20 BEST Hotels & Places to Stay in Wanaka 🛎️ [2024]

Where to Find the Best Hotels and Alternative Accommodations in Wanaka

On the lakefront or nestled in the mountain scenery, self-contained or with a restaurant, an affordable motel or a bed & breakfast lodge… You have so many accommodation options when it comes to staying in Wanaka. In this list, we go through our top picks of hotels, as well as alternative places to stay in Wanaka, with something to suit all traveller types and budgets.

While you’re here, you might also be interested in the 25 Best Things to Do in Wanaka and The Complete Guide to Wanaka.

1. Edgewater Hotel – The Best Hotel in Wanaka

Stay on the shores of the beautiful Lake Wanaka at the Edgewater Hotel. This popular hotel offers three styles of rooms: one-bedroom suites, two-bedroom apartments and hotel/studio rooms. The former two have the convenience of a kitchenette, while all of them are elegantly furnished. Take advantage of a range of high-quality facilities, from spa treatments in the Element Day Spa to a nine-hole putting green, giving you plenty of ways to enjoy your downtime. There is also a fabulous on-site cafe, the Wineglass Cafe, offering an impressive collection of wines, including some of Otago’s own, as well as an irresistible scone menu.

Check the Edgewater Hotel out:

2. Club Wyndham Wanaka, Trademark Collection by Wyndham – Holiday Accommodation in Wanaka

The renowned hotel brand offers a high-end stay in Wanaka just a short drive from town along Mt Aspiring Road. The 4.5-star Club Wyndham Wanaka, Trademark Collection by Wyndham boasts a range of modern guest rooms and suites with something to suit all traveller types. Make use of your own kitchenette facilities or dine at the on-site bar and cafe where a buffet breakfast is served every morning and an a la carte menu for lunch and the evenings. Other facilities include a heated pool with a waterslide, barbecue area, bike rentals, fitness centre, on-site parking, hut tubs, RV parking and more!

Check the Club Wyndham Wanaka, Trademark Collection by Wyndham out:

20 BEST Hotels & Places to Stay in Wanaka 🛎️ [2023]

3. Wanaka TOP 10 Holiday Park – Cheap Accommodation in Wanaka

Find budget accommodation just outside of Wanaka at the Wanaka TOP 10 Holiday Park. The holiday park offers campervan and camping sites, as well as self-contained accommodation from one to three bedrooms and a holiday house for larger groups. Facilities at the holiday park include a spa and sauna room, bike hire, a courtesy car to take you into town (but no return), barbecue areas, a drying room and communal kitchen facilities. Find the Wanaka TOP 10 Holiday Park 2km (1.2 miles) from town, taking about 20 minutes to walk.

Check Wanaka TOP 10 Holiday Park out:

4. Altamont Lodge – Budget Accommodation in Wanaka

Travellers looking for affordable accommodation with exceptional self-catering facilities, take a look at Altamont Lodge. The attractive wood-lined lodge with 12 rooms boasts a super spacious and fully-equipped kitchen, as well as a large dining area and tables in the garden to enjoy your home-cooked meals. The lodge offers affordable private double rooms, single rooms and family rooms, with shared male/female bathrooms and a lounge with a cosy fireplace. It makes a fantastic alternative to the 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Wanaka, as well as one of the options in our 12 Best Budget Accommodations in Wanaka.

Check Altamont Lodge out:

5. West Meadows of Wanaka – Upscale Motel in Wanaka

This upscale motel and apartment complex in Wanaka certainly rivals some of the hotels in town with modern furnishings and fixings ideal for the holiday or business traveller. Even the lowest tier of rooms at West Meadows of Wanaka are kitted out with full kitchen facilities (including a dishwasher) and a super-sized TV with streaming services. Most rooms accommodate up to two guests, while the two-bedroom apartment is an option for groups of four. The motel is a little out of town, however, so having your own transport will be handy. If motels are your vibe, you might also like the 15 BEST Motels in Wanaka.

Check West Meadows of Wanaka out:

6. Distinction Wanaka Alpine Resort – Resort Apartments in Wanaka

When it comes to luxury apartments, Wanaka is the town that just keeps on giving – just take a look at our 15 BEST Holiday Apartments in Wanaka. Distinction Wanaka Alpine Resort provides an excellent choice of large and stylish one, two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a five-bedroom villa. Each apartment has a fully-equipped kitchen, underfloor-heated bathroom, Sky TV, free WiFi and undercover parking. As for facilities, the complex contains hot spas, a swimming pool in summer, a barbecue area, a tennis court, a petanque court, a games room and a gym, so there’s plenty to keep your whole tribe entertained.

Check Distinction Wanaka out:

7. Te Wanaka Lodge – Pet-Friendly Accommodation in Wanaka

When there aren’t hotels, resorts and apartments in Wanaka, there are lodges – see the 10 Best Boutique Accommodations & B&Bs in Wanaka. An excellent choice is Te Wanaka Lodge. This boutique European-style lodge radiates character from its antique furniture to its cedar garden hot tub. Stay in one of the lodge rooms with fresh decor, an ensuite and a small balcony or stay at the “Garden Cottage Room” with basic kitchenette facilities. Mornings here are spent enjoying the continental breakfast served on the oversized vintage table, while afternoon tea is also served each day. What’s more, Te Wanaka boasts an easy location in town.

Check Te Wanaka Lodge out:

8. Alpine Motel – Accommodation in Wanaka for Families

Located just a short walk from Wanaka town and offering rooms for all traveller types, Alpine Motel features “Studios” for three guests up to “Two-Bedroom King Apartments” for six. Each accommodation has its own kitchen facilities, as well as free WiFi, Sky TV, on-site parking and an 11 am checkout. The motel also has fabulous features for families, including a children’s playground, trampoline and barbecue area. See more family-friendly stays like this in the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Wanaka.

Check Alpine Motel out:

9. Clearbrook Motel & Serviced Apartments – Self-Contained Accommodation in Wanaka

Enjoy the conveniences of home when you stay in one of the apartments or townhouses of the Clearbrook Motel & Serviced Apartments. The motel in Wanaka town centre offers 14 self-contained apartments with a private balcony, a spa bath, a kitchen with a dishwasher and laundry machines. Other features at the hotel include Sky TV, streaming services, free WiFi and heated ski lockers. For alternative self-contained stays, also check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Wanaka.

Check Clearbrook Motel out:

10. Wanaka Luxury Apartments – Wanaka Accommodation with a Pool

This home-away-from-home experience comes with a few luxurious extras at the Wanaka Luxury Apartments. The five-star apartment complex offers 29 apartments with a choice of one, two or three-bedroom apartments featuring a living space, heated spa, a pool, pizza oven and barbecue. They provide an ideal abode in both summer and winter, with mountain bikes to make use of and fires to keep you toasty in winter. What’s more, the apartments are a mere stroll away from the town centre and the lakefront. See more upscale options like this in the 12 Best Luxury Accommodations in Wanaka.

Check Wanaka Luxury Apartments out:

11. Kauri House Apartment – B&B Holiday Home for Couples

If your idea of the perfect place to stay in Wanaka is your own holiday home away from the hustle and bustle, perhaps you should choose something like the Kauri House Apartment. Nestled in the residential hilltops of Mt Iron, this one-bedroom apartment offers and unique and romantic stay for couples with castle-like architecture. Not only do you have everything you could expect from an apartment stay, but your stay also includes a continental or cooked breakfast. For alternative couple-centric accommodations, also see the 10 Most Romantic Accommodations in Wanaka.

Check Kauri House Apartment out:

12. Matukituki Lodge – Upscale Holiday Home Near Wanaka

If you’re looking for a luxurious holiday rental, then you’ll struggle to find a more lavish holiday home in Wanaka than Matukituki Lodge. The four-bedroom home, nestled in the high countryside and approximately 30 minutes’ drive from town, is the ideal base for exploring the Mt Aspiring National Park and the nearby Treble Cone ski field. Crank up the barbecue in summer or hide in the spa pool in winter, as this place is kitted out for the ultimate holiday in any season.

Check Matukituki Lodge out:

13. Lime Tree Lodge – Boutique Lodge in Wanaka

One of the most prestigious boutique lodges in the Wanaka area, the Lime Tree Lodge is well worth considering. The lodge has luxuriously-appointed guest rooms, as well as two private suites, all of which have French doors opening onto an expansive verandah with lush garden and mountain views. The premium room, “The Black Peak Suite”, features black-oak decor along with leather furnishings across the bedroom and a private lounge with a log fire. Alternatively, stay in one of the more affordable guest rooms with ensuite bathrooms featuring underfloor heating. Guests also have access to the lodge’s outdoor pool, as well as a cosy lounge.

Check Lime Tree Lodge out:

14. Wanaka Bakpaka – Popular Backpacker Hostel with Lake Views

A cheap hostel with million-dollar views, Wanaka Bakpaka is a top choice for backpackers or any traveller on a budget, for that matter. Relax in the spacious communal lounge, make use of the fresh herbs in the communal kitchen and enjoy the views of the lake from the outdoor patio area. The hostel offers a range of rooms including double ensuites, as well as double, twin and bunk rooms with shared bathroom facilities. For more hostels, check out the 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Wanaka.

Check Wanaka Bakpaka out:

Wanaka Bakpaka on HostelWorld

15. The Moorings Motel and Apartments – Characterful Apartments in Wanaka

Another upscale motel in Wanaka, this time just moments away from the town centre and lakefront, The Moorings Motel and Apartments is an ideal choice for the discerning traveller. Each studio and apartment here has its own charms, from wood-burners enhancing the winter ambience to floor-to-ceiling windows soaking in the lake views. All rooms have cooking facilities, smart TVs with streaming services, and tiled bathrooms with underfloor heating.

Check The Moorings Motel and Apartments out:

16. Golfcourse Road Chalets and Lodge – Affordable Self-Catering Units and B&B Lodge

Just a four-minute drive from Wanaka yet feels a world away among the acres and acres of gardens, golf course and mountain views, Golfcourse Road Chalets and Lodge is an easy choice for accommodation in Wanaka. Enjoy your “One or Two-Bedroom Chalet” with a heated marble bathroom with bathrobe and slippers provided, as well as home-away-from-home facilities like a kitchen and laundry machines. Alternatively, there are “King Rooms” available in the lodge with or without a spa bath ensuite and breakfast included.

Check Golfcourse Road Chalets out:

17. Apartments on Upton (Wanaka Selection) – Group Accommodation in Wanaka

Managed by holiday apartment giants, Wanaka Selection, Apartments on Upton is an upscale apartment complex with 12 individual quality apartments with something for all group sizes. Units range from one to five-bedroom or choose any combination where bedrooms can be fitted with king or twin-bed layouts. Either way, you’ll experience upmarket living with Italian-designed leather lounge suites, fully equipped kitchens and tiled bathrooms. Other apartments managed by Wanaka Selection include the popular Tenby Apartments and Dungarvon Street Apartments, which are also worth checking out.

Check Apartments on Upton out:

17. Archway Motels & Chalets – Wanaka Accommodation with a Hot Tub

Offering studios and chalets with your own private kitchenette and bathroom, the Archway Motels & Chalets have everything you need for a comfortable and affordable stay with your own space. The accommodation is well within walking distance of the town centre, also including free on-site parking. Relax in the spacious gardens with a barbecue area, picnic tables, unique children’s play equipment and a cedar hot tub.

Check Archway Motels & Chalets out:

19. Hawea Hotel – Accommodation in Hawea

An alternative location in the Lake Wanaka area, the Hawea Hotel sits on the edge of the serene Lake Hawea. Choose from a range of stylish rooms for couples and families, as well as a cheap bed in a separate hostel lodge with communal facilities. Each private room of the hotel has its own balcony soaking in mountain and lake views, as well as bedding spun from Wanaka-farmed merino made especially for the hotel. Free WiFi, a TV, electric blankets and tea/coffee making facilities are also part of the package, while guests will also have the option of food from the on-site Eatery restaurant.

Check the Hawea Hotel out:

20. Oakridge Resort Lake Wanaka – Wanaka Accommodation with Hot Pools

Finally, stay in a four-star resort with well-appointed rooms at the Oakridge Resort Lake Wanaka. The accommodation just outside of Wanaka town and 3km (1.9 miles) from the lake features entry-level hotel-style rooms to spacious two-bedroom apartments. Enjoy luxurious features, such as nine outdoor hot pools surrounded by alpine landscaping, as well as gourmet meals at Jacob’s Grill.

Check the Oakridge Resort out:

More About Hotels and Places to Stay in Wanaka

Now that you know the best hotels and places to stay in Wanaka, here’s more advice on planning the ultimate trip to Lake Wanaka:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Complete Travel Guide to Wanaka.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

Contact Laura About Our Team