Luxury and Boutique Hotels in Auckland: Relax and Be Pampered

Wondering where to stay in Auckland? If you are like us and enjoy 5-star opulence, we have hand-picked our favourite boutique and luxury hotels in Auckland, three in CBD, and one rural.

Whether you are a local, like us, or a visitor, we believe your accommodation makes a difference in your whole attitude towards New Zealand’s largest city. Waking up after a refreshing night’s sleep, pampered and ready to head out, makes everything seem easy.

We live about an hour’s drive outside Auckland city and create plenty of opportunities to spend the night in the city. We have tried many options, but four clearly rise to the top of our list. (However, we also included three more with outstanding reputations that we haven’t yet visited.)

We think a bit of luxury is worth the extra money. If you are the same, we encourage you to enjoy any of these luxury or boutique hotels in Auckland.

Where to stay in Auckland

Our favourite luxury hotels in Auckland (Cordis, Hilton, DeBrett, and Quail Lodge)

Click the expand / collapse icon in the upper left corner of the map for the details, and scroll south to find Quail Lodge.

See why these are our four favourite boutique hotels in Auckland

Cordis Auckland

We loved Cordis even before they built the new Pinnacle Tower. Adding impressive city views, it’s even better.

This 5-star luxury hotel focuses on making our stay comfortable, decadent, and easy. We most recently stayed in an executive room on the 16th floor of Cordis’ new Pinnacle Tower.

Walking in, the floor-to-ceiling windows captured my attention; the only possible distraction was the elaborate welcome basket on the table. Once I was able to peel my eyes from what seemed like almost 180º views from the bridge to Devonport, I enjoyed the simplistic elegance of the modern decor.

While our view was impressive during the day, it was nothing short of spectacular at night. We were lucky on the night we visited, and both the Sky Tower and the Harbour Bridge came alive with colour. (Note that this doesn’t happen every night).

More on Cordis

Our relaxing room was only a small part of our Cordis adventure. With access to the clubrooms on the 14th floor, we were able to view Mt Eden while enjoying our afternoon tea, our canapes, and even breakfast the next morning. All was delicious and perfectly catered to my dietary restrictions.

With all that, we still found a way to enjoy dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants. Then, before bed, we opted for a nightcap in Cordis’ Our Land is Alive Bar.

Our biggest decision in the morning: lounge around and enjoy the luxury, start the day with a swim in the outdoor rooftop pool, or head to breakfast in the clubroom (all included in our room’s package).

We opted for a swim, followed by a herbal steam room treatment that alternates with an ice bath This is optional but really enjoyable, and I highly recommend it.

Valet parking is available at Cordis Auckland for an additional charge, or self-park in the car park right next door. Similarly, if you don’t choose clubroom access, there are options for breakfast (at Eight Restaurant) and to book ahead for an amazing high tea in the Chandelier Lounge.

Cordis is part of the Langham group, our favourite hotel chain worldwide. Regardless of where we have travelled, Auckland included, service is impeccable. Aside from Auckland, our two favourites are Langham Melbourne in Australia and Langham Hong Kong.

Hilton Auckland

Situated on the picturesque Princes Wharf, our stay at Hilton Auckland was an ideal blend of luxury, impressive views, and location.

Our recent stay in the ‘Relaxation Suite’ was magical. The aptly named suite’s floor-to-ceiling windows in both the bedroom and lounge frame the Waitematā Harbour. Or, I could walk out on our balcony and breathe in the ocean air as I watched the maritime activity during the day or the sparkling city lights at night.

Our suite was designed with modern amenities and special touches like contemporary décor, a beautifully tiled bathroom, premium toiletries, plush robes, two TVs, a desk, plenty of power points, and charging stations.

Following the view, the suite’s highlight is its large, comfortable bed facing the harbour, perfect for lazy mornings spent watching ferries come and go. I liked the view so much, I kept the curtains open all night.

The location provides direct access to many waterfront dining options, although one of our favourites is FISH inside the hotel. If we want less, there is Bellini Bar.

A short walk away is shopping, leisure activities, and one of my favourite museums in Auckland. The New Zealand Maritime Museum offers insights into the country’s rich seafaring history and its relationship with the sea. 

Whether you’re visiting for leisure, business, or before or after an NZ cruise, the Hilton Auckland delivers an experience that beautifully balances comfort, style, and a prime waterfront location.

All of the harbour view rooms offer breathtaking vistas, but we recommend checking the cruise schedule beforehand, as ships at Princes Wharf, while transient, block these views while they are in port. For guaranteed unobstructed views, consider opting for one of the bow suites.

Valet parking is available for an extra cost.

Hotel DeBrett

This fun and funky boutique hotel in Auckland is our other favourite place to stay in the city.

Comfortable luxury, I would describe the decor as art deco meets retro with attention to every detail.

We stayed in a loft suite with a sweeping spiral staircase leading up to a surprisingly large bedroom whose most notable feature is the incredibly comfortable bed. Select a pillow from their pillow menu, and you will be pretty well guaranteed a great night’s sleep.

With super plush bathrobes, a huge bathtub, an even bigger shower, and a toilet on each level, our loft was super comfortable.

Be sure to allocate some time for an afternoon cocktail or mocktail in the lively art deco Housebar, and if you time it right, grab your flapper or Gatsby-era gear and book in for one of the over-the-top themed Roaring 20s High Teas.

Then it’s dinner in DeBrett’s Kitchen featuring classic New Zealand fare done to perfection.

Or head out to explore the city. Hotel DeBrett is centrally located and easily walkable to many key attractions, and an easy opportunity to enjoy the city nightlife.

Note that if you bring a car, parking must be reserved in advance and is a couple of blocks away.

Escape the city to Quail Lodge in Drury

Sometimes we just need to escape the city, and for us, that means Quail Lodge in Drury.

Again, we love a bit of luxury and time to unwind and relax. We were delighted to be introduced to this 5-star self-contained luxury option that is only a 40-minute drive from Auckland CBD but feels like a world away.

The unit is private, with attention to every detail. It has a lounge, a deck, a kitchen, a bathroom, and two bedrooms.

To be honest, as people who enjoy being pampered, we only set foot in the unit’s modern kitchen to see what it offered, and while it was pretty much everything we could want, we only made our early first cup of morning coffee.

We opted to include dinner with the lovely host (who is a fabulous cook), and our breakfast was included. In fact, we liked the place so much that we wrote our full review of Quail Lodge here.

More great luxury hotels in Auckland

We haven’t tried them all yet, and we love the four above so much that we tend to stay at one of them. However, based on their reputation and reviews, these three should be included in a list of Auckland luxury hotels.

• Park Hyatt Auckland
  Five-star luxury located practically right on the water and surrounded by some of the city’s best restaurants, many of the rooms offer impressive views. With an outdoor pool, a fitness centre, a restaurant, and a garden terrace, it has everything needed for a relaxing stay. Reserve your room at the Park Hyatt here.
• The Hotel Britomart
  The winner of New Zealand’s best luxury hotel award in 2022, this 5-star hotel is located in the popular Britomart neighbourhood (home to Café Hanoi, one of my favourite restaurants). Setting them apart in the eco-friendly environment, they offer free bicycles to guests. Reserve your room at The Hotel Britomart here.
• SkyCity Grand Hotel
  This classic luxury hotel is part of the SkyCity complex, and it is located across the street from Sky Tower and the major casino. It sits alongside several top-rated restaurants, and the top-rated spa in Oceania is located in the hotel. Reserve your room at the SkyCity Grand Hotel here.

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Disclaimer: We are frequently provided with complimentary entrances, tours, or sample items to aid in the writing of Albom Adventures. However, the opinions expressed here are strictly our own.