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Hotels in Auckland
If your idea of a holiday is the best views, the best beds, the best food, and the last word in service, Auckland's luxury hotels won't disappoint. For longer stays, there are plenty of fully serviced apartments, which give you more flexibility and independence. Among the best options is CityLife Auckland A Heritage Hotel, 171 Queen St. (tel. 0800/368-888 in NZ, or 09/379-9222; www.heritagehotels.co.nz), with 210 one- to three-bedroom suites and hotel rooms from NZ$275 to NZ$989. Or treat yourself to their penthouse suite for NZ$1,818. It's located directly above central Queens Street and is a handy walk to all the main attractions.
You won't find many B&Bs in the central city, but they are plentiful a little further out in the suburbs.
Rates listed here include 15% GST (goods and services tax) and parking, unless stated otherwise; all accommodations are non-smoking.
In the Inner City
Inexpensive -- For a sensibly priced stay in a landmark building right in the heart of the city, Scenic Hotel Auckland, 380 Queen St. (tel. 0800/696-963 or 09/374-1741; www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz), offers 100 very comfortable rooms priced from NZ$230 to NZ$529. Ask for one of the eight rooms on the northwest face, which boast incredible views straight down Queen Street. It's a modest but perfectly situated option with a good cafe and bar at street level.
Budget travelers will find a clean, affordable spot right in the heart of the city at the 120-room Kiwi International Hotel, 411 Queen St. (tel. 0800/100-411 in NZ, or 09/379-6487; www.kiwihotel.co.nz). Recently renovated, it offers en-suite (NZ$95), economy (NZ$65), or family rooms (NZ$139), plus a family apartment (NZ$149) that sleeps five. It's within walking distance to all major attractions, shops, and restaurants, and it has its own bar and restaurant and Internet access.
In Ponsonby
Moderate -- If you want an excellent motel close to Ponsonby action, look no further than Abaco on Jervois, 59 Jervois Rd. (www.abaco.co.nz; tel. 0800/220-066 in NZ, or 09/360-6850; fax 09/360-6869). They offer a range of immaculate, modern rooms priced from NZ$125 to NZ$205. Executive and premium suites on the middle and top levels are the best and biggest. Premium suites have a Jacuzzi, shower, separate lounge, desk, kitchen, and free Internet. The complex is directly across the road from popular restaurants, bars, and cafes.
In Remuera
If you're travelling by camper, you'll find excellent facilities at Remuera Motor Lodge & Inner City Camping Ground, 16 Minto Rd., Remuera (remlodge@ihug.co.nz; tel. 0508/244-244 in NZ, or 09/524-5126). Its park-like setting includes motel units; tent, caravan, and campervan sites; communal facilities; a swimming pool; and Wi-Fi access. Unpowered tent sites are NZ$17 per adult per night (NZ$10 children under 15); a powered site is NZ$20 per night per person; and motel units are NZ$75 per night per person (NZ$15 each extra adult, NZ$10 child).
In the Western Suburbs
Beach lovers should consider Bethells Beach Cottages, 267 Bethells Rd., Bethells Beach, Waitakere (www.bethellsbeach.com; tel. 09/810-9581; 2-night minimum stay), where two sunny, self-contained holiday cottages and a self-contained apartment are set in lush, private gardens -- the ultimate Kiwi getaway -- for NZ$250 to NZ$355, plus NZ$35 to NZ$45 for each extra adult guest and NZ$18 to NZ$23 for each child. Owners John and Trude Bethell-Paice are very eco-aware and their accommodation has Green Globe 21 status aligned with Waitakere City Eco Plan. The pair have extensive knowledge of the Auckland region and are happy to help their guests find the best places to visit. And let's not forget the free Scandinavian hot tub!
Near the Airport
If you have an early-morning flight or you're checking into Auckland at night and want a quick bed, you can now stay in one of two new hotels right beside the airport. Hotel Novotel Auckland Airport, Auckland International Airport, Ray Emery Drive (www.novotel.com; tel. 09/365-0000; fax 09/365-0011), opened in mid-2011 in time for the Rugby World Cup. It is physically attached to the International Airport, so you just get your bags from customs, walk through one set of doors and into another to check in. It has excellent facilities and while rooms range from around NZ$165 to NZ$300, they have excellent online special deals. For the budget-conscious traveler, there are even better deals just a couple of minutes from the airport, at the brand new Formule 1 Hotel (www.hotelformule1.com or www.aucklandairport.co.nz; no phone at press time), at the intersection of Leonard Isitt and John Goulter drives, Auckland International Airport. The property, scheduled to open summer 2011, will be offering simple, functional, comfortable rooms for an incredible NZ$65 a night; if you stay multiple nights, the deal gets even sweeter. Both hotels are run by world-class hotelier Accor.
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18 Results
- Hotel
Amora Hotel Auckland
The Amora is much smaller than many of the city’s inner city hotels and with that comes a friendly intimacy and serene calm. It’s tucked away on a leafy street overlooking Myers Park. All the units are apartments (some studios, others one- and two-bedroom units) with full kitchen and…$$Around Town
- Hotel
Ascot Parnell
Bart and Therese Blommaert have hosted over 63,000 guests in the past 20 years and we're guessing that most felt extremely fortunate to have picked this friendly, savvily designed little B&B. Unlike others of its ilk, guests have few noise problems as the house is set well off…$$Parnell - Hotel
Auckland International Hostel–YHA
Formerly an office building, the Auckland YHA is one of the best hostels in the country and hosts over 50,000 guests a year. Its rooms, while spartan, are meticulously clean, as is the communal kitchen, which is large enough to handle multiple guests making breakfast (or dinner) at…$Around Town - B&B
Bavaria B&B
This isn't one of Auckland's restored, historic B&B's. Instead, you get great value on a quiet, leafy, suburban street not far from the city and quite near to the airport. The three upstairs rooms are the sunniest, but all rooms are clean, cozy and have ensuite bathrooms. The…$Mt. Eden - B&B
Braemar on Parliament Street
This stunning three-story property is the only Edwardian townhouse in the central business district that still is a private family home. As renovated by owners John and Susan Sweetman (a lovely couple) it's a gem, its vast, shabby-chic interior filled with unique antiques and Asian…$$Around Town - Hotel
CityLife Auckland
We really like these spacious, serviced rooms and apartments, right in the heart of Queen Street. You can shop all day and you’re back in your quiet retreat in no time at all. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites, especially, have everything you need (top-notch beds, full…$$Around Town - Hotel
Crowne Plaza
There are some real plusses to choosing the Crowne Plaza. Its location can't be beat (it just about defines "central"); rooms are spacious and well-maintained, the beds boasting quality, pillow-top mattresses; and the service is friendly and efficient. But there are some drawbacks to…$Around Town - Hotel
Elliott Hotel
There’s old-world charm in this restored building which houses self-contained one- and two-bedroom apartments that are both spacious and smart. The Elliot is ideally located above the Elliott Stables, an epicurean “village” filled with cafes and restaurants, and just a few steps off…$$Around Town - Hotel
Heritage Auckland
Two separate hotel wings—one modern and one historic—give this lodging two of everything, so it’s unusually well set up with gyms, pools, and rooftop tennis courts that never get crowded. Which tower should you pick? The older wing is an Art Deco beaut that should appeal to those who…$$Around Town - Hotel
Hilton Auckland
Located at the end of a wharf, completely surrounded by water, this sophisticated, contemporary hotel isn’t big, but it’s beautifully appointed. If you want the best views, ask for one of the 12 deluxe corner rooms that have two fully glazed walls overlooking the harbor. But all…$$$Viaduct Harbour - Hotel
Hotel DeBrett
A boutique hotel surrounded by boutiques, the DeBrett has its central location in its favor and a whole lot more. Like sassy style. The owners have lovingly preserved the building's Art Deco roots and filled it with colorful, contemporary furnishings that have retro flair…$$Around Town - Hotel
Mollies on Tweed
Mollie's was actually the Mayor of Auckland's digs back when it was built in 1870, and it still has a good dose of majesty to it, leavened with a healthy sense of humor. What does that mean? Marble floors, chandeliers, beds fit for a princess, juxtaposed with very contemporary works…$$$St. Mary's Bay - Hotel
Peace and Plenty Inn
Devonport is known as the "village" of Auckland because its history long proceeds the arrival of the Europeans, back to the times when Maoris ruled this area. That feeling of history, and of being in a more intimate part of the city, is brought to life in the superlative and romantic…$$Devonport - Hotel
Quest Parnell
Visitors almost always get a good deal at Quest and staying here means you’ll be close to Parnell’s shops and restaurants. The serviced studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments are roomy, modern and smartly furnished. Final perk: a fabulous heated lap pool and gym on site.$Parnell - Hotel
Scenic Hotel Auckland
Mod cons and classic Art Deco architecture—those, along with the generally reasonable rates and terrific location, are the primary lures of this hotel. So let's break them down. The location is right in the heart of the buzzy center city area. The building, a historic one, still has…$$City center - Hotel
SKYCITY Grand Hotel
Bigger than the Hilton and less formal than the Langham, this is the choice for travelers who want all the amenities and, perhaps, a place in which to lose their shirts (it's linked to the casino complex by a bridge). Let's cover those amenities first, which include a pillow menu…$$Around Town - Hotel
The Great Ponsonby Arthotel
A converted Victorian-era beaut that's been filled with colorful Pacific art, this happy B&B has much to recommend it. First, it's run by Gerry Hill and Sally James, who are not only superb hosts and cooks (their breakfasts are delish), but have a deep, if unshowy, knowledge of…$$Ponsonby - Hotel
The Langham Hotel Auckland
The Langham is Auckland’s plushest hotel and the service is impeccable. Truly, the staff thinks of everything (we showed up with scuffed shoes once, and within minutes a kit had been found and they were shiny once more). All rooms are opulent—heavy drapes, leather headboards, real…$$Around Town
