Where to Stay in Auckland for First-Time Visitors

Chances are that if you’re visiting New Zealand from overseas, you’ll travel through Auckland. 

As New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland is sprawling and hilly. If you’re visiting for the first time, where you stay in the city can make a big difference in how much you enjoy your trip.

I lived in Auckland when I first moved to New Zealand over a decade ago, and still visit the city often. I’ve stayed in many Auckland hotels over the years, and I’m here to help you figure out where to stay if it’s your first trip to the City of Sails.

Personally, I think the Auckland city centre is the best place to stay for first-time visitors due to its walkability, including easy access to attractions and the ferry terminal. 

That said, the city centre is quite large, and I don’t recommend every part of it. 

Basically, the closer you can stay to the waterfront, the better! The waterfront is the city’s best feature, if you ask me, and I think it’s the nicest place for visitors to see.

Staying close to the waterfront means you can easily walk along the beautiful Waitematā Harbour. It also lets you stay close to the ferry terminal, where you can hop on a ferry to get whisked away to nearby suburbs and islands.

In this guide, I’ll break down where to stay in Auckland’s city centre, and will share my favourite hotels within each of those areas (and where to eat nearby!).

A heads-up: this blog is reader-supported, and this post may contain affiliate links. If you make a booking through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping me continue to write, take photos, and share my favourite places in New Zealand!

Map of where to stay in Auckland

📍 Map legend:

🔴 Red: Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter
🟣 Purple: Britomart & nearby
🔵 Blue: Lower Auckland CBD

Where to stay in Auckland

Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter

For first-time visitors, the Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter would be my top area to stay in.

These waterfront precincts feel like an oasis near the hustle and bustle of the city. 

This is also a great choice for walkability. From any of the hotels here, you can easily stroll along the Viaduct Harbour, walk to the ferry terminal, and access the city centre on foot. 

Another favourite walk of mine is to follow the Viaduct Harbour through Wynyard Quarter to reach the Westhaven Marina, which has a beautiful walking path along the sea with lots of fancy yachts to admire.

There are some fantastic places to eat and drink in the Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter, too. 

The Pantry is a good spot for breakfast, and MIBO is a wonderful bakery with great croissants. 

For casual dining, I like Tuck Shop for a sandwich, Bowler or Goodlife for salads, and the Rolling Pin for dumplings. The Auckland Fish Market is also a fun place to visit if you’re a seafood lover.

Dr Rudi’s Rooftop Bar and Parasol & Swing are great for drinks with a view. And for a nice dinner, try Hello Beasty or Soul.

Here’s where to stay around the Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter.

1. M Social Auckland

• Price range: $$-$$$ (mid-range to high-end)

M Social is my absolute favourite hotel in all of Auckland, which is saying a lot!

This modern hotel feels luxurious but laid-back, and it has an incredible location overlooking Princes Wharf and the Waitematā Harbour. From the hotel, it’s less than a 5-minute walk to the ferry terminal.

The rooms here are compact but cosy. I highly recommend splashing out on a harbour view room—it’s worth it!

While there are lots of good places to eat close by, the onsite Beast and Butterflies restaurant is also a nice choice. Their buffet breakfast is great.

✨ Check prices & availability for M Social ➡️

2. Hilton Auckland

• Price range: $$$ (high-end)

Hilton Auckland is a nautical-style hotel perched right above the water on Princes Wharf.

The views over the harbour here are top-notch. Do check the cruise ship schedule, though, because when a cruise ship is in port, it could block the view from your room.

While the rooms are getting a tad bit dated, I still think this is a lovely place to stay. The location is excellent, and you’ll really feel like you’re in the City of Sails when staying in a hotel shaped like a ship!

✨ Check prices & availability for Hilton Auckland ➡️

3. Travelodge Hotel Auckland Wynyard Quarter

• Price range: $$ (mid-range)

Travelodge is a great place to stay in Wynyard Quarter without breaking the bank.

The rooms here are modern, minimalist, and compact. 

While perfectly comfortable, I do think this hotel is better suited for a short stay when you won’t be spending heaps of time in your room (for example, the room type I’ve stayed in doesn’t include a work desk).

✨ Check prices & availability for Travelodge Hotel Wynyard Quarter ➡️

4. Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

• Price range: $$$ (high-end)

Set right alongside the Viaduct Harbour, Sofitel Auckland is a chic, luxurious place to stay.

The elegant rooms here have private balconies, some of which overlook the harbour. And the bathrooms feel like your own private spa retreat, with rain showers and soaking tubs to relax in after a day of exploring Auckland.

If you don’t feel like venturing far for a meal, the onsite cafe and restaurant have nice food. 

There’s also a spa and fitness centre along with a beautiful indoor saltwater pool, a sauna, and a spa pool. 

✨ Check prices & availability for Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour ➡️

5. Park Hyatt Auckland

• Price range: $$$$ (very high-end)

Park Hyatt is a gorgeous luxury hotel in Wynyard Quarter, and it’s the perfect place to splash out on if you want a 5-star stay in Auckland.

Located right on the water’s edge, this hotel overlooks the Auckland waterfront and has a real wow factor.

The rooms have a glamorous boutique feel, and the amenities at the property are fantastic. The outdoor infinity pool is stunning, and there’s a nice fitness centre along with a sauna and steam room.

If you’re after a luxurious place to stay in Auckland and have the budget to stay here, I don’t think you’ll regret it! 

✨ Check prices & availability for Park Hyatt Auckland ➡️

6. QT Auckland

• Price range: $$$ (high end)

QT Auckland is a luxury boutique hotel in the Viaduct Harbour.

The rooms at this hotel have a colourful, artsy, design-focused aesthetic, and they’re anything but cookie cutter!

You’ll be just steps away from the waterfront, and within walking distance of many restaurants and bars. That said, the rooftop bar right at the hotel is also well worth visiting.

✨ Check prices & availability for QT Auckland ➡️

Britomart & nearby

Britomart is a small precinct close to the Waitematā Harbour, with a charming atmosphere and easy access to public transport options (including the ferry terminal).

At night, Britomart is lit up with fairy lights, and it feels so lovely. 

There are some excellent places to eat in Britomart, so you won’t have to wander far for a good meal. 

Daily Bread and Amano are both excellent for breakfast, coffee, and pastries. Cafe Hanoi is great for Vietnamese food. And for a special dinner, head to Amano or Kingi. For dessert, head to Giapo or Duck Island for an ice cream, or Miann for a hot chocolate or macaron.

There aren’t heaps of hotels in Britomart, but there are a handful of nice options both within Britomart and very close by.

Here are my top accommodation picks around Britomart!

7. The Hotel Britomart

• Price range: $$$ (high-end)

The Hotel Britomart is a special place to stay in Auckland. This luxury boutique hotel has a commitment to sustainability and a wonderful atmosphere you simply won’t find at a chain hotel.

While the rooms here are a little on the small side, they’re gorgeous. Timber-lined walls, built-in sofas, and thoughtful touches (like handmade ceramics) make for a unique, design-focused stay.

When you’re not enjoying your room or exploring the city, you can relax in “the Libraries,” peaceful spaces carved out for guests to lounge in.

✨ Check prices & availability for The Hotel Britomart ➡️

8. InterContinental Auckland

• Price range: $$$ (high-end)

The InterContinental Auckland is a beautiful waterfront property located just steps away from the ferry terminal.

Rooms here feel like little sanctuaries from the busyness of the city, with luxurious furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in sweeping views (if you can, book a harbour view room!).

This hotel is connected to Commercial Bay, a shopping and dining precinct with a number of good places to eat. Above the hotel sits Queens Rooftop Bar, a wonderful place to enjoy a drink with incredible views over the city and sea.

✨ Check prices & availability for the InterContinental Auckland ➡️

9. Mövenpick Hotel Auckland

• Price range: $$-$$$ (mid-range to high-end)

The Mövenpick Hotel is located just a 5-minute walk from Britomart, close to the waterfront and ferry terminal. 

They have a mix of city view and harbour view rooms here—if possible, I’d book a room with a harbour view (you simply can’t beat seeing the water from your room, if you ask me).

A treat when you stay here is the daily free chocolate hour, a real perk for anyone with a sweet tooth!

✨ Check prices & availability for the Movenpick Hotel ➡️

10. TRIBE Auckland

• Price range: $-$$ (budget to mid-range)

If you’re visiting Auckland on a budget, have a look at TRIBE. 

Located on Fort Street about a 5-minute walk from Britomart, this hotel is ideal for travellers looking for a bit of luxury without the high price tag.

Now, I do need to warn you that some of the rooms here do not have windows (check details when you book!). Personally, I’d opt for a room with a window unless you plan on spending hardly any time in your room.

✨ Check prices & availability for TRIBE Auckland ➡️

Lower Auckland CBD 

The Auckland CBD (Central Business District) is quite a large area, and for first-time visitors, I recommend staying in the lower part of the CBD.

If you look on a map, the area I recommend is roughly between Wellesley Street and Customs Street. While upper Queen Street has some hotels, too, I find it less walkable and less visitor-friendly overall than the lower part of the CBD.

The main draw for staying in the CBD is that you’ll be close to some of the city’s top attractions, including the Sky Tower and Auckland Art Gallery. 

There’s also some seriously amazing food in the CBD, so you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to eat!

For breakfast in the CBD, I recommend the Federal Delicatessen, Chuffed, or Bagel Love. 

There’s also a nearly endless amount of incredible Korean, Japanese, and Chinese food—some of my favourite spots are Pocha, the Don, and Sumthin Dumplin. Mezze Bar is great for tapas and sangria, and the Occidental has a nice pub atmosphere and delicious green-shell mussel pots.

Here are some hotels I recommend in the CBD.

11. Avani Metropolis

• Price range: $$ (mid-range)

Avani Metropolis is such a good place to stay in Auckland. 

What I love about this hotel (besides its fantastic location) is that the rooms are like mini apartments, complete with kitchenettes and your own laundry facilities. 

It feels like a little home away from home, which is sometimes just what I need when I’m travelling.

While I wouldn’t call the rooms particularly style-forward, they’re perfectly nice and functional. 

I definitely recommend booking a harbour view room if you can—the views over the city and sea are absolutely spectacular.

✨ Check prices & availability for Avani Metropolis ➡️

12. voco Auckland City Centre

• Price range: $$-$$$ (mid-range to high-end)

voco Auckland City Centre is a high-rise, modern hotel in a fantastic central Auckland location.

I love the little touches in the rooms here that make it feel extra special, like the rain shower in the bathroom, comfy bed, and large windows to let in the epic views. 

There’s also an amazing rooftop bar here—Bar Albert—that I definitely recommend visiting when you stay here!

✨ Check prices & availability for voco Auckland City Centre ➡️

13. Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre

• Price range: $$ (mid-range)

If you’re after a city centre stay that’s good value, you might want to check out the Holiday Inn Express.

This hotel is located below voco Auckland City Centre (mentioned above), and it’s in a great location within walking distance to the waterfront and lots of great places to eat. 

The rooms are fairly basic but are clean, modern and comfortable. 

A bonus when you stay here is that breakfast is included in the room rate.

✨ Check prices & availability for the Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre ➡️

14. Adina CityLife

• Price range: $$ (mid-range)

Located on lower Queen Street, Adina CityLife is a good place to stay if you’re after apartment-style accommodation in the city centre.

While they have nice regular guest rooms here, I think the standout options are their 1-3 bedroom apartments, which have kitchenettes and laundry facilities in the units. 

The gym and pool here are also a bonus!

✨ Check prices & availability for Adina CityLife ➡️

15. Horizon by SkyCity

• Price range: $$-$$$ (mid-range to high-end)

Horizon by SkyCity is a modern, stylish hotel right in the heart of the city centre.

This hotel’s location is perfect for visiting some of Auckland’s top attractions, including the Sky Tower and Weta Unleashed (both of which are just steps away from the hotel!).

The rooms here are spacious and comfortable, with luxurious furnishings and a gorgeous bathroom.

From the hotel, it’s a quick walk to some of my favourite Auckland eateries, including Federal Delicatessen and Depot.

If you’re planning to visit Auckland without a car, you can book the SkyDrive shuttle to get from Auckland Airport to the city centre. The shuttle drop-off is close to this hotel (and the other SkyCity hotels), making it a breeze to get here.

✨ Check prices & availability for Horizon by SkyCity ➡️

Thanks for reading my guide to where to stay in Auckland!

I truly hope this has helped you plan your visit to Auckland.

As always, please leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback for me—I really love hearing from you!

More New Zealand trip inspiration for you

Planning to visit Auckland on a larger New Zealand trip? These itineraries might help you get started:

• One day in Auckland itinerary
• Auckland to Wellington road trip (7 days)
• Auckland to Queenstown road trip (14 days)
• Auckland to Christchurch road trip (21 days)