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The Ultimate Guide to the Best Wine Hotels in New Zealand

All our New Zealand wine hotel collections:

With the world’s most southerly vineyards, New Zealand has ten major wine-producing regions spread across the North and South Islands, from Northland down to Canterbury and Central Otago. So, if you’re looking for the best wine hotels of New Zealand, you can plump for just about any part of the country and find somewhere to tempt both your wine palate and your holiday plans

New Zealand vineyards

.New Zealand wines are such a staple of our wine merchant’s shelves - or our own modest cellars - it’s a shock to discover that, until the 1970s, the wines were barely known outside the country. Since then, however - particularly with the discovery that the Marlborough region was superbly qualified to grow the sauvignon blanc grape - New Zealand has become synonymous with quality wines.

Best wine hotels in Marlborough

Home of the country’s most famous wine - sauvignon blanc - Marlborough, at the north of South Island, is also New Zealand’s biggest wine-producing region. Dry and sunny, its most popular area is around Blenheim and Wairau valley. This means, when looking for a New Zealand wine hotel, you can choose either to be based in the city or the country.

Lake Timara Lodge

  • For an urban base, Hotel d’Urville in the heart of Blenheim is a smart choice. The art deco, boutique hotel has just 11 stylish rooms, individually themed from colonial to vintage to retro; some with four-poster beds. Great cocktail bar, too.
  • If you prefer to be deep in the vineyards, Lake Timara Lodge is a luxurious alternative. With English-country-house styling - antiques, window seats, elegant drapes - it sits in a five-acre, rose-filled garden with outdoor pool, tennis court and, of course, a private wine cellar.

Best wine hotels in Nelson

The tiny region of Nelson, at the northern tip of South Island, is a distinct, self-contained area cut off from neighbouring regions on three sides by mountains and, on the fourth side, by the magical Tasman Bay. Hence it has a very distinct micro-climate, well-suited to growing aromatic grapes such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer.

Wakefield Quay House

  • Food-lovers will be charmed by A Culinary Experience, a boutique B&B just outside the city of Nelson. Gourmet breakfasts, cooking classes and wine tours are some of the attractions while its two luxury suites have balconies overlooking Tasman Bay.
  • Even closer to Tasman Bay, on Nelson’s waterfront, Wakefield Quay House has a huge veranda, perfect for sundowners. The 1905 villa has two large and elegant, light-filled rooms, with antiques, original art and modern bathrooms.

Best wine hotels in Hawke's Bay

On North Island’s east coast, Hawke's Bay is New Zealand’s second-largest wine-producing region, particularly known for its Bordeaux-blend wines. Here are some of the country’s oldest vineyards, originally planted by missionaries for sacramental wines.

Greenhill Lodge

  • It may be surrounded by farmland, but The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is far from rustic accommodation. Bedrooms are contemporary classic, lounge areas are rustic-chic, and light streams in everywhere. With its coastal hilltop position, it enjoys far-reaching views. There’s a spa and golf course, too
  • Similarly, Greenhill Lodge, although surrounded by farmland, is far from country-basic. This lavish lodge offers roll-top baths (some on private terraces), open fires, antiques, large beds and fresh flowers - as well as a pool, gym and turreted look-out tower. Very romantic.

Best wine hotels in Northland

Found, not surprisingly, in the north of North Island, the vineyards of Northland are predominantly around the Bay of Islands and on the west coast near Kaitaia. This means that many of our New Zealand wine hotels in this area make for a great beach holiday, too. Northland’s wine production is modest but the region can lay claim to having New Zealand’s oldest vines, planted in 1819. Syrah and Pinotage are the dominant grape varieties.

Paihia Beach Resort

  • In the village of Kerikeri, Bed of Roses is a charming B&B with French country-style bedrooms, private terraces and a luscious garden. Extensive breakfasts will set you up for a day exploring the vineyards; the hosts will arrange wine tours.
  • If you want to combine wine-tasting with sunbathing, take a look at Paihia Beach Resort, a stone’s throw from one of the Bay’s prettiest beaches. Light, contemporary style bedrooms have balconies plus there’s a spa and fishing trips on offer.

Best wines hotels in Auckland and Waiheke Island

Auckland in North Island is not only New Zealand’s largest city but it’s also internationally renowned for its boutique wineries. Planted mainly with chardonnay and Bordeaux varieties - merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc - Auckland’s vineyards are within easy distance of its city centre. Kumeu, to the north east, and Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf, are home to some of its most famous vineyards. The small, hilly island of Waiheke has a quite distinct climate and feel, partly due to its laidback population of hippies and artists. This means that our range of wine hotels in Auckland has something for everyone.

Waiheke winery

Wine hotels on Waiheke Island

  • If you want complete flexibility, and good-value accommodation, Dellows Waiheke offers simple, bright apartments with private terraces. Within walking distance of eight wineries, including its own boutique operation, it’s also just ten minutes’ walk to the beach.
  • Even closer to the beach, Waiheke Island Resort also has self-catering studios and apartments but with a wider range of on-site facilities, including a bar, restaurant, pool and hot tubs.

Best wines hotels in Auckland and Waiheke Island

Auckland in North Island may be best known as New Zealand’s largest city but it is also a wine-producing region in its own right with vineyards - growing mainly chardonnay and Bordeaux varieties - within easy striking distance of its centre. Some of its most famous vineyards are on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf, a small, hilly island with an engaging population of hippies and artists. Much of the area’s grape harvest is used by boutique wineries.

Te Whau Vineyard Waiheke Island

  • You can’t get much closer to the vineyards than at Dellows Waiheke. Within walking distance of eight wineries, including its own boutique operation, Dellows offers simple, bright self-catering accommodation, all with private terraces.
  • If you’d prefer someone else to do the cooking, Te Whau lodge is a smart, modern, chalet-style affair, close to both beach and wineries, with lots of natural woods, glass and expansive views.
  • We have plenty of wine hotel choices in Auckland, if you’d rather be city-based. The Langham Auckland is a slick, luxurious affair, close but not too close to the waterfront, with spacious, exotically styled bedrooms and marble bathrooms plus an outdoor pool and spa.

Best wine hotels in Canterbury and Waipara Valley

Tucked between the Marlborough region to the north and Central Otago to the south, Canterbury spreads around the city of Christchurch on the east coast of South Island. With its cooler climate, it is particularly known for elegant, balanced wines made from pinot noir, chardonnay and Riesling grapes. The sheltered Waipara valley, in particular, is famed for its Riesling vineyards.

The George

  • Between Christchurch and Waipara Valley, Stoneleigh Lodge is set in 20 acres of grounds which, entertainingly, include an alpaca farm. Wonderfully private, with just two very large and elegant suites, there’s also an indoor heated pool.
  • If you’d rather have an urban base, The George is a crisp and stylish affair in the heart of Christchurch. Rooms are light and comfortably minimalist and there’s a choice of two award-winning restaurants.

New Zealand may be a small country - not much bigger than the UK - but it packs in a huge amount of variety of both landscape and wines. Use our guide to the best wine hotels in New Zealand to discover this surprising little country for yourself.

Contact Paihia Beach Resort & Spa Hotel Hotel:
130 Marsden Road, Paihia, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Freephone: 0800 870 111
Telephone: +64 9 4020 111
Tollfree US/Can: 1 888 226 7448
Email: info@paihiabeach.co.nz
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