The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Wanaka

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Wanaka

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand Lake Wanaka, New Zealand

If it's your first trip to Wanaka, New Zealand for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Wanaka. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Wanaka. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Wanaka for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Wanaka beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Wanaka for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Distinction Wanaka Serviced Apartments Formerly Alpine Resort Wanaka

4-star Resort with prices starting at $171 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Located at 150-154 Anderson Road, Distinction Wanaka Serviced Apartments Formerly Alpine Resort Wanaka has great rooms from $171 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, skiing, a fitness center, outdoor tennis, and hiking. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 2 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love mountain views, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, and laundry services at this relaxing hotel. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Edgewater Wanaka

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $131 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Wanaka
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Edgewater Wanaka which has nice rooms starting at $131. Offering skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Sargood Drive. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers mountain views, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, golf, and a hot tub which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3 km from the city center. We always love being able to prepare simple meals in a hotel room, and the kitchenette here was teriffic.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Oakridge Resort Lake Wanaka

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $103 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

We found Oakridge Resort Lake Wanaka to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $103. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Corner Cardrona Valley and Studholme Roads. You'll also find a bar, parking, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 2 km from the center of town. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Wanaka Kiwi Holiday Park & Motels

Motel with prices starting at $124 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Wanaka
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $124, Wanaka Kiwi Holiday Park & Motels, at Studholme Road 263 provides skiing, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and child care. Its terrific guest rating is 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers laundry services, a hot tub, a spa, free parking, and laundry facilities. It's located just 3.3 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Wanaka Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $99 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

Wanaka Hotel has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10, and offers skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and rooms with kitchenettes. The great rooms here start at $99 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 71 Ardmore Street. Furthermore, it also offers laundry services, golf, free parking, a pool table, and laundry facilities, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.2 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Bella Vista Motel Lake Wanaka

Motel with prices starting at $98 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Wanaka
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Bella Vista Motel Lake Wanaka is 8.60 out of 10. This place has skiing, hiking, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $98, and it's located at 2 Dunmore Street. We also love the golf, free parking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and family rooms which are great for visitors. And since it's just 1.2 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Kitchen
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Fairway Motel & Apartments

Motel with prices starting at $126 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Fairway Motel & Apartments because it has great rooms that start at $126. It has an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, hiking, and mountain views, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Corner MacPherson Street and State Highway 84. Only 0.8 km from the city center, travelers will especially love rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, golf, a hot tub, and free parking at this convenient hotel. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Asure Brookvale Motel

Motel with prices starting at $95 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

Asure Brookvale Motel offers skiing, room service, hiking, mountain views, and rooms with kitchenettes which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $95 (before taxes). It's located at 35 Brownston St and has earned a guest rating of 8.40/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers child care, laundry services, golf, free parking, and horse riding which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.1 km from the city center. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Peak Sport Chalet

Ryokan with prices starting at $84 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Wanaka
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 36 Hunter Crescent, Peak Sport Chalet has great rooms from $84 (before taxes). It offers skiing, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services. It has a terrific 9.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find golf, free parking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and family rooms which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 2.9 km from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Kitchen
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Alpine Motel Wanaka

Motel with prices starting at $100 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Alpine Motel Wanaka which has nice rooms starting at $100. Offering room service, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and child care, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 7 Ardmore Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, golf, free parking, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental. It's located just 0.9 km from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Queenstown, Cromwell, and Arrowtown.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Wanaka, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Wanaka, Best Luxury Hotels in Wanaka, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Wanaka, Best Hotels for One Week in Wanaka, Best Hotels for One Night in Wanaka, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Wanaka, or Best Hotels for Skiing in Wanaka.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Wanaka?

Wanaka Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$120

After analyzing 17 first time trip hotels in Wanaka, New Zealand, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $120. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Wanaka.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $131
  • 4-star hotels: $124
  • 3-star hotels: $113


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