and a nice bottle of merlot can give the waistline a welcome break. Worth also considering for families as you arrive – children in particular may be awake at odd times of the night, and having a separate room can be a boon!!
Lodges
And last but by no means least, comes the Lodge category. Again, this covers a range of luxury properties, many are privately owned, all offer a standard of excellence delightful to experience at least once in your New Zealand holiday. Many will have highly qualified chef’s in charge of the kitchen, producing mouth-
watering culinary delights every night of the highest standards. Location will always be key, many with outstanding views, well positioned for romantic sunsets, candlelit dinners on balmy evenings – in fact just about everything.
Qualmark:
Qualmark® is New Zealand tourism's official mark of quality. All accommodation and tourism businesses listed here carry the Qualmark®, which means they've been independently assessed as professional and trustworthy, so you can book and buy with confidence.
The Qualmark® can help you identify quality places to stay, things to do and ways to get around no matter where you are in New Zealand. From the North Island to the South Island, Auckland to Christchurch, Rotorua to Queenstown, Wellington to Dunedin – Qualmark® assured businesses can be found across the country. Visit the Qualmark website for further information: www.qualmark.co.nz
