Top Boutique Hotels in Nelson (2026)

Appleby House & Rabbit Island Huts offer two different accommodations types and is located between Richmond and Mapua on the road to the Abel Tasman National Park. Located on 25 acres it offers views of Waimea Estuary, Mt Arthur ranges and farmland. Mapua and Richmond are both 8 minutes' drive away. The property is located 984 feet from the Nelson Great Taste Trail. All room types are separate and private; however guests have access to shared areas such as a kitchen, BBQ, laundry and outdoor entertainment areas. In the morning you can enjoy complimentary locally baked breads accompanied by Appleby House homemade condiments and Rabbit Island Coffee plunger coffee and specialty teas.

- "Everything, the atmosphere, location and scenery." - "One of the best places we have stayed in New Zealand" - "Very quiet and peaceful location with only 6 huts made for a relaxing environment. It was the perfect escape from the busy towns at the end of the day, while being only about 20 minutes away from Nelson. The huts are such a cool concept, beats a hotel room any day of the week!" - "Peaceful, relaxing and well equipped. I especially liked the outdoor bath, sadly we didn’t have time to use the sauna but this is a available for guests to use!"

Set within Abel Tasman National Park and accessible only by water taxi or helicopter, Awaroa Lodge offers modern accommodation surrounded by native gardens and beach. There is a restaurant, café and a bar on site. Guests can explore the coastal walking tracks or go kayaking and fishing nearby. Awaroa Lodge is located at the northern end of Abel Tasman National Park, just moments from well-known Abel Tasman Coastal Track. It is a 1.5 hour journey by boat from Marahau and Kaiteriteri. All accommodation has a small fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. Each has a seating area. Some offer a patio or deck with outdoor seating. Wi-Fi access is available throughout the property. There are several walking tracks and activities that the tour desk can arrange. A walk to the Awaroa Wetlands is a popular choice. Awaroa Restaurant and Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days per week. Cuisine includes produce from its own organic garden, local seafood and New Zealand beef and lamb dishes.

- "Location Location!!" - "Unique, relaxing, beautiful. A perfect spot for sure." - "Excellent location, very helpful friendly staff, exceptional food, beautiful surroundings and hiking opportunities." - "Location, staff were helpful and the coffee in the morning was lovely." - "Beautiful lodge within the Abel Tasman National Park. There are no roads here, so you need to arrange for a water taxi or hike a long distance. We stayed in a lovely room set among the trees. The room was clean and comfortable. The rooms are close to the main lodge for meals and there is a nice lounge area there as well. We enjoyed dinner and breakfast there, and the food was very good. All of the staff we interacted with were warm & helpful. We walked the Coastal Track in the afternoon, which has nice views of the coastline and ends at the beach. Reservations are hard to get, so book early! All of this is a little pricey, but in our opinion, completely worth being in the midst of such an amazing venue."

Located in the heart of Pohara Beach at Golden Bay, Ratanui Lodge was fully refurbished in winter 2021, it offers rooms with free Wi-Fi and free continental breakfast in a beautiful natural setting. It features a saltwater swimming pool, a restaurant and a lounge bar. Facilities at Ratanui Lodge Golden Bay include a beauty treatment room and a tour desk that can assist with booking Golden Bay kayaking trips, eco-tours to Farewell Spit Nature Reserve, horse-trekking at Wharariki Beach, or cruises into the Abel Tasman National Park. All rooms include a Smart TV and an outdoor seating area. Rooms are furnished in a contemporary style and include tea/coffee making facilities and and an private bathroom. A continental breakfast is served each morning. Ratanui Lodge is only 1 minute’s walk from the beach at Pohara. Takaka town center is a 10-minute drive and Abel Tasman National Park is a 30-minute drive away.

- "Lovely place I’m pleased I stayed here." - "Fabulous little place! Extremely clean. Rooms had lovely bathrobe and gorgeous products which you could also purchase. Food was amazing! For me the food was not hot enough. I did send dinner back to be reheated - but it still wasn’t hot. The next day at breakfast - it was the same. There is a 46km drive around the mountain to get to the Lodge - whilst very windy, the views were fabulous." - "Friendly and helpful staff. Food was excellent. Restaurant and outside eating areas. Beautiful gardens. Plentiful parking. Accessible for Abel Tasman NP."

The Marlborough Boutique Hotel is located in the heart of the famous Marlborough wine region and is nestled within 16 acres of secluded park lands. It is located a 10-minute drive from the town of Blenheim and our location provides the opportunity for guests to explore New Zealand's gourmet province. The property features a seasonal outdoor heated pool. The Marlborough features contemporary rooms with air-conditioning and private private bathrooms. The rooms are elegantly designed to ensure your every comfort is met and feature a flat-screen TV, radio, kettle, refrigerator and a seating area in most rooms. There is a 24-hour reception and concierge for guests convenience and a professional housekeeping team to provide daily room and evening turn down service. There is a bar on-site and a restaurant on site where guests can dine on fresh local cuisine from the ala carte menu. The property has large games area garden along with walking trails throughout the property. Marlborough Airport is 5 mi away and Picton Ferry Terminal is 20mins drive from The Marlborough.

Carnmore Chateau Marlborough offers luxury self-contained suites with free Wi-Fi. Guests can cool off in the outdoor swimming pool or relax by the pool with a drink from the bar. All rooms have a 42-inch flat-screen TV. A fully equipped fitness center are provided. The concierge can book tours of the Marlborough Wine Region. Quench Café & Wine Bar is open for breakfast and dinner each day, and offers outdoor dining. Cooked and continental breakfast is available each morning. An onsite day spa is available at the property. The Carnmore Chateau Marlborough is also the winner of the prestigious HM Australasian Hotel of the Year awards 2018 & 2019, Winner of New Zealand’s Best Regional Hotel. Picton Ferry Terminal is a 30-minute drive from Carnmore Chateau Marlborough Blenheim. Free on-site parking is available according to availability on the day. Off-street parking is also available.

- "Lovely upgrade.friendly house staff" - "Very comfy bed, clea, spacious" - "Everything was exceptional" - "Everything." - "We did not have breakfast. Well situated and easy to find." - "Very comfortable bed and chairs to relax in. Also a very good restaurant for dinner and breakfast." - "Very clean and organised" - "Special ambiance, quiet, interesting room lay-out, comfortable and friendly" - "Beautiful up class accommodation in Blenheim. Room was super clean, cosy and well equipped. Great value for money, we loved our stay and would definitely return again."

Conveniently accessible by water taxi from Picton, Lochmara Lodge - 20mins by boat from Picton offers exclusive accommodations surrounded by native bush and the beach. Guests can relax in a hammock overlooking Lochmara Bay. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi. The property has access to a private beach and guests enjoy free use of kayaks and paddle boards. A massage service is available and nighttime trips to a glowworm cave can be arranged. The on-site café and restaurant is open every day and offers light snacks and meals based on seasonal Marlborough produce from the land and sea. Room service is also available. Guests choose between a room, studio or chalet. Some have access to a shared courtyard, while others open onto a private balcony with sea views. Guests at Lochmara Lodge - 20mins by boat from Picton receive free access to the on-site Wildlife Recovery and Arts Center. The property is 15 minutes’ boat ride from Picton and the property can arrange transport for an additional charge.

- "The staff worked their socks off!! As when we arrived from walking the Queen Charlotte track it was a hot busy day for them all. People arrived on boats having hot chips and beers (soft drinks as well) out the front. When we ordered food we were advised of the wait times which was great so we had beer and wine and enjoyed the views. The place was buzzing when we stayed 2 days after Xmas and perfect weather. The staff and owners are great, give them credit when its due as they worked dam hard and looked after everyone. As private owners its a hard gig but they nailed it. Fun place and if you are in sounds drop in and relax."

14th Lane Urban Hotel is located in Blenheim. This 5-star hotel offers a concierge service, luggage storage space and free WiFi. The property provides airport transportation, while a bicycle rental service is also available. All guest rooms at the hotel come with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a safety deposit box and a private bathroom with a shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer. All rooms come with a coffee machine, while selected rooms here will provide you with a kitchen with a fridge, a dishwasher and an oven. At 14th Lane Urban Hotel the rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. The nearest airport is Marlborough Airport, 4.3 miles from the accommodation.

- "This is a wonderful small hotel. The manager Craig could not have been nicer. We had wonderful conversations with him and learned a lot about the area. The room was spacious, very clean and nicely appointed. It was right in town so it was very easy to walk to everything. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay." - "owners were personally involved and organised for us to park our fancy old car on their driveway so it wasn’t out in the public carpark overnight healthy pot plants and coffee nice touches. we didn’t think of breakfast there but it looked lovely"