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The best beach hotels in South Island

Check out our pick of great beach hotels in South Island

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Superb: 9+ Very good: 8+ Good: 7+ Pleasant: 6+

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Beachfront
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Kaikoura Waterfront Apartments provides beachfront accommodation in Kaikoura. The property features sea and mountain views, and is 200 metres from Kaikoura Beach. There is a sun terrace and guests can make use of free WiFi, free private parking and an electric vehicle charging station. Clean, high ceilings, very comfortable beds, fantastic view of the sea. Very friendly and helpful staff. Balcony big enough to sit on and eat. We were helped carry our luggage up stairs.

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9.2
Superb
1,664 reviews
Price from
US$102
per night

Set in Kaikoura, 1 km from Kaikoura Beach, Mondello Kaikoura provides air-conditioned rooms and a garden. This 4-star apartment offers luggage storage space and room service. The apartment also offers free WiFi, free private parking and facilities for disabled guests. Very clean. The hotel owner is also very nice:) The room can see the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

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9
Superb
1,417 reviews
Price from
US$112
per night

Located in Hokitika, 1.5 km from Hokitika Beach, Hokitika's Kiwi Holiday Park and Motels has a garden, parking on-site and rooms with free WiFi access. This 4-star holiday park offers a shared kitchen and luggage storage space. The holiday park features family rooms as well as facilities for disabled guests. Everything fine. No disturbance by the close airport.

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9.3
Superb
1,072 reviews
Price from
US$57
per night

Featuring quiet street views, Amberlea Cottages features accommodation with balcony, around 1.1 km from Hokitika Beach. There is a private entrance at the holiday home for the convenience of those who stay. The holiday home offers rooms with air conditioning, free private parking and free WiFi. Very central. Great cottage. Clean and well kept. Everything that one needs, for a short stay, is provided. The owner was very helpful in suggesting places to dine and things to do

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9.4
Superb
1,228 reviews

Offering studio rooms for 1 or 2 people and family rooms for up to 6 people, this property includes rooms with cooking facilities and ensuite bathrooms. Free parking is available on-site.

Located in a quiet, rural setting your motel room is a couple of minutes walk through the sand dunes to the majestic Haast Beach, a wonderful place to watch the sun setting over the Tasman Ocean. Perfect for what we required on the night

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9
Superb
1,186 reviews
Price from
US$129
per night

Picton Waterfront Apartments offer spacious, modern, self-contained accommodation in the heart of Picton. Each apartment boasts a private balcony with stunning views of Picton Harbour, Marina and the famous Marlborough Sounds. This is truly a stunning place! The location could not be better. We were laying in bed at night watching the ferries come and go. Early in the morning we just hopped down the elevator to go get a coffee from one of the many coffee shops downstairs. After a lovely dinner (also just downstairs at one of the restaurants) we took a stroll down the marina. Everything is within easy walking distance. The view from the unit is stunning and exactly as pictured. The unit is super clean, modern and comfortable. The couches in the lounge were very comfortable and could fit our family of four easily and comfortably. The two fully equipped bathrooms were so convenient having two teenagers with us. Directions and check in instructions were clear and easy to follow. We will definitely book this unit again when in Picton. This was definitely one of the best, if not THE best place we've ever stayed in. Everything you could possibly need, were provided -from a box of tissues in the bathroom, to a hair straightener! Thank you for making our visit to beautiful Picton just perfect.

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9.2
Superb
1,400 reviews
Price from
US$159
per night

Centrally located in Akaroa, this motel offers rooms with either a balcony or a patio. It also includes 500MB of free WiFi per day, per room.

Akaroa Criterion Motel is situated opposite Children’s Bay. It is a 16-minute walk from Mt Vernon Akaroa. Extremely comfortable with added extras. An excellent, healthy breakfast. Very helpful, friendly staff

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9.3
Superb
1,054 reviews
Price from
US$117
per night

Wake up to stunning views of the Kaikoura Mountains and the sea at Panorama Motel. Our units are all ensuite and smoke-free. Every unit opens out onto either a patio area with outdoor seating or onto its own private balcony, to allow our guests to enjoy the panoramic views. Comfortable, clean, beautiful views

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9
Superb
1,443 reviews
Price from
US$111
per night

Offering full access to park facilities, Timaru TOP 10 Holiday Park provides bright accommodation with balcony, toaster and electric kettle. Highfield Golf Course is a 3-minute drive away.

Timaru TOP 10 Park is a 6-minute drive from Caroline Bay Park and Aorangi Park. Centennial Park is an 11-minute drive away. Well appointed kitchen, nice size, great porch, very quiet. Location pretty close to town, could walk. Grocery store close by. Most restaurants downtown. Washer and dryer worked well. We used the BBQ 3 nights, great!

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9
Superb
1,063 reviews
Price from
US$61
per night

Located opposite Pacific Ocean Beach, The Fairways Accommodation Kaikoura offers free WiFi. Some apartments offer mountain views and/or views of the golf course.. All accommodation features satellite TV and electric blankets. The apartment was gorgeous with all the facilities. The place is very quiet, easy to find. The staff was very nice and made sure that we had all we needed. Fabulous place (3 nights!)

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9.1
Superb
1,124 reviews
Price from
US$122
per night

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