New Zealand Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers

Forums
Deals

New Zealand Favorites

Sweet Briar bushes and Blue Borage in...

by Kakapo2

Previous Next

Sweet Briar bushes and Blue Borage in...
by Kakapo2
Favorites
by Kakapo2
Mt Ruapehu Winter
by kiwi
Mt Ruapehu Summer
by kiwi
Winter snow coverage, Mt Ruapehu and Mt...
by kiwi

Most Viewed Favorites in New Zealand

City Beaches Auckland

1 Review Auckland has lots of nice beaches, and this is one of the more picturesque. Takapuna used to be the main commercial area of the North Shore, but now it has become a trendy and very nice looking place...

See All 43 Favorites in Auckland

Downtown Christchurch Christchurch

29 Reviews - The city centre features a huge new steel sculpture, an oversized bunch of wheat, higher than the surrounding high-rise buildings. Its name is "Flour Power". (August/September 2008) The square at...

See All 131 Favorites in Christchurch

Lake Wakatipu Queenstown

5 Reviews Lake Wakatipu is the South Island’s second largest lake after Lake Te Anau. It is Z-shaped, has a total length of 77 kilometres, and covers 293 square kilometres. It is surrounded by steeply rising...

See All 43 Favorites in Queenstown

Internet Connections Wellington

2 Reviews This was the most amazing machine I found! Here you can free up some memory space on your digital camera by a number of ways: Print digital photos from $1-45 NZD per print. Edit digital...

See All 40 Favorites in Wellington

Te Whakarewarewa Rotorua

7 Reviews You pay around £ 6 for adults ad £3 for kids to get into visit Maori Arts and Crafts Institute and after that you can explore Maori village, kiwi house, Frog pool, Maori concert etc for free. You...

See All 35 Favorites in Rotorua

The Octagon Dunedin

4 Reviews The Octagon is the central "square" [actually and obviously an octagon] in the centre of the city. It is well laid out with a nice covered walkway alongside the road thru the middle. A variety of...

See All 22 Favorites in Dunedin

Cable Car Wellington Region

6 Reviews The Cable Car is one of Wellingtons oldest and most popular tourist attractions. The cable car journeys up under the motorway, through the three tunnels, past Kelburn Park and Victoria University and...

See All 32 Favorites in Wellington Region

Otago South Island

2 Reviews Cadrona Pass can be a fantastic driving expierience, but be aware, some parts are still gravel and hard to judge when driving to fast...but end of the year 2006 some adventure will have been taken...

See All 24 Favorites in South Island

Taranaki North Island

4 Reviews Facing the Tasman Sea on the north, west and south of Mount Taranaki, New Plymouth has easy access of beaches for sailing, swimming, surfing or sand castles. Was surprised by the black sand beaches....

See All 16 Favorites in North Island

10.

Auckland Museum and Domain Auckland

3 Reviews The Wintergardens are located in the Auckland Domain, not far from Auckland Museum. The glass houses date back into the early twentieth century and although the plant collection is very modest, the...

See All 43 Favorites in Auckland

11.

Architecture Christchurch

23 Reviews - This impressive stately building with its classical ornamentation is located right behind Christchurch Cathedral, and opposite the Press buidling and Cathedral Junction. It was designed in 1909 (and...

See All 131 Favorites in Christchurch

12.

Jetboat Rides Queenstown

2 Reviews Although a little "touristy", I think most visitors to Queenstown should try out one of their famous Jetboat rides, because it offers its passengers a safe way to enjoy the sights offered by the...

See All 43 Favorites in Queenstown

13.

Parliament Buildings Wellington

1 Review Parliament has been located in Wellington since 1865 when it was moved from Auckland - not the building obviously! The Beehive is one of New Zealand's icons though it's only the building that has the...

See All 40 Favorites in Wellington

14.

Visitor Information Centre Rotorua

4 Reviews Most visitors to Rotorua will encounter this striking looking building on Fenchurch Street. The towns official tourist information office, you can find everything here from the standard array of...

See All 35 Favorites in Rotorua

15.

Te Papa Museum Wellington Region

3 Reviews Go to Te Papa Museum. Opened in 1998, built on a site the size of 3 rugby fields (that's kiwi for you!), it has a total floor area of 36,000 square metres. Te Papa is the national museum of NZ, with...

See All 32 Favorites in Wellington Region

16.

Canterbury South Island

2 Reviews Otira Gorge has became more easier to travel.the old Road gone,a new Viaduct build,finish and opend last Autum. It is now a breeze driving through to the West Coast..thank god for that. but actually I...

See All 24 Favorites in South Island

17.

Auckland North Island

1 Review No, it is not about a tv drama series. One hill tree is popular historic landmark of Auckland on top of a small volcanic peak. There was a single tree next to a commemorative obelisk. The tree was...

See All 16 Favorites in North Island

18.

Harbour Bridge & Marina Auckland

3 Reviews The bridge is one of Aucklands key features around the harbour area and is visible from many places given its size. It's 15 stories high and at just over 1km long the 2nd longest road bridge in NZ...

See All 43 Favorites in Auckland

19.

Currency Exchange Christchurch

2 Reviews Here's your view of the ANZ currency exchange, while comfortably ensconced on their couch. Yellow, orange, green - what a colour scheme... I guess you could call it 'funky' but those words aren't...

See All 131 Favorites in Christchurch

20.

Rotorua Museum Rotorua

1 Review Rotorua Museum of Art and History, Te Whare Taonga O Te Arawa. Built at the beginning of the 20th Century, this building was originally the Bath House. New Zealand's history is very young, but this is...

See All 35 Favorites in Rotorua

21.

Wellington Zoo Wellington Region

2 Reviews Visit the Wellington Zoo. It is the oldest zoological park in New Zealand. Like most zoos worldwide the park has moved to create more humane environments for its animals. The giraffe is baby 'Rukiya'...

See All 32 Favorites in Wellington Region

22.

West Coast South Island

1 Review through Arthur's Pass and the Otira Gorge Road, looks so benign, doens't it? But drive carefully and don't get distracted....drive on to the most charming small Town on the West Coast..Hokitika, its a...

See All 24 Favorites in South Island

23.

Hauraki Gulf Auckland

3 Reviews PHOTO: BEV AT THE HELM OF NZL 40, AN AMERICA'S CUP YACHT BUILT FOR THE 1995 AMERICA'S CUP AND BOUGHT BY A GROUP IN AUCKLAND. THEY HAVE TWO BOATS NZL 40 & NZL 41, WHICH THEY RACE AND TAKE PEOPLE OUT...

See All 43 Favorites in Auckland

24.

Bridge of Remembrance Christchurch

3 Reviews The bridge of Remebrance is just that, a momument to all soldiers who went to war in the various theatres of war last centuary. This includes both World Wars won by the British with the help of our...

See All 131 Favorites in Christchurch

25.

Kapiti Coast Wellington Region

1 Review 4- WHEEL DRIVING is on of the craziest and scariest thing I've ever done in my life. I was at a friend's house on the Kapiti Coast, about 40 min. from Wellington and we went out for a day of 4-wheel...

See All 32 Favorites in Wellington Region

Save money, Book now !: Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Book now for big savings!: hotels.com Outstanding choice of hotels all over the world at fantastic prices.

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Travelling in Winter

by Kakapo2

-More and more tourists travel in New Zealand in winter (June to August/September) - and in the forum many people ask how travelling is at this time of the year. Most questions are about driving and how difficult it is, if you can get into most outdoor activities, and if it is wise to travel by campervan or even go camping.Some thoughts about this issue.You can be lucky with the weather and would even be able to make some of the Great Walks - but do not expect it. The best thing to do in winter is walking on the glaciers of the West Coast as this can be done in (nearly) all weather conditions, and August is rather a dry month in this rainy part of the country. The North Island might be rather wet, so hiking is difficult, and the Tongariro Crossing Track could be under snow. On the South Island (which is noticeably drier in winter) you can still make great day walks if it does not snow...

Night Driving in NZ

by jepyda

Thank you so much Kakapo. This information certainly helps. We are from Singapore & we are left side driving too however driving in pitch dark will not be a good idea as this would be our 1st time driving in NZ. I will make sure to end all activity by 5:30pm as advised by you & the others. Thank you all...

Baggage Allowance Ex NZ

by Kaikoura

Most of the times the reason we are asked to repack at different airports is because the next airline we are taking has a different baggage allowance policy. Some has 7kgs, others 8kgs and then there are those with 10kgs or more. If doing multi-ports journey, it pays to check all the baggage allowances of all the airlines you are flying with and pack as per the lowest (eg 7kg ex AKL if flying with Air NZ or Qantas) especially if you are only transitting in between ports. If stopping over and your next plane allows more then you can pack accordingly.For those who has not come across it yet, the best site to check for baggage allowances for most airlines is Trip Advisors' Seat Guru. Airlines reservations staffs refers to it so for future reference with other airlines consider Seat Guru. In their website click on the airline you are flying with on the left of the screen then click on...

Around South Island: Camper Van or Car

by Kaikoura

Hi Adrienne, just like Pam, Sissy and every1 else advised, the car and accommodations would probably be the way to go, space and cost wise especially with having your friend with you. I can't add anymore to what they have already advised you but just in case you really like the flexibility of a self-contained camper and the presence of your friend is not going to compromise your space and you're happy to fork out for the extra cost, may I add...I've gone around the South Island on a 6 berth camper van with 4 others and I would do it again in a heartbeat when I get the chance. In case you want to explore this option Adrienn, check out Pacific Horizons' 4 berth Gem it has more than one sleeping outlay. The maximum daily hire rate is NZD340/day inclusive of standard insurance (you're a lawyer so I leave that part to you :-))They have specials going on I believe for bookings done until the...

Free Wifi around NZ

by kiwi

If you buy just a coffee at any Robert Harris Cafe, around New Zealand, you can get free wifi.This is handy to know. They don't exactly advertise, and you need to ask for it.Theoretically it is priced at $2.50 for 30mins, but if you buy the coffee, you don't pay that.Many Robt Harris Cafes also have a docking bay to recharge your mobile phone. Just don't leave it behind when you go!

Volcanic activity of North Island

by kokoryko

Tongariro National Park on the North Island is famous for its hydrothermal ctivity; there you will discover geysers, like the famous Lady Knox geyser erupting every day at 10.30, (well, a park attendee triggers the eruption by throwing some soap in the vent, so that tourists are not disappointed. . . ), but also colourful ponds (Painter’s palette) due to various mineralisations, hot springs where natives cooked their food, hills covered permanently by steam clouds. . . . Not far from there, you can have a warm bath in a mineral water pool. . . . but for me more interesting and beautiful were the sights and walks on Ruapehu and Ngauruhe volcanoes!More pictures in travelogue .

Milford Sound; Down Under Fjord

by kokoryko

Milford Sound is a place one should not miss when visiting the South Island of New Zealand. First, the road getting there is one of the most scenic I had driven at the time; you drive all times with beauties of nature surrounding you, the very rugged landscape, the glaciers, the waterfalls, the lakes you discover on the sometimes steep and precipitous road, all this gives you a feeling of a trip in high mountains above 3000m, (they look a bit like that in Europe, at that elevation, Engadine, in a wilderness version).Second, a cruise in the fjord, down to the Pacific Ocean; the show is in the water, with the dolphins jumping around the boat, on the shores where the seals to do nothing else than sunbathing all day long, and the show, the great show are the 500 metres high cliffs, bare or covered with trees, fern, moss, from where beautiful waterfalls roar down (some boats approach enough...

Take your time.

by kokoryko

It is like time has stopped in some remote places (but all is remote here!) of South Island; travel can mean to go somewhere, but for me, it is also the time spent for going to this somewhere, the places I discover during the journey; on the small roads of New Zealand you may find beautiful small houses or villages, maintained with lots of poesy; here are a few pictures of places where I was enchanted by this poesy; some places are a bit touristy, like Arrowtown, old gold mining city (picture 4), other are just a plunge in the past with this steam powered train in Kingston (picture 2); if you have even more time, you can take a ride on that train!

TEN TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

by Kakapo2

-Doug Copp’s tips how to most probably survive a strong earthquake, by creating the triangles of life:(But again let me point out that NZ authorities insist that this technique does not work and recommend that you crawl under a table. Sorry for the confusion... I have added my comments and thoughts in bold after having made my personal earthquake experience.)1) Almost everyone who simply "ducks and covers" when buildings collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed. If you are not in the car or under the desk you will be crused for sure. I have seen crushed cars in Christchurch in which people have died. They would also have died had they stood beside the car.2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void....

What to do when an earthquake strikes

by Kakapo2

-I had long thought about the logics behind the theory of "The Triangle of Life", posted on the internet by a guy named Doug Copp who introduces himself as the former Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. He says the information in his article will save lives in an earthquake. On official NZ websites I found tips Doug Copp would classify as the most probable way to death – like staying in bed or in a car.Since having experienced the devastating 6.3 earthquake that destroyed the city centre of Christchurch and many suburbs, in particular the eastern suburbs, on 22 February 2011, I tend to agree with the official stance of New Zealand's Civil Defence.Duck and coverIf a building collapses completely like the CTV and Pyne Gould Buildings in Christchurch, no theory will really help you. It will be a matter...

Top 3 Hotels in New Zealand

Copthorne Hotel Commodore Christchurch Airport Christchurch

6 Reviews and 321 Opinions Prior to the earthquakes, I have always stayed in town at some renowned hotel chains. When I was...

Hotels in Christchurch

SKYCITY Grand Hotel Auckland Auckland

7 Reviews and 449 Opinions The rooms and hotel in general were nicer than expected, and service was good. While this hotel may...

Hotels in Auckland

Browns Boutique Hotel Queenstown

1 Review and 187 Opinions Within stroling distance from the main town. Welcoming and homely. A warm cozey room admist the cold...

Hotels in Queenstown

2,135 Hotels in New Zealand

Explore the World

The Place

Reviews and photos of New Zealand attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for New Zealand sightseeing.

Experience New Zealand

16,481 Tips and Reviews
34,815 Photos
41 Videos

Favorites: Cities in New Zealand

More Cities in New Zealand

Popular Regions in New Zealand

North Island Favorites South Island Favorites

More Regions in New Zealand

Questions and Answers

Q: Im 29yrs female and im on my own. Im getting to Auckland in October and im planning on working for a few months... doing what i...

A: Why are you assuming it will be cold and rainy when you arrive - in the middle of NZ Spring? Temperatures could be up to 17°C: not blazing hot, I know, but not exactly...

Read 2 Replies

Click here for best deals for New Zealand

Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday: Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Plenty of choices: agoda.com Save up to 75%, Don't miss! Live support, Instant confirmation.
Save money, Book now !: Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Save money, Book now !: Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates