Slow days, starry nights, and lazy mornings, that’s the kind of energy you can expect from these standout stays across the South Island. If you’re looking for a getaway that’s as memorable as it is relaxing, these are the places you won’t want to miss.
Make the accommodation the highlight of your escape. Whether you’re perched high in the treetops, nestled deep in the mountains, or soaking in a hot tub overlooking a lake, these stays are designed to leave a lasting impression. It’s not just where you sleep, it’s how you feel when you’re there. Truly unwind as you disconnect from the everyday and settle into one of the South Island’s most unforgettable stays.
1. Valley Views Glamping
Wake to golden light and sweeping views across the Waitaki Valley from your private luxury dome. Valley Views Glamping offers a soulful escape where comfort meets raw natural beauty, set on a tranquil seven-hectare forest. Each dome is thoughtfully positioned for privacy, with stunning valley and mountain views. Soon, the experience expands with New Zealand’s first 10-metre dome for families and groups, complete with outdoor forest baths. With starry skies, birdsong, and every detail carefully considered, this is glamping you’ll want to return to—again and again.
2. Hidden Lodge
Hidden Lodge offers a tranquil escape just five minutes from Queenstown’s vibrant centre. Surrounded by greenery and set against breathtaking views of Lake Whakatipu and the mountains, this boutique stay delivers peace, comfort, and character. After a day of adventure, unwind in your spacious suite, enjoy a sauna, or soak in the outdoor wood-fired hot tub under the stars. The birdsong, leafy surrounds, and warm Kiwi hospitality make it feel worlds away. Hidden Lodge blends natural beauty with thoughtful touches, ticking every box for a cosy, rejuvenating stay in Queenstown.
3. Fallow Ridge Retreat
Just 50 minutes from Dunedin, Fallow Ridge Retreat delivers an unforgettable escape in the heart of East Otago’s rugged hill country. The retreat features a living roof of earth and tussock, helping it blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings. Inside, you’ll find a luxurious, design-led interior with warm textures, thoughtful details, and panoramic windows framing the dramatic landscape. It’s peaceful, private, and deeply grounding—perfect for slowing down and reconnecting. Surrounded by silence and wide-open skies, this is a retreat that lingers with you long after you’ve returned home.
4. Kinross Vineyard Cottages
Tucked in the Gibbston wine region, Kinross Vineyard Cottages are a boutique stay where great wine, stargazing, and scenery collide. In-house guests enjoy complimentary wine tastings, an inviting way to connect with the region, and access to the outdoor hot tub for golden-hour soaks or starlit dips. Hire an e-bike onsite and explore the famed trail to Arrowtown, then wind down with a meal from the Kinross kitchen. For those arriving late, chef-made gourmet frozen meals are on offer too. With the Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky above at night and stunning sunrise colours to wake to, Kinross Cottages makes your Queenstown escape feel truly special.
5. Karaka Cottage at The Apple Pickers’ Cottages
Set at the end of a peaceful peninsula on the Waimea Inlet, Karaka Cottage is one of three heritage cottages lovingly restored by owners and conservationists Elspeth and Kim. With sweeping views across the tidal inlet to distant mountains, you’ll wake to birdsong and fall asleep beneath star-filled skies. Stroll the walking tracks through five acres of regenerating coastal forest, soak in the outdoor bath, or simply sit and watch wading birds glide across the water. This beautifully preserved 1950s cottage offers rustic charm, serenity, and a deep connection to nature. A truly soul-restoring retreat in the Nelson/Tasman region.
6. Glam Camping Queenstown
Perched high above Moke Lake, just 20 minutes from Queenstown, Glam Camping Queenstown feels worlds away. Surrounded by gigantic mountains and lake views, the setting is jaw-dropping, and the drive in sets the tone for something truly special. Stay in a luxury glamping dome with no reception or Wi-Fi, offering a true digital detox and total seclusion. This is your own private slice of wilderness. Hike the 1.5-hour loop track around Moke Lake, saddle up for a horse trek, or simply soak up the stillness. One night isn’t enough, this remarkable escape begs for at least two.
7. 2 Orchard Stay
Discover the meaning of peace at 2 Orchard Stay, a beautifully rustic retreat just 40 minutes from Christchurch. Set on a working fruit orchard, this escape offers heavenly outdoor spaces designed for unwinding. Think sprawling lawns, alfresco dining, and a BBQ ready for golden-hour feasts. When the day winds down, retreat to the outdoor bath and soak under open skies, serenaded by birdsong and the soft hum of bees. It’s the kind of place that grounds you in the present – simple, soulful, and deeply relaxing. Orchard charm and serenity at its finest.
8. Nest Tree Houses
This South Island stay takes unique to new heights. Suspended high in the canopy of the Hakataramea Valley, Nest Tree Houses invite you to sleep amongst the treetops in style. Cross a swing bridge to reach your architecturally designed hideaway, where floor-to-ceiling windows reveal staggering views of the mountains and valley below. Soak it all in from your private outdoor cedar bathtub, or follow another swing bridge to the forest sauna. There’s a hint of childhood wonder in the air, like stepping into a fairytale. Nature, luxury, and magic collide in this dreamlike escape that you’ll never want to leave.
9. No.8 Queenstown
Refined, calming, and effortlessly elegant, No.8 Queenstown is minimalist luxury at its finest. Designed to frame the sweeping views of Lake Whakatipu, The Remarkables, and Cecil Peak, the apartment’s floor-to-ceiling windows blur the line between indoors and out. After dark, Queenstown’s glow sparkles below while stars shine above, best enjoyed from the deep outdoor bath, the star of the show. Inside timber and soft textures create a grounding atmosphere. A stunning kitchen and thoughtful touches throughout make it as functional as it is beautiful. Your cosy, private corner of Queenstown awaits.
10. Willowbrook Retreat
Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with nature at Willowbrook Retreat, a secluded hideaway nestled in the heart of Central Otago. This converted shipping container cabin blends rustic charm with thoughtful design, offering sweeping mountain views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Soak in the outdoor bath under a blanket of stars, toast marshmallows by the firepit, and fall asleep to the sound of the soothing stream running alongside the cabin. Say hello to Highland cows Duncan and Dougal, or wander up to the duck pond for a quiet picnic beneath the willow trees. It’s peaceful, personal, and full of soul.
11. Te Aka Treehouse
Tucked within your own private rainforest, Te Aka Treehouse is where wild beauty meets thoughtful design. Elevated in the canopy and crafted to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, these treehouses deliver both comfort and awe – every detail built with intention, from architectural lines that frame the forest to interiors designed for relaxation and connection. Wander forest trails to uncover relics of the region’s gold-mining past, soak in a natural spring-fed plunge pool, or warm up in the outdoor sauna. The flourishing gardens and glasshouse offer seasonal harvests for guests, bringing the flavour of the land directly to the table. Whether stargazing from the viewing platform along a magical boardwalk or stepping into hidden glowworm dells, Te Aka Treehouse is more than just a stay, it’s an experience that captures the essence of the West Coast: raw, restorative, and unforgettable.
12. Glenstrae Ridge, Kaikōura
Perched high above the Kaikōura coastline, Glenstrae Ridge offers a special kind of magic. Sweeping views of mountains and sea take your breath away as you settle into this hilltop retreat. Moments that linger include watching the sun dip below the horizon from the outdoor hot tub, preparing a meal while gazing out panoramic kitchen windows, and doing nothing at all; just sitting fireside and soaking it all in. The views are remarkable, but it’s the deep connection the owners have to the land that makes this place truly memorable. For those who want to explore further, guided quad bike or 4WD tours with your hosts reveal native bush, a working farm, and rolling hill country, all with the ocean on the horizon.
Looking for more unique stays across New Zealand? Check out our list of 12 of the Best Unique Stays in the North Island here.
This article was created in paid partnership with Te Aka Treehouse, Hidden Lodge, No.8 Queenstown, Willowbrook Retreat, 2 Orchard Stay, Apple Pickers Cottages, Glam Camping Queenstown, Kinross, Fallow Ridge Retreat, Glenstrae Ridge, Nest Tree Houses & Valley Views Glamping.
Cover Image: Fallow Ridge Retreat
