The Best Hotels to Book in Hokitika, New Zealand

As the name suggests, you can enjoy Tasman Sea views from the restaurant and best rooms at this modern hotel in Hokitika – but you’re still in the centre of town. Quirky sights such as the Hokitika Sock Machine Museum are just next door. However, if you want a seriously special souvenir, browse the carved and polished greenstone at Traditional Jade on Tancred Street; here you can see how the raw material – known in Māori as pounamu – is transformed into jewellery and ornaments.

These self-contained studios and apartments tick lots of boxes; they’re clean, budget-friendly and come with verandas and big bathrooms. Are you a keen cyclist? The motel is moments from the West Coast Wilderness Cycleway. Hire a bike or bring your own to traverse wetlands and native forests. Cycle to Ross; it’s a quaint gold rush town 33km (20mi) away. Book a shuttle in advance if you can’t face the journey back to Hokitika.

The best rooms at owners Sonja and Philip’s cosy aparthotel have jacuzzis and views of the Southern Alps. By day, you can hire mountain bikes and kayaks to explore the coast. After dark, join astronomy buff Philip on a stargazing tour or drive a few minutes north to the Glow Worm Dell to see a leafy canyon twinkle like the sky above.

Like the idea of camping, but prefer carpet underfoot and a solid roof overhead? This family-friendly holiday park has a selection of basic cabins and apartments, plus a huge playground with a giant “jumping pillow”. Furthermore, the airport is just next door and the town is only a 20-minute walk away. What’s not to like?

You’ll be welcomed to your smart studio by lovely host Karen; she can help you plan your west coast adventures or a trip to Lake Brunner, which is a fine spot for swimming, stand-up paddle-boarding, fishing and hiking. Back in Hokitika, walk south along the black sand beach until you get to town – you can’t beat the whitebait pizza at Fat Pipi Pizzas for dinner – or keep going until you reach Sunset Point to watch the sky turn orange, pink and purple over the Tasman Sea.

This cluster of chalets and apartments north of Hokitika overlook crashing waves – the best have broad verandas and spa baths. Animal lovers will enjoy getting to know the resident alpacas, goats and pigs. Want to explore the wider region? The Punakaiki Pancake Rocks are an hour’s drive away; these heavily eroded limestone formations are best viewed at high tide when the blowholes are at their most impressive.