The Best Hotels and B&Bs to Book Near Waitomo, New Zealand

With the jacuzzi bubbling away, watch the breeze rustle through the trees and meadows beyond as you chink your champagne glass. The semi-rural setting makes for a relaxing spot to rest, 50 minutes by car from Hamilton airport. Homey rooms flooded with light from floor-to-ceiling windows reveal the great outdoors, with beds dressed with cosy covers and maps of the world hung above. Kick back on the sun deck as you nibble butter breakfast croissants or play a few relaxing rounds on the golf course.

Sleep in the form of transport you may have arrived in at this unique motel with a string of upcycled, self-catering historic boats, planes and steam train carriages. You can also climb through a circular door, beneath the curving hill, into a cave room fit for a hobbit. Cows are grazing on the field right above the two cave rooms at Woodlyn Park, mirroring the attraction that brought you to this wacky wonderland.

Sheltered by towering mature trees, bird song fills the empty and still air each morning at this cluster of chalets. Family-owned and focused on nature tourism, the village is home to 20 chalets, as well as a lodge that sleeps up to 60 in dorm-style rooms. All chalets are northerly facing to make the most of the sun and rural vista, and there are plenty of decked spots from which to watch local wildlife. Dine at the cafe on burgers or quiche, or walk to the pub, village shops and local museum for a change of scene.

Te Awamutu, a half-hour drive from Hamilton, is home to a museum with an impressive collection of Māori objects and details on how local life changed following European settlement from 1823. It’s also home to the family-run Rosetown Motel, close by, with fuss-free rooms and soothing art on walls, sleeping from one to five guests. Kitchens are handy if you want to self-cater with fresh, local produce from this verdant region.

This 1996-built, bright and airy B&B neighbours property from the 1800s; the original pitstop for weary riverboat passengers navigating the Waikato waters. That old homestead is next to the current B&B. Larger than your average hotel room, the spacious deluxe suites look out onto a large veranda and have individual design quirks, including sunken baths. Need more space? Book the expansive three-bedroom Tree Tops apartment for views across the Acacia Reserve.

Grab an e-scooter or bicycle, and explore all 29 acres (12ha) of this modern mansion’s park-like grounds. Set just outside tree-lined Cambridge, all 14 rooms are inspired by a British country house and individually decorated with chintz wallpaper, sink-into Chesterfield sofas and crackling fires. Indulge in country-house pursuits such as croquet, chess or tennis followed by a mosey around the gin bar. Then there’s the spa, gym, indoor pool, jacuzzi and sauna.

Indoor and outdoor become one at this eco-luxe hotel surrounded by woodland overlooking the waters of Lake Te Koutu. Timber-clad rooms make the most of natural materials, bringing the outside in, while a sustainable tourism policy means no single-use paper or plastic, locally sourced produce including blueberries and cheeses, and a bicycle storage, hire and repair station. Stay in nature-hued rooms with inky blue pops or two-bed apartments with handy kitchens for longer stays. Don’t miss the spa, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake.

Kick back by the pool surrounded by towering palms and imagine yourself in the tropics. Yet, if you can tear yourself away from floating in the sun, it’s also less than half an hour from The Lord of the Rings’ popular Hobbiton film set. Beautifully decorated and themed rooms – Marine features lovely teal blue fabrics, Mimosa, golden ochre, and Mink, soft green – sleep up to three with access to the gorgeous gardens.