Bliss Out at the Best Places to Stay in the South Island

Leave your phone at home and settle into this quaint historic church, beautifully renovated and situated among native bush. Fully furnished for comfort, say goodbye to wifi and soak up all that the South Island’s stunning West Coast has to offer. Take the kayaks for a paddle on nearby Lake Poerua, explore countless bush walks and investigate the local glow worm caverns, the perfect cosy lodge to help you reset.

The light-filled Cowshed 488 is a beautifully executed boutique stay at a West Coast dairy farm, providing luxury quarters for up to six guests. Switch off and enjoy the peace and quiet, located directly across from the stunning Paparoa mountains just a short drive from Greymouth. Surrounded by a variety of wildlife (and plenty of cows!), the tranquil environment lends itself to a carefree and restful stay on the beautiful West Coast.

A tranquil escape nestled between Nelson and Christchurch, Maruia River Retreat features seven villas on a 500 acre estate, each fully self-contained and completely private. This is the place to nurture your body and mind, completely immersed in some of Aotearoa’s best native bush. Spend your days exploring the long-established gardens, walking trails and pristine beech forest before returning to your private balcony that looks out over the valley. If you don’t fancy the drive, there are options for chartered flights thanks to the private airstrip and hanger on site. This is truly the lap of luxury.

A truly unique accommodation experience in the heart of the Southern Alps, this delightfully cosy cabin is situated on ten acres of raw high country landscape. The perfect balance between luxury and active retreat, the area provides direct access to numerous outdoor activities including mountain biking, hiking and snow sports. Located just 15 minutes from Twizel, you’ll forget all about the world at large as you take in the stunning vista on the doorstep. How you spend your time here is completely up to you.

If you’re after something a little different for your next trip away, Skyscape offers an incredible luxury experience built around stargazing—from your bed. Nestled slightly below ground level amongst native scrub and completely private, the glass roof enables you to lie back and see the night sky like never before in true comfort. Part of the Aoraki International Dark Sky Reserve, this area of sky is protected from light pollution by local bylaws, which means the stars you see here are some of the clearest in the world. And if that wasn’t enough, you can enjoy a natural spring water outdoor bath in the sunken courtyard, now that’s luxury.

The ultimate in sustainable luxury accommodation, Sherwood is the perfect destination for your next Queenstown getaway. Every aspect of the guest experience has been carefully considered, from the monogrammed NZ wool blankets to the carbon negative cork wall linings. Local artwork adorns the walls and a boutique selection of natural bathroom products keeps you feeling fresh during your stay, not to mention a fully custom mini bar stocked with high end local produce and snacks. Start your day with a yoga class, dine at the world class restaurant and take in the serene view of the surrounding mountains and Lake Wakatipu. Within walking distance to town via the stunning lakefront Queenstown Trail, everything the adventure capital has to offer is on your doorstep.

Rumoured to be the most photographed building in the country, Cardrona Hotel pops up on all sorts of social media – but there’s no real replacement to actually going there in person. Nestled between Queenstown and Wanaka on the highway leading to the Crown Range, it’s likely both towns would like to call the place their own, but Cardrona Hotel is very much happy to be its own place with its own history. Rustic and rich in history, Cardrona Hotel has a total of 48 beds available to guests.

Situated near the historic gold mining settlement of Canvastown, Fossickers Hut was designed to reflect the pioneer style of the area. You’ll be tucked away in native bush with delightful birdsong and glow worms for company. An outdoor, fire heated bath is the perfect spot to gaze up at the night sky, and you can also  try your luck gold panning in the Wakamarina River, you never know what you might dig up!

Wine lovers will revel in the stunning accommodation of Black Estate’s organic vineyard, located on the ground floor of an architecturally designed building amongst the beautiful North Canterbury landscape. With seemingly endless views taking in everything from the vines to the majestic Southern Alps, you can relax in true comfort. Located on the Waipara Valley Vineyard Trail, mountain bikes are provided for use during your stay to explore the surrounding area.

Self catered accommodation never looked so good, and Okuti Garden has turned camping into an eco-friendly activity of true relaxation. Stay in a yurt, farmhouse or even a house truck, all at an affordable price that doesn’t sacrifice on comfort. There are plenty of family games and activities on offer to keep everyone entertained, and it’s an easy drive from the city for a break from the daily grind.

Colonies of grain silos are a common sight on the Canterbury Plains, but at the gateway to Banks Peninsula they have taken on a new life as self-contained accommodation. The tall, silver corrugated iron structures are unmissable as State Highway 75 passes through the Little River township.

SiloStay is a cluster of eight grain silos, each skirted in a spiral staircase and remodelled to include exterior balconies and windows. Inside, everything, including the kitchen sink, has been custom designed for the novel curved walls of the impressive three storey structures.

In these uncertain times, The Tack Rooms in Christchurch is the ideal place to find a cocoon to make your own. A place where you can have the space and comforts of home, and enjoy the quality of curated finishes whilst feeling secure knowing that your stay is contactless with a keypad entry. The Tack Rooms is also practising ‘room distancing’, whereby each suite is blocked out for a minimum of 27 hours between all guest arrivals and check-outs.

The Tack Rooms are one of the city’s most innovative and unique accommodation options that doubles as an equally spectacular event space.

This sprawling, idyllic guest house is a seaside escape heaped in local history and genuine hospitality.

A flourishing garden flanks French Bay House, one of the settlement’s original homesteads, while a wisteria-covered, sun-soaked porch swing seat completes the halcyon picture.

Inside, four king-sized bedrooms with ensuites are named after local landmarks and are comfortably furnished giving each room its own unique feel. Think cosy throws, intricate artworks and luxe linen, while bathrooms are resplendent in tiles and stocked with organic toiletries.