8 BEST Boutique Accommodations & B&Bs on Stewart Island 🥐 [2024]

Where to Find Boutique Lodges and B&Bs on Stewart Island

Farflung off the southern shores of New Zealand is an island cloaked in nature. The environment is so revered that 80% of it is preserved as a national park and skies so clear that it’s classed as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. With all of that in mind, Stewart Island is a destination that commands a tranquil accommodation to complement its surroundings. Luckily, there are homely B&Bs, luxury lodges and even a boutique motel to ensure the right tone is set. Check them all out with this list of the best boutique accommodations and B&Bs on Stewart Island.

For more advice on planning your island getaway, take a look at The Complete Guide to Stewart Island and the 20 Incredible Things to Do on Stewart Island.

1. Stewart Island Lodge

One of Halfmoon Bay’s most upmarket offerings, Stewart Island Lodge is a boutique lodge accommodation with unrivalled views. Enjoy the vistas from your guest room with large windows spilling onto a private balcony often shared with friendly kaka (bush parrot). The village centre of Oban is a mere stroll away, through the lodge’s verdant native gardens, to join more adventures around Stewart Island. The lodge offers six king/twin rooms, which rates include a continental breakfast each morning. Check out more couple-centric stays like this in the 5 Most Romantic Accommodations on Stewart Island.

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8 Best Boutique Accommodation on Stewart Island

2. Glendaruel Bed and Breakfast

With the village of Oban on one side and the Paterson Inlet with Ulva Island on the other, Glendaruel Bed and Breakfast is well-positioned to make the most of Stewart Island’s highlights. Not only that but the position nearby the famous Observation Rock indicates the lush bush surroundings and just how good the views are. The interiors, which include a queen, twin and single room, are a charming mix of the old and the new. Although there are limited cooking facilities, you can make use of the barbecue, enjoy meals arranged with your host and indulge in an included breakfast each day.

Check Glendaruel Bed and Breakfast out:

8 BEST Boutique Accommodations & B&Bs on Stewart Island 🥐 [2023]

3. Church Hill Boutique Lodge & Restaurant

Church Hill Boutique Lodge & Restaurant might be more famous for its boutique dining experience, but it also offers three standalone suites. Each has a private elevated balcony either overlooking Halfmoon Bay, Oban’s fishing bay or kamahi forest. The boutique lodge also offers luxuries like a coffee machine, home baking and full glass frontage for soaking in the views. However, only one of the rooms has the exclusivity of a private wood-fired hot tub so you can soak under the stars of a Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Check Church Hill Boutique Lodge & Restaurant out:

4. Ponga B&B

One of the more homely bed and breakfasts on Stewart Island, Ponga B&B features just two guest rooms. Far enough away from the hustle and bustle of day visitors yet close enough to town to enjoy its conveniences, this B&B accommodation is among a bush-clad residential street where, admittedly, the most commonly seen residents are the local kaka. The B&B is more affordable than most on Stewart Island, which also offers a generous continental breakfast each morning. Note that bathrooms are shared.

Check Ponga B&B out:

Ponga B&B on Booking.com

5. Sails Ashore Lodge

Sails Ashore Lodge is not only an upmarket B&B on the quiet streets of Oban but an activity provider offering small-group driving tours of Stewart Island and guided tours of Ulva Island. There are just two rooms available at this lodge, each tastefully-presented with an ensuite boasting underfloor heating and a paua shell trim. Your room also has hot drink-making facilities accompanied by homebaked treats, while a continental breakfast is provided each morning at a time that suits you. See more lavish stays like this in the 5 Best Luxury Accommodations on Stewart Island.

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6. Kowhai Lane Lodge

From the same hosts as Sails Ashore Lodge, Kowhai Lane Lodge offers a more casual lodge at the other end of town. The lodge consists of four well-presented double rooms with a private bathroom each, as well as a one-bedroom apartment ideal for a longer stay with private cooking facilities. Guests are welcome to relax in the homely living and dining area, spruce something up in the communal kitchen, and explore the landscaped gardens.

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7. Anchorstone

For an out-of-town stay, book yourself into one of the three hill-perched units of Anchorstone. This boutique motel is nestled in bush just a short drive from Oban, offering transfers and the option of a vehicle rental. The self-contained units each feature a super-king bed, kitchen, ensuite, TV and balcony with outdoor furniture for watching the sunset or stargazing. See more self-contained accommodation like this in the 6 Best Motels in Stewart Island.

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8. Jensen Bay House

Finally, discover the private hideaway of Jensen Bay House with its striking contemporary architecture surrounded by nature. There are two lodge rooms to choose from; either the more luxurious “Above-and-overall” room with a four-poster bed or the more affordable “Firmly-grounded” room. The architecture is thought-provoking inside and out, with the lounge boasting European features like a French pyramid fireplace, as well as a sauna and a sun-drenched conservatory. What’s more, the lodge is fully off-the-grid with solar-photovoltaic electric, solar-heat generating system, wind generator, freshwater facility and clay-wall heating system.

More About Boutique Accommodations and B&Bs on Stewart Island

That’s it for our list of the best boutique accommodations and B&Bs on Stewart Island. For more tips to help plan the perfect island excursion, check out the following guides:

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

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.

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8 BEST Boutique Accommodations & B&Bs on Stewart Island 🥐 [2024]

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Where to Find Boutique Lodges and B&Bs on Stewart Island