Finding the best hotels in Auckland comes down to matching the address to the trip, whether that means a harbour view in the city centre or a room a short walk from the international terminal. The hotels below cover five star city stays, apartment style suites with kitchen and laundry facilities, and an airport option for early flights, with spas, pools, meeting space and on-site dining between them. Cordis, Auckland and SO/ Auckland lead the list.
1Cordis, Auckland
Cordis, Auckland is a five star hotel at the top of Symonds Street, with 642 rooms and suites across the original building and the newer Pinnacle Tower. Part of Langham Hospitality Group, it pairs Chuan Spa, a swimming pool and a health club with 20 event venues, including one of Auckland’s largest pillarless ballrooms. It suits business travellers, conference delegates and guests who want full hotel facilities a few minutes from the central city.
Services
- Standard, family, Club and Pinnacle Tower rooms and suites
- Club Lounge access for guests booking Club rooms
- Extended stay rooms for longer bookings
- Chuan Spa treatments, swimming pool and health club
- Conferences, gala dinners and wedding receptions across 20 event venues
Highlights
- Part of Langham Hospitality Group’s Cordis brand
- Signature Dream Beds in every room
- One of Auckland’s largest pillarless ballrooms
- Green Meetings by Cordis for lower impact events
- Dining across Eight Restaurant, Our Land and the Chandelier Lounge, including afternoon tea
Location & Contact
Name: Cordis, Auckland
Address: 83 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010
Phone: 09 379 5132
Website: cordishotels.com/en/auckland
2SO/ Auckland
SO/ Auckland occupies the former Reserve Bank of New Zealand building on Customs Street East, a few minutes’ walk from Britomart and the waterfront. Its 16 storeys hold rooms and suites with city or Waitematā Harbour views, four places to eat and drink, a spa, and an indoor pool and gym. The design leaning, from Moooi interiors to uniforms by New Zealand label WORLD, suits guests who want a hotel with a strong sense of place.
Services
- Bedrooms, suites and VIP suites with city or harbour outlooks
- Harbour Society restaurant on the 15th floor
- HI-SO rooftop bar, MIXO lobby bar and Javalab cafe
- SO/ Spa treatments, indoor pool and gym
- Meetings and events, including The Vault
Highlights
- Set in the former Reserve Bank of New Zealand building, once home to the country’s largest gold reserve
- Sixteen storeys of rooms with Waitematā Harbour or city views
- Interiors by Dutch firm Moooi and a lobby lamp installation by Marcel Wanders, one of three in the world
- SO/ Gallery public art space showing work by local artist Rachel Rush, open to the public on Thursdays and Fridays
Location & Contact
Name: SO/ Auckland
Address: 67 Customs Street East, Auckland CBD
Phone: 09 379 1860
Website: so-hotels.com/en/auckland
3The Grand by SkyCity
The Grand by SkyCity is a five star hotel on Federal Street, joined to the SkyCity complex and sitting beside the Sky Tower. Rooms run from 28 square metre king and twin rooms to the 112 square metre Grand Presidential Suite, with breakfast at The Terrace on level seven and treatments at East Day Spa. It suits guests who want restaurants, bars and the convention centre within a few minutes’ walk of their room.
Services
- Grand King, Twin and Deluxe rooms with city or harbour views
- Suites up to the 112 square metre Grand Presidential Suite
- Breakfast at The Terrace on level seven
- East Day Spa treatments and Grand Boardroom venue hire
Highlights
- Federal Street dining on the doorstep, including Metita by Michael Meredith, MASU by Nic Watt, Huami and Depot by Al Brown
- SkyBar and Orbit 360 Dining at the top of the Sky Tower
- Five minute SkyBridge walk to the New Zealand International Convention Centre
- Dining, Sky Tower admission and spa treatments can be charged to the room and settled at check out
- Valet and self parking on site, with baggage storage after check out at no charge
Location & Contact
Name: The Grand by SkyCity
Address: 90 Federal Street, Auckland 1010
Phone: 09 363 6000
Website: thegrandbyskycity.skycityauckland.co.nz
4Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences
Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences sits in a century old courthouse crowned by the Metropolis tower, on Kitchener Street overlooking Albert Park. Every suite comes with a full kitchen and laundry, and guests share an indoor heated pool, a gym, a sauna and indoor and outdoor spas. It suits longer stays, families and anyone who would rather cook a few meals than eat out every night.
Services
- One and two bedroom suites with full kitchen and laundry facilities
- Indoor heated pool open from 6am to 11pm
- Fully equipped gym, sauna and indoor and outdoor spas
- Onsite undercover parking, booked in advance and paid at reception
- Extra beds available in most room types on request
Highlights
- Set in a century old courthouse below the Metropolis tower, looking over Albert Park
- Balconies on the One Bedroom rooms and the Two Bedroom Harbour Suite
- Children aged 12 and under stay free using existing bedding
- Walking distance to the Sky Tower, Aotea Square and Spark Arena
Location & Contact
Name: Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences
Address: 40 Kitchener Street, Auckland CBD 1010
Phone: 09 377 1000
Website: avanihotels.com/en/metropolis-auckland
5Novotel Auckland Airport
Novotel Auckland Airport is a 4.5 star hotel on Tom Pearce Drive, a short walk from both the international and domestic terminals. Rooms have full length soundproof windows, and THIRTEEN50 Kitchen & Bar serves buffet breakfast plus lunch and dinner to guests and local visitors. It suits early departures, late arrivals and layovers rather than a sightseeing base in the city centre.
Services
- Superior and Executive rooms, a suite and accessible rooms
- THIRTEEN50 Kitchen & Bar for buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Room service and a fitness centre
- Eight meeting rooms, the largest seating up to 315
Highlights
- A short walk from both the Auckland international and domestic terminals
- Full length soundproof windows to keep rooms quiet
- No hotel parking during the airport precinct works, so guests pre-book Auckland Airport parking and use the forecourt for drop-offs
Location & Contact
Name: Novotel Auckland Airport
Address: 35 Tom Pearce Drive, Auckland International Airport, Mangere, Auckland 2022
Phone: 09 257 7200
Website: all.accor.com/hotel/7485/index.en.shtml
Hotels in Auckland at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Cordis, Auckland | Auckland | Part of Langham Hospitality Group's Cordis brand |
| SO/ Auckland | Auckland CBD | Set in the former Reserve Bank of New Zealand building |
| The Grand by SkyCity | Auckland | Federal Street dining on the doorstep |
| Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences | Auckland CBD | Set in a century old courthouse below the Metropolis tower |
| Novotel Auckland Airport | Auckland International Airport | A short walk from both the Auckland international and domestic terminals |
How to Choose the Right Hotel in Auckland
- Decide between the city centre and the airport first, because the two answer completely different trips
- Check what sits outside the room rate, particularly breakfast and parking, which are usually charged separately
- Match the room type to the length of stay: a kitchen and laundry earn their keep over several nights, while a standard room is fine for one
- Weigh how close the hotel is to the reason you are visiting, whether that is the convention centre, Spark Arena or a Queen Street office
- Line check-in and check-out times up against your flights, and ask about baggage storage or a late departure if they do not match
Frequently Asked Questions About Auckland Hotels
How much does a hotel room cost in Auckland?
Published starting rates give a useful guide. The Grand by SkyCity lists its Grand King or Twin room from $299 a night and its Grand Deluxe Suite from $749, while Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences advertises mini break rates from $170. Rates move with the season and with demand, so a large event or a holiday weekend will sit well above the advertised starting point.
Which part of Auckland should I stay in?
Customs Street East and Britomart put you beside the ferry terminal, the train station and the waterfront, which is where SO/ Auckland sits. Federal Street, home to The Grand by SkyCity, is the dining and entertainment end of town next to the Sky Tower and the convention centre. Symonds Street and Kitchener Street sit slightly uphill from Queen Street and are handy for the universities, Albert Park and the art gallery, while Mangere is purely an airport base.
Do Auckland hotels charge for parking?
Usually, and the amounts differ. The Grand by SkyCity charges NZ$60 a night for valet or NZ$35 per exit for self parking, SO/ Auckland charges $65 a night for valet and has no self parking, and Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences has undercover parking that must be booked ahead and is paid at reception. Novotel Auckland Airport cannot offer parking during the airport precinct works and directs guests to pre-book an Auckland Airport car park.
What do New Zealand hotel star ratings actually mean?
Star grades in this country are independently assessed by Qualmark, the quality assurance organisation for New Zealand tourism, which rates accommodation against a set list of criteria. Separately, hotels describe themselves by star level in their own marketing, as Cordis, Auckland and The Grand by SkyCity do with five star and Novotel Auckland Airport does with 4.5 star. The two are not the same thing, so check which one you are reading.
Are there Auckland hotels with kitchen and laundry facilities?
Yes. Every room type at Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences comes with a full kitchen and full laundry, which is the practical choice for a week or more in the city. Cordis, Auckland also sets aside extended stay rooms for guests booking longer periods.
What time is check-in and check-out?
It varies by a couple of hours. The Grand by SkyCity guarantees check-in from 3pm with departure by 11am, Novotel Auckland Airport opens check-in at 2pm with an 11am departure, and Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences checks in from 2pm and out by 10am. A late departure can be requested at The Grand but is subject to availability on the day.
Which Auckland hotels suit families?
Novotel Auckland Airport lists itself as family friendly and has superior rooms with two double beds sleeping four. Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences lets children aged 12 and under stay free using existing bedding and allows an extra bed in most room types, and Cordis, Auckland has a dedicated family room category.
Can these hotels host conferences and events?
All of them take events of some size. Cordis, Auckland is the largest with 20 venues, including one of the biggest pillarless ballrooms in the city and a Green Meetings programme. Novotel Auckland Airport has eight meeting rooms with a 296 square metre main room seating up to 315, SO/ Auckland runs meetings and events including The Vault, and The Grand by SkyCity offers the Grand Boardroom.
How We Chose the Best Hotels in Auckland
Every business in this guide was found by searching for hotels in Auckland, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Auckland, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.