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Vacation rentals in New Zealand

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Top-rated vacation rentals in New Zealand

Guests agree: these stays are highly rated for location, cleanliness, and more.

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Top guest favorite
A panoramic view captures the rolling green hills meeting the serene coastline at dusk. The soft colors of sunset illuminate the landscape, with ocean waves gently lapping at the shore and a secluded dwelling nestled among the native bushland.
Guesthouse in Little Akaloa
5 out of 5 average rating, 114 reviews

Secluded modern rural retreat with coastal views

'Big Hill Luxury Retreat' - a bespoke luxury rural escape nestled amongst native New Zealand bushland, stunning Banks Peninsula farmland and dramatic coastline. With views across the Pacific Ocean and a private walking track to your own secluded beach. The elevation and isolation of Big Hill provides a unique contrast of total solitude and unparallel panoramic views - rural New Zealand at its best. 90 mins to Christchurch and 35 mins to Akaroa, close enough to explore - a world away to escape.

Guest favorite
A spacious dining area features a large wooden table surrounded by modern black chairs. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer unobstructed views of the ocean and shoreline, flooding the room with natural light. The serene seascape creates a calming backdrop for meals.
Home in Pukehina
4.95 out of 5 average rating, 153 reviews

Pukehina Penthouse: Exclusive luxurious beachfront

You just feel rejuvenated here. Stunning at Pukehina Beach, this property offers sunshine, sand and swimming on your doorstep with views to take your breath away. Luxurious entertaining spaces plus spa pool on the deck overlooking the beach to welcome spectacular sunrises, or a rural outlook to take in the sunsets. 3 min drive to the local Surf Club with a safe swimming beach, patrolled during summer so great for families. Laid out for indoor outdoor living, making the most of the all day sun.

Top guest favorite
The cabin is prominently positioned on a hillside, featuring large windows that reflect warm interior lighting against a dusky sky. The surrounding landscape consists of low vegetation and distant mountains capped with snow, enhancing the remote feel of the setting.
Cabin in Hopkins Valley
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 237 reviews

The Temple Cabin (Steeple Peak) Wilderness Comfort

Outdoor Adventure Awaits! The Temple Cabins is located at The Temple, at the head of Lake Ohau right at the beginning of the Hopkins Valley. A remote area well known in the outdoors community. Situated on a classic New Zealand high country station, the cabin gives it's guests access to one of the truly remote areas of the Southern Alps. Enjoy skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and much much more, all in comfortable cabin designed to maximise the sweeping views of the remote setting

Top guest favorite
A modern dining and living area features a large table set for dining, surrounded by comfortable leather seating. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the lake and mountains, while a telescope and indoor plants add to the inviting ambiance.
Home in Queenstown
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 127 reviews

Luxurious • SPA, SAUNA & Cold Plunge Pool

This newly built, top-end home with radiant in-floor heating will wrap around you and make you feel warm, relaxed, and ready for everything Queenstown has to offer. Lay back and enjoy the sweeping views of the Remarkables mountain range from the balcony in the spa, living room, the master bedroom, or relax on the outdoor furniture. The saltwater spa accommodates 5 and is always ready for a soak. The property is sparkling clean and comes with 5-star quality linen, and jaw-dropping views.

Top guest favorite
The exterior of the retreat features a spacious deck with two wooden chairs positioned to enjoy sunset views. The building is designed with large glass windows, and its modern architecture blends with the rocky landscape, offering a serene connection to nature.
Villa in Nelson
5 out of 5 average rating, 104 reviews

Peak View Retreat

Welcome to Peak View. Located between Nelson and Blenheim in the beautiful South Island, this is the ultimate luxury accommodation in New Zealand. Unwind and experience peace like never before while you’re immersed in this spectacular environment. Enjoy crackling fireside cosy evenings, star gazing from the woodfired hot tub and working up a sweat in the sauna. Extraordinary vistas expertly captured by the architectural design, will make your stay truly unforgettable.

Top guest favorite
A modern cottage is showcased with a covered patio, surrounded by lush greenery. Large windows allow natural light to flow into the space, while a gravel path leads to the entrance. The peaceful setting invites relaxation with views of the expansive outdoor landscape.
Guesthouse in Coromandel
4.97 out of 5 average rating, 118 reviews

Luxury Cabin in Coromandel. Stunning sea views.

Private peaceful cottage with amazing views over Manaia harbor and islands. Fully self-contained w/own laundry. 20 mins to Coromandel Township. Great base for the many Coromandel adventures. Plenty of land to roam around on. Organic gardens, Fruit trees. 40 acres. Luxury off-the-grid living. Luxury bed linens. Next door to Mana Retreat Centre (15 min walk). 2 hrs drive from Auckland. Kick back and relax in this calm, stylish, Coromandel cabin. Perfect getaway.

Top guest favorite
A spacious open-plan living area features a modern suspended fireplace, providing warmth and a focal point. Natural wood accents cover the walls, and a large rug complements the wooden flooring. Soft seating areas and a dining table are visible, accompanied by gentle lighting that creates a cozy ambiance.
Guesthouse in Raglan
5 out of 5 average rating, 138 reviews

Nikau studio Whale bay Raglan - Forest Retreat

Relax at a unique and tranquil getaway, cosy, romantic and immersed in nature. An open plan studio nestled next to a gentle stream on the native forested foothills of Whale bay, Raglan. An easy 6 min walk to the surf at Whale bay, Indicators or Outside Indicators a few mins drive to Manu bay or Ngarunui beach. Warm and cosy with a beautiful open fire, modern insulation & large double glazed sliding doors. The heat pump heats the studio within 15mins.

Top guest favorite
Two wooden chairs are positioned on a wooden deck, facing a stunning coastal sunset. The horizon displays vibrant colors as the sun descends, with gentle waves visible in the distance. A lantern sits on a barrel between the chairs, providing a cozy ambiance.
Home in Purakauiti
5 out of 5 average rating, 302 reviews

Tahakopa Bay Retreat, Catlins, South Otago

Takahopa Bay Retreat is in the heart of the Catlins and offers sweeping panoramic coastal and established native Forest views. The Retreat was established by the Clark family who live on, and farm the surrounding land. The Clark's have been farming the 685 hectare coastal property in the Catlins for the last 25 years. Cameron and Michelle would love to share their secluded retreat with you to enjoy the privacy and peacefulness it provides.

Guest favorite
Cabin in Franz Josef / Waiau
4.96 out of 5 average rating, 271 reviews

Luxury Wilderness Cabin on Private Lake

Luxury off-grid cabin in absolute wilderness nestled on the edge of a small lake fed by a pristine mountain stream a 3-minute drive from Franz Josef Glacier village. Sensational views of snow-capped mountains, the lake, glacier, Fritz Falls & rainforest. Super King bed, sunsets, outdoor stone bath, cedar barrel sauna with panoramic window & nature's swimming pool on your doorstep. Experience luxury amidst nature.

Top guest favorite
A cedar hot tub is situated on a wooden deck, with two glasses of wine placed nearby. In the background, rolling hills and the Tutaekuri River can be seen, framed by verdant trees under a clear sky.
Cabin in Sherenden
5 out of 5 average rating, 250 reviews

The Pheasant’s Nest - Rural Escape

The Pheasant’s Nest is situated in the picturesque rural Hawke’s Bay. The cabin boasts views of the Tutaekuri River and the Kaweka Ranges. Sit back and soak in the cedar hot tub and enjoy these amazing views and starlit skies. Enjoy ultimate comfort in a modern space. Perfect for a couples retreat, honeymoon, baby-moon or just a chance to push reset.

Top guest favorite
The cedar-clad studio chalet is surrounded by native vegetation, set against a backdrop of mountains and a clear blue sky. A spacious wooden deck extends from the chalet, providing views of Lake Wanaka below. A gravel path leads up to the entrance.
Chalet in Wānaka
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 639 reviews

Black Peak Chalet~cosy, private, spectacular views

Only five minutes drive from central Wanaka, Black Peak Chalet is a bespoke private and cosy retreat. The exquisite wooden open plan studio chalet nestles in native forest high above Lake Wanaka. Views of the lake and surrounding mountains are breathtaking. The perfect place to rest and relax amidst 1.8 hectares of native forest and gardens.

Top guest favorite
A dining table is positioned by large windows, offering a view of the crashing waves outside. The table is set with a placemat, a small vase with foliage, and a selection of fresh fruit, capturing the natural ambiance of the coastal environment.
Cottage in Punakaiki
4.96 out of 5 average rating, 703 reviews

Woodpecker Bay Bach ~ Life on the edge.

Woodpecker Bay Bach is a rustic, cosy, New Zealand bach. If you want to escape the rat race... this is the place for you! Woodpecker Bay Bach is often fully booked - if your dates are not available - be sure to see my other oceanfront properties... Waihaha Bach, Te Tutu Bach, Little Blue, Bach 51 and Waituhi at Whitehorse Bay.

Popular amenities for New Zealand vacation rentals

Your guide to New Zealand

All About New Zealand

For a small country in the South Pacific, New Zealand — Aotearoa, or the land of the long white cloud, in te reo Māori — packs a punch with the sheer diversity of its landscapes and the distinctiveness of its natural treasures. In the stories of the tangata whenua (the people of the land), the South Island was the boat of Maui, who caught the great fish of the North Island using his magical fish hook. His brothers were jealous of his achievement and hacked at the fish, creating the mountains, rivers, and coastline.

The landscape here is hugely diverse, from the soaring, glaciated mountains of the Southern Alps and the central North Island volcanoes to the golden sands of Abel Tasman National Park and the Coromandel Peninsula. The same can be said for the flora: Subtropical ferns and palms pepper the North Island, while you can walk in the shadow of ancient beech forests on the South Island.

New Zealand’s major cities are just as appealing as its scenery. The water is never far from sight in Auckland, which stretches across an isthmus peppered with volcanoes. You can spend a day ducking in and out of hip boutiques along Ponsonby Road, followed by cocktails and dinner amid the reclaimed warehouses of Britomart, and then take the ferry into Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana the next morning to wander among the vineyards on Waiheke Island. On the south end of the North Island, Wellington isn’t just the nation’s capital but its cultural capital as well, home to myriad art galleries, museums, and the national symphony and ballet, not to mention its proximity to the island’s wine country. On the South Island, Christchurch charms with its English architecture and carefully tended gardens and parks, while mountainous Queenstown is the jumping-off point for outdoor activities.


The best time to stay in a vacation rental in New Zealand

Covering approximately a thousand miles from north to south, New Zealand experiences weather ranging from subtropical patterns in the far north to drier conditions in the southern Otago region. It can rain at any time of the year all over the country, but the summer months of November to March are generally drier and warmer, while it is colder and wetter in the winter months of June, July, and August. If you’re looking for a New Zealand rental, bear in mind that school summer holidays take place in January.

New Zealand’s national day is Waitangi Day on February 6. Thousands gather at the tiny settlement of Waitangi, north of Auckland, to commemorate Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi), the nation’s founding document. As well as the formal ceremonies at Te Whare Rūnanga (the Carved Meeting House), you can watch as a fleet of ornately carved waka (canoes) paddles across Te Ti Bay. The Pasifika Festival celebrates multicultural New Zealand in the Auckland region each March at Western Springs Park. Events throughout the park showcase traditional dances, songs, and culture from across the Pacific region.


Top things to do in New Zealand

Queenstown

Tāhuna (Queenstown), nestled in the mountains of the South Island, is often dubbed New Zealand’s adventure capital for the plethora of outdoor activities on offer: from jet boating on Lake Wakatipu to horseback riding in Glenorchy and winter skiing in the Remarkables (Kawarau) Range. You can catch the Skyline gondola up to the famous viewpoint and grab a bite to eat, then loop back to town or hike along the Moonlight Track up past Ben Lomond and all the way around to the Shotover River. For a more sedate day, take a paddle steamer across the lake or go wine tasting in the Gibbston Valley.

Rotorua

As well as geothermal wonders, world-class mountain biking, and stunning lakeside scenery, Rotorua is one of the best places in New Zealand for visitors to encounter Māori arts and culture. Since the 19th century, members of the Te Arawa tribe have set up Māori villages where you can help paddle an ornately carved waka across the lake, watch performances of traditional dance and song, and enjoy the tender food from a hāngī, or pit oven.

Fiordland

The breathtaking beauty of Fiordland National Park prompted UNESCO to make the remote southwest corner of New Zealand — Te Wahipounamu — a World Heritage site. Head to the tiny lakeside town of Te Anau to access boats and shuttles into the park. If you’re driving, the road to Milford Sound is amazing — make sure to stop every time there’s a sign to make the most of each viewpoint or take a scenic mini-walk. The Milford Track is a four-day hike that many New Zealanders aspire to experience at least once in their lives. You can also take a boat cruise from Milford Sound to see the stunning reflected beauty of Rahotu (Mitre Peak) and hear the roar of Bowen Falls (Hineteawa).

Destinations to explore