5 Best Hotels in Haast© Heartland Hotel Haast
5 Best Hotels in Haast

10 BEST Hotels & Places to Stay in Haast & Makarora 🛎️ [2024]

© Heartland Hotel Haast

Where to Find the Best Hotels and Alternative Accommodations in Haast and Makarora

Believe it or not, this town of 240 residents does, indeed, have a hotel – an international chain hotel at that! However, beyond Haast‘s one three-star hotel, guests will need to be flexible to find accommodation to suit, whether you’re looking for something more luxurious or need more space. Luckily, Haast and even the community at the other end of the Haast Pass, Makarora, has lodges with hotel-style rooms, as well as motels, so you’re sure to find something to fit your style, taste and budget. We give you your accommodation options in this list of the best hotels and places to stay in Haast and Makarora.

For more travel tips for Haast, see The Complete Guide to Haast, as well as what to do near Makarora in the 10 Best Things to Do in Mt Aspiring National Park.

1. Heartland Hotel Haast – Three-Star Hotel in Haast with Spa Baths and a Restaurant

Kicking off this list with Haast’s only official hotel, Heartland Hotel Haast is a three-star hotel in “The Junction” part of town, i.e. the junction of State Highway 6 and the Haast-Jackson Bay Road. No worries if you need to get to the main town, however, as they offer a courtesy shuttle. Stay in well-presented hotel rooms with all the usual amenities of hot drink-making facilities, an ensuite – some with a spa bath, free WiFi, etc. Rooms come in queen, twin and family set-ups with the option of one or two bedrooms. On-site is also a popular country-style pub/restaurant with an a la carte menu year-round and a carvery buffet in the summer season.

Check Heartland Hotel Haast out:

5 Best Hotels in Haast© Heartland Hotel Haast

2. Heritage Park Lodge – Boutique Hotel in Haast

While Heritage Park Lodge is primarily a motel accommodation, meaning it mainly consists of studios and units with kitchen and ensuite facilities, it also offers more hotel-like double/twin rooms. The accommodation in the middle of Haast’s main township features standard double/twin rooms with breakfast-making facilities and an ensuite, just like you’d get at a hotel. Enjoy its attractive park-like grounds close to the town’s tavern, should you want to eat out and try the area’s famous seafood and venison.

Check Heritage Park Lodge out:

5 Best Hotels in Haast© Heritage Park Lodge

3. Haast River Motels & Holiday Parks – Accommodation in Haast with Upscale Motel Rooms

The Haast River Motels and Holiday Park is a popular choice for travellers who usually prefer to stay in hotels. The accommodation complex borders the Haast River just off the main highway, so try to get an upstairs room to make the most of the river and mountain scenery. Room options range from basic ensuite double/twin rooms, much like what you’d get in a hotel, to self-contained studios and family apartments. All rooms are well presented, especially the motel studios and apartments which may be the best option for discerning travellers. The playground also makes this a great option for families, as recommended in the 8 Best Family Accommodations in Haast & Makarora.

Check Haast River Motels & Holiday Park out:

5 Best Hotels in Haast© Haast River Motels & Holiday Parks

4. Wonderland Makarora Lodge – The Best Hotel in Makarora

Alternatively, stay in the small community of Makarora on the other side of the Haast Pass at Wonderland Makaroa Lodge. On the edge of the Mt Aspiring National Park, the lodge provides A-frame budget cabins, as well as more upscale studios and two-room chalets with motel amenities among the bush gardens and majestic mountain landscape. Each cabin/chalet has a small kitchenette with hotplates, microwave, fridge and beds for up to four guests. On-site is a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you don’t feel like cooking.

Check Wonderland Makaroa Lodge out:

10 BEST Hotels & Places to Stay in Haast & Makarora 🛎️ [2023]© Wonderland Makarora Lodge

5. Haast Beach Motel – Self-Contained Accommodation at Haast Beach

Located along the beautiful Haast Beach, as featured in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Haast, Haast Beach Motel is the only accommodation in this part of town. Plus, with a general store next door to pick up supplies for your room’s kitchen, you’re not too far from the essentials anyway. The small motel has well-appointed studio rooms, while groups may want to opt for the double-storey family rooms with a kitchenette and bathroom on the ground floor and a bedroom with a double and two single beds upstairs. There’s also a more complete apartment with a kitchen, bathroom and separate bedrooms, should you need more space.

Check Haast Beach Motel out:

10 BEST Hotels & Places to Stay in Haast & Makarora 🛎️ [2023]© Haast Beach Motel

6. ASURE Aspiring Court Motel – Accommodation with EV Charging in Haast

A well-presented motel with native bush surrounds, ASURE Aspiring Court Motel offers more than just motel units. Sure, there are your usual New Zealand motel rooms, like studios with kitchenettes and family rooms with full kitchens, but the motel also offers a few welcome extras like EV charging (fee applicable), a general store for supplies, a car wash and more. Most of the motel suites have fantastic views of the surrounding native bush and soak in plenty of sun, which you can enjoy from your sliding glass doors leading onto a patio with outdoor furniture. Check out more like this in the 9 Best Budget Accommodations in Haast & Makarora.

Check ASURE Aspiring Court Motel out:

10 BEST Hotels & Places to Stay in Haast & Makarora 🛎️ [2023]© ASURE Aspiring Court Motel

7. Mountainview Makarora Accommodation – Affordable Accommodation in Makarora

At the end (or beginning) of the Haast Pass, stay in the village of Makarora at the romantic accommodation of Mountainview Makarora Accommodation. The “Tui Studio” is an endearing option, a cosy set-up with a kitchenette, dining and lounge furniture to enjoy a quiet night in while listening to the antics of the surrounding birdlife. The lodge also offers two private ensuite rooms with breakfast-making facilities. The accommodation is ideal for couples or solo travellers on a budget who want to surround themselves with the famous nature of New Zealand. Thanks to its romantic setting, we also list this one in the 5 Most Romantic Accommodations in Haast & Makarora.

Check Mountainview Makarora Accommodation out:

10 BEST Hotels & Places to Stay in Haast & Makarora 🛎️ [2023]© Mountainview Makarora Accommodation

8. Wilderness Accommodation – Cheap Accommodation in Haast

Surrounding a light-filled atrium with plants reflecting the landscapes of Haast, Wilderness Accommodation makes you feel like you’re out exploring the wilderness even if a rainy day is keeping you from it. The accommodation is split into two wings, a motel wing with self-contained rooms (i.e. a kitchenette and ensuite) and its own communal kitchen, and a backpackers’ wing with cheap and cheerful rooms and shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. There are options to suit a range of traveller types, from solo travellers to couples to families. See more like this in the 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Fox Glacier & Haast.

Check Wilderness Accommodation out:

10 BEST Hotels & Places to Stay in Haast & Makarora 🛎️ [2023]© Wilderness Accommodation

9. Bay Road Motels – Pet-Friendly Accommodation in Haast

Just 10 minutes’ drive from Haast along the scenic Haast-Jackson Bay Road, Bay Road Motels offers well-equipped apartment-style rooms with all the essentials at your fingertips. Near the Turnbull River and with surrounding mountain views, you’ll struggle to beat the scenery and tranquillity of this motel. Choose between one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments with dated fixtures and furniture albeit well-maintained for a pleasant stay. There are apartments to sleep up to six guests should you bet travelling as a large group. Discover alternative motels in the 7 BEST Motels in Haast & Makarora.

Check Bay Road Motels out:

10 BEST Hotels & Places to Stay in Haast & Makarora 🛎️ [2023]© Bay Road Motels

10. [CLOSED] Collyer House

This is where you’re going to have to think a little outside the box for a hotel stay in Haast, starting with the upscale B&B accommodation of Collyer House. With the backdrop of mountains and magnificent views of a river estuary connecting with the Tasman Sea, Collyer House certainly provides an unbeatable location. There are only three rooms, each elegantly and uniquely furnished with French doors opening up onto the verandah. Guests have access to a communal lounge with a huge fireplace, as well as a smaller separate lounge area. A cooked breakfast is served each morning in the open-plan dining and kitchen area.

[CLOSED] Mahitahi Lodge

Sure, Mahitahi Lodge is a little out of town, situated between Haast and Fox Glacier in Bruce Bay, but it provides an endearing retreat with hotel-style guest rooms. There are two double/twin rooms reflecting the surrounding environment with furniture made by reclaimed native timber from the river, as well as a self-contained room with self-catering facilities. While there are no restaurants, guests can be treated to home-cooked and locally-sourced meals prepared by the host. The lodge also offers recreational activities with two kayaks available to enjoy river excursions, while feeding the eels behind the lodge and fishing are more ways to enjoy your time here.

More About Hotels and Places to Stay in Haast and Makarora

That’s it for our list of the best hotels and places to stay in Haast and Makarora, but it’s by no means the end of our travel tips! Get more stellar travel advice from the following guides:

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

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.

Was this article useful?

Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter

Recommended For You