The 7 Best Sustainable Hotels in New Zealand

Surrounded by natural beauty in our corner of the world, we kiwis tend to be a pretty sustainable and eco-conscious lot! Increasingly over the past decade, sustainable travel has come to the forefront when booking our holidays, and nowadays there are hundreds of amazing holiday locations who are implementing eco-friendly and carbon neutral practices. To help you plan out your next getaway, we’ve picked out 7 of our favourites from up and down the nation - check them out below! 

Curious to learn more about sustainable travel before booking? Check out our 25 tips on how to travel sustainably. 

• The Hotel Britomart, Auckland
• Voco An IGH Hotel, Auckland
• Nightsky Cottage, Ruapehu
• Wairakei Resort, Taupō
• Lakestone Lodge, Aoraki
• The Landing, Bay of Islands
• Unyoked, All within driving distance of Auckland

Nestled down by the viaduct and in the beating heart of Tāmaki Makaurau is the hidden retreat known as The Hotel Britomart. Bringing 5 Green Star Design to the forefront, paired with ratings from NZ Green Building Council and Toitū Carbonreduce status, this retreat is an idyllic sanctuary in the hubbub of the city. 

From specialist skincare products in the rooms, through to dedicated and informed textiles, The Hotel Britomart is designed by artisanal specialists, such as Rachel Carter who brings her unique take on stoneware to the hotel, offering a rustic and inviting vibe. Likewise, by using Wisewool - across mattresses, alcove window seats and more - the Hotel Britomart is investing in longlife products that can be used again and again whilst maintaining its exceptional quality! 

If you’re looking for something extra, the food is also exquisite and kingi restaurant, led by Chef Tom Hishon, delivers meals that celebrate sustainably caught seafood, paired with environmentally crafted wines. On all sides, the Hotel Britomart delivers a nuanced level of excellence and luxury that is designed to be as friendly to the earth as it is to you. 

A more traditional style hotel with a twist, Voco has committed to sustainability in its design from the outset, and is proudly part of a movement to reduce impact on the environment. Not only does it adhere to Sustainable Tourism Business Award criteria and standards, but it has received the official New Zealand tourism Qualmark to signify this. The rooms themselves are designed to perfection - 100% recycled materials are used to create indulgent mattresses, bathrooms sport large format amenities (rather than travel sized) to reduce plastic waste by a whopping 80% and plastic bottles, and straws, have been phased out in favour of glass or biodegradable alternatives. 

None of this overshadows the comfort of the room however, and you’ll sleep extra soundly knowing that the bed you’re sleeping in equates to 150 plastic bottles recycled! Voco is situated in the heart of the CBD, and features the delicious Mozzarella & Co restaurant, as well as the breathtaking rooftop bar, aptly named Bar Albert. You’ll enjoy uninterrupted views of the Auckland City Skyline from the 38th floor, making it the highest hotel bar in New Zealand! It’s worth noting that the bar is 18+, however the intimate and comfortable environment is perfect for a romantic evening. 

Secluded within native bush, the Nightsky Cottage is a 100% private and premier oasis serquested in wild Ruapehu. The experience begins from the moment you leave your car and step into the beautiful kiwiana sanctuary, immersed in the kiwi calling and abundant birdsong. Cross over the boardwalk and feel like you’re entering another world as a babbling stream trickles underneath the bridge. This boardwalk and the path that connects you to the Cottage is designed to preserve the forest floor and keep it as natural as possible for the many native creatures that call it home. Once inside, sink into sustainable relaxation with the generously sized side-by-side baths overlooking the lush foliage outside, or unwind in the comfortable lounge in the evening to stargaze through the skylight while you’re kept warm by the log fire. 

This zero-waste experience was designed with the comfort of the guests in mind, whilst paying homage to the natural world outside. From the provision of renewable energy to the cottage, through to the locally (and sustainably) sourced products provided, your stay at the Nightsky Cottage will be as comfortable as it is environmentally friendly. The thing that really sets this apart is that as night approaches, you can undertake a short walk (just 50 metres) to watch the sun set behind the horizon over Ruapehu.

Plus, you’ll be surrounded by 100% New Zealand native bush that is cared for and supported to be regenerative and healthy. As it plays host to native wildlife, including the Kiwi, traps are laid to keep predators out of the bush, such as possums and mice. You don’t get much more kiwi than a holiday out in the kiwi bush! 

The Wairakei Resort is the complete package, with everything from pools and a spa, through to a striking 9-hole golf course. Given its proximity to Taupō and Rotorua, the pools are geothermally heated offering all the natural and wonderful benefits everytime you swim. The Wairakei Resort boasts a well appointed spa which can help iron out any knots or issues, and help you unwind after a round on the golf course or the rush of the Huka Falls jet! 

What sets Wairakei Resort apart is its commitment to the local community and to environmentally friendly practices. As one of the larger employers in the region and reinjects roughly $5m per year into the local economy. The resort sponsors and helps fundraise for many local initiatives and events, leading the way in its role as a local steward. Additionally, the resort operates its own sewage facility, returns all organic waste to the soil, has their own water treatment facility and is powered by renewable energy, amongst other factors.  

The resort has a commitment to the reduction of plastics and microplastics, working between the department heads to ensure that all ordering companies with this and helps keep the natural environment clean and pure. This is reflected across the resort, with sustainable packaging in every room, and extensive recycling of goods to ensure a minimal approach to waste. The Wairakei Resort delivers its guests all the relaxation and escapism of a luxury holiday, without damaging the natural world. 

Stunning vistas and crisp mountain air are but a few of the benefits of a stay at the Lakestone Lodge. Situated near Mt Cook, the Lakestone Lodge will see you waking up to some of the most beautiful sights in - well let’s be realistic - the entire world! The lodge boasts six well appointed rooms with lake and mountain views, ensuites, separate bathing facilities with striking views and much more. Enjoy uninhibited access to the 300km Alps2Ocean cycleway which takes you from the Southern Alps right through to the town of Oamaru. Undertake the Night Sky Experience tour where you can chill out with warm woolen blankets on reclining chairs and enjoy complimentary hot mulled wine, chocolate, tea, or coffee as you take part in a guided tour of the Milky Way and beyond. 

With low light all around, the night sky will be more evident than you’ve ever seen, and you’ll have uninterrupted views of thousands of stars each night. The Lodge itself is off-grid and self-sufficient for power (solar PV), water (rain and bore) and sewage treatment. Additionally, it has been designed in such a way that it blends in with the natural world all around, so as to not disrupt or perturb any wildlife. Plus, the gardens all around comprise over 1000 native plants which attracts native wildlife and helps with conservation efforts. 

Wanting to have private use of the Lakestone Lodge? This can be arranged! Chat to your Travel Expert about the options for organising booking the entire lodge for your group. 

When we say ‘luxurious getaway’, we really mean it when it comes to The Landing. Boasting just four exquisite retreats, these gorgeous holiday homes are soaked by the sun, totally private and surrounded by pure, uninterrupted New Zealand nature. A holiday here is one that is not only a totally luxurious experience, but one that is gentle on the natural world, and specifically designed in this way. From the daily meals you’re served, to the locally grown wines, through to the power and water, this is a retreat that is sustainable from start to finish. 

The Landing spreads out over 400 hectares, and has devoted over 10% of this to regenerating native forests. As such, the lush greenery soaks up more than three times as much carbon as the property produces, and is home to all manner of native New Zealand wildlife; including the reclusive Kiwi. This immense project, which has rendered The Landing net-zero carbon, means that The Landing is proudly Toitū certified and is committed to an ongoing tradition of protecting the natural world around them. 

As the kaitiaki (caretakers) of the immense land that they cover each residence on site has been crafted to be regenerative and sustainable for years to come; low energy LED lights, sun-saturation positioning, and local timber and stone, are just a few of the methods behind this sustainable retreat. 

When it comes to getting ‘off the grid’, it’s hard to find anything more remote than this. Unyoked has a philosophy that nature helps you feel better, it recentres you and it stimulates creativity. As such, these remote cabins are entirely off the grid and are custom-designed to be self-sufficient and sustainable. The properties are private and secure, offering you an ultimate sanctuary in the untamed and beautiful New Zealand wilderness.

Each location is hand selected to ensure that it capitalises on the natural world all around. With each cabin, it has been placed in an area designed to be unobtrusive to the natural world, and to help its inhabitants heal, relax and unwind. With most cabins you’ll be provided, a gas stove, fire pit, yoga mats, books and card games, coffee apparatus, woodfired pizza oven, a huge queen bed, and self check-in - plus much, much more. 

Utilising a blend of solar power, rain water and compost, Unyoked helps to minimise the carbon footprint while making sure the next generation can love the wilds of Aotearoa as much as we can. This is an experience unlike any other and we recommend you book this well in advance to ensure you can lock in your dates. 

Travelling sustainably gets easier year by year, and it is becoming increasingly achievable for even the most intrepid traveller! This is but a short list of the many kiwi hotels and resorts that are making concerted efforts to be more sustainable with their holiday experiences. Booking an eco-friendly getaway is easy with us!