Top 10 All-Inclusive Resorts in New Zealand

*Published June 23, 2026 · Updated June 23, 2026*

1. Huka Lodge 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Huka Lodge

Type: All-inclusive luxury lodge | Price: from ~NZ$1,950/room/night (dinner, breakfast, pre-dinner drinks included) | Location: Waikato River, near Taupō, North Island | Best for: the benchmark NZ all-inclusive experience

Huka Lodge sits on 17 acres of parkland along the emerald Waikato River, just above the thundering Huka Falls. A year-long, roughly NZ$25 million refurbishment completed under designer Virginia Fisher refreshed the historic lodge for 2025-2026, and it earned a place on Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List 2026. The tariff is genuinely all-inclusive of breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and canapés, and a five-course dinner served at the table of your choosing — riverside, in the wine cellar, or by the falls.

Service is the headline reason it tops nearly every NZ lodge ranking. The staff-to-guest ratio is high, dining is set each evening, and the riverside setting is among the most photographed in the country.

Pros:

• Genuinely all-inclusive dinner, breakfast, and pre-dinner drinks and canapés.
• Condé Nast Gold List 2026 and consistently ranked NZ's best lodge.
• Riverside setting above Huka Falls with 17 acres of gardens.
• Refurbished for 2025-2026 with modern interiors throughout.

Cons:

• Wine and helicopter excursions are charged separately.
• Among the most expensive lodges in the country.

Verdict: The most complete and most awarded all-inclusive luxury stay in New Zealand.

2. Otahuna Lodge 💎 BEST VALUE

Otahuna Lodge

Type: All-inclusive heritage lodge | Price: from ~NZ$1,150/room/night (dinner, breakfast, bar included) | Location: Tai Tapu, near Christchurch, South Island | Best for: best-value genuinely inclusive lodge

Otahuna is a restored 1895 Queen Anne homestead set on 30 acres near Christchurch, and a Relais & Châteaux member. Its tariff includes a multi-course set dinner built around produce from the lodge's own kitchen garden, full breakfast, and the bar — a genuinely inclusive board basis at an entry rate well below the cliff-top resorts.

With only seven suites, it feels like a private country house rather than a hotel. The kitchen-garden dining and heritage architecture give it a character the modern-build lodges cannot match, and the Christchurch-airport proximity makes it an easy first or last night.

Pros:

• All-inclusive dinner, breakfast, and bar at a lower entry rate.
• Relais & Châteaux heritage homestead from 1895.
• Kitchen-garden dining with produce grown on site.
• Close to Christchurch airport for easy arrivals.

Cons:

• Wine pairings are charged separately.
• Smaller and inland — no ocean or alpine drama.

Verdict: The best value way to experience a truly all-inclusive NZ lodge.

3. Rosewood Kauri Cliffs

Rosewood Kauri Cliffs

Type: All-inclusive luxury lodge | Price: from ~NZ$2,200/room/night (dinner, breakfast, pre-dinner drinks included) | Location: Matauri Bay, Bay of Islands, Northland | Best for: golf and Pacific cliff-top views

Kauri Cliffs spreads across 6,000 acres of rolling Northland farmland above Matauri Bay, with a celebrated clifftop golf course ranked among the world's best. Nearly every room frames the Pacific or the fairways, and the all-inclusive dining covers a pre-dinner spread and a multi-course dinner alongside breakfast.

Now part of Rosewood, the lodge pairs the classic NZ inclusive model with golf, three private beaches, and walking trails through the estate. It is the North Island's answer to a destination golf-and-ocean retreat.

Pros:

• All-inclusive dinner, breakfast, and pre-dinner drinks.
• World-ranked golf course on the cliffs.
• 6,000-acre estate with three private beaches.
• Rosewood-managed with consistent five-star service.

Cons:

• Golf and spa are charged separately.
• Remote Northland location requires a transfer or charter flight.

Verdict: The pick for golfers who want ocean cliffs and a true all-inclusive tariff.

4. The Farm at Cape Kidnappers

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers

Type: All-inclusive luxury lodge | Price: from ~NZ$2,000/room/night (dinner, breakfast, pre-dinner drinks included) | Location: Hawke's Bay, North Island | Best for: dramatic clifftop golf and a wildlife sanctuary

Cape Kidnappers perches on a sweep of cliffs above Hawke's Bay, inside Cape Sanctuary, one of New Zealand's largest privately funded wildlife restoration projects. Its golf course routinely lands on world top-100 lists, and the all-inclusive tariff covers pre-dinner drinks, dinner, and breakfast.

Like Kauri Cliffs (its sister property), it blends a working-farm setting with serious luxury. The cliff-edge holes and the chance to see kiwi and other native birds in the sanctuary make it one of the most dramatic stays in the country.

Pros:

• All-inclusive dinner, breakfast, and pre-dinner drinks.
• World-top-100 golf course on Hawke's Bay cliffs.
• Cape Sanctuary wildlife restoration on the doorstep.
• Working sheep-and-cattle station setting on the cliffs.

Cons:

• Golf and guided tours are extra.
• Exposed clifftop site can be windy.

Verdict: The most dramatic clifftop golf lodge in New Zealand, all-inclusive at the dinner-and-breakfast level.

5. Wharekauhau Country Estate

Wharekauhau Country Estate

Type: All-inclusive luxury lodge | Price: from ~NZ$1,800/room/night (dinner, breakfast, pre-dinner drinks included) | Location: Palliser Bay, Wairarapa, North Island | Best for: a working sheep station on a wild coast

Wharekauhau is a 3,000-acre working sheep station on the dramatic coastline of Palliser Bay, a short flight or drive from Wellington. Rates include breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and canapés, and a four-course dinner — the classic NZ inclusive structure, with wine the main add-on.

The appeal is the genuine farm setting: guests can join the daily farm activities, walk the coast, and dine on estate produce. It is understated and rural rather than glossy, which is exactly its draw for travellers who want the real working-station experience.

Pros:

• All-inclusive four-course dinner, breakfast, and pre-dinner drinks.
• 3,000-acre working sheep station with farm activities.
• Wild Palliser Bay coast for walks and riding.
• Easy reach of Wellington by road or short flight.

Cons:

• Wine is charged separately from the dinner tariff.
• Rural and remote — limited off-estate options.

Verdict: The pick for a genuine working-farm luxury stay near Wellington.

6. Helena Bay Lodge

Helena Bay Lodge

Type: All-inclusive luxury lodge | Price: from ~NZ$3,000/room/night (dining, drinks, activities largely included) | Location: coast north of Whangarei, Northland | Best for: Michelin-pedigree dining on a private coast

Helena Bay occupies a private slice of coastline north of Whangarei, with five sleek beachside villas on an 800-acre estate. Estate-to-plate dining is overseen by the team behind Italy's Michelin-starred Don Alfonso 1890, using produce from the lodge's own gardens, and the tariff is largely inclusive of dining, drinks, and many activities.

It is among the most expensive and most exclusive lodges in the country, with a focus on privacy, art, and food. For travellers who prize a secluded coast and serious cuisine, it is hard to beat.

Pros:

• Largely all-inclusive dining, drinks, and many activities.
• Don Alfonso 1890 Michelin pedigree in the kitchen.
• Private 800-acre coastal estate with beach access.
• Only five villas for genuine seclusion.

Cons:

• One of the highest nightly rates in the country.
• Remote Northland coast with a long transfer.

Verdict: The choice for Michelin-level dining and total privacy on a wild Northland coast.

7. Blanket Bay

Blanket Bay

Type: All-inclusive alpine lodge | Price: from ~NZ$1,900/room/night (dinner, breakfast, pre-dinner drinks included) | Location: Glenorchy, near Queenstown, South Island | Best for: an alpine all-inclusive near Queenstown

Blanket Bay sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu near Glenorchy, about 45 minutes from Queenstown, framed by the Humboldt and Richardson mountains. Nightly rates are quoted inclusive of GST and cover dinner, breakfast, and pre-dinner drinks — a true alpine all-inclusive at the doorstep of the Southern Alps.

The lodge is built from local stone and timber in a grand mountain-lodge style. Its spa, lake setting, and access to Glenorchy's hiking and horse-trekking make it a favourite for travellers who want Queenstown adventure with a quieter, more remote base.

Pros:

• All-inclusive dinner, breakfast, and pre-dinner drinks.
• Lake Wakatipu and alpine setting near Glenorchy.
• Stone-and-timber mountain lodge architecture.
• Spa and hiking access into Mount Aspiring country.

Cons:

• Wine and helicopter trips are extra.
• 45 minutes from Queenstown dining and nightlife.

Verdict: The best all-inclusive alpine lodge within reach of Queenstown.

8. Rosewood Matakauri

Rosewood Matakauri

Type: All-inclusive luxury lodge | Price: from ~NZ$2,000/room/night per person basis (dinner, breakfast, pre-dinner drinks included) | Location: Lake Wakatipu, near Queenstown, South Island | Best for: an all-inclusive lodge minutes from Queenstown

Matakauri overlooks Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables, just seven minutes from central Queenstown. The Rosewood-managed lodge has twelve suites — four in the main lodge and eight outlying cottages — each with a private terrace, open fire, and lake-and-mountain views. Rates are quoted per person and include pre-dinner drinks, dinner, and breakfast.

It pairs the inclusive lodge model with Queenstown proximity, so guests can take on the town's adventure activities by day and return to a private alpine retreat. A holiday-season surcharge applies over the Christmas period.

Pros:

• All-inclusive dinner, breakfast, and pre-dinner drinks.
• Seven minutes from Queenstown yet fully private.
• Lake Wakatipu and Remarkables views from every suite.
• Rosewood-managed with open fires and private terraces.

Cons:

• Per-person pricing plus a holiday-season surcharge.
• Wine and excursions are charged separately.

Verdict: The pick for an all-inclusive lodge within minutes of Queenstown's action.

9. Eichardt's Private Hotel

Eichardt's Private Hotel

Type: Boutique hotel (room plus breakfast) | Price: from ~NZ$1,300/room/night (full breakfast included) | Location: lakefront central Queenstown, South Island | Best for: a lakefront boutique base in town

Eichardt's is a 14-room lakefront boutique hotel in the heart of Queenstown, with a complimentary full breakfast served daily, free WiFi, and valet parking. This is honestly not a full all-inclusive lodge — it is room-plus-breakfast — but it is the most refined in-town address on Lake Wakatipu, with its own bar and bistro for lunch and dinner à la carte.

For travellers who want to walk out the door into Queenstown's restaurants, bars, and lake activities rather than retreat to a remote lodge, Eichardt's is the standout. Suites face the lake and the steamer wharf.

Pros:

• Lakefront central location in Queenstown.
• Full breakfast included with the room.
• 14-room boutique scale with personal service.
• On-site bar and bistro plus free valet parking.

Cons:

• Room-plus-breakfast only — dinner and drinks are à la carte.
• In-town setting lacks the seclusion of a lodge.

Verdict: The best lakefront boutique base in Queenstown, though breakfast-only rather than all-inclusive.

10. The Rees Hotel

The Rees Hotel

Type: Luxury hotel and residences (room plus optional dining) | Price: from ~NZ$500/room/night (meals optional) | Location: lakeside Queenstown, South Island | Best for: the best-value luxury option near Queenstown

The Rees offers hotel rooms, apartments, and private lakeside residences on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, a short courtesy-shuttle ride from central Queenstown, with its own private beach. This is a room-plus-optional-dining property rather than an all-inclusive lodge, but its True South Dining Room is one of Queenstown's best restaurants, and the entry rates are far gentler than the lodge tariffs.

For travellers who want a luxury lake base with self-catering apartment options and the flexibility to dine in or out, The Rees is the practical value pick. The lake views and the residences make it popular with families and longer stays.

Pros:

• Lowest entry pricing among the luxury options here.
• Lakeside setting with a private beach and shuttle to town.
• Apartments and residences for families and longer stays.
• Acclaimed True South Dining Room on site.

Cons:

• Not all-inclusive — meals are optional and à la carte.
• Shuttle ride from the town centre.

Verdict: The best-value luxury lakeside base near Queenstown, with dining kept flexible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does New Zealand have true all-inclusive resorts? Yes, but not in the Caribbean wristband sense. New Zealand's luxury lodges — Huka, Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers, Wharekauhau, Otahuna, Blanket Bay, Matakauri, and Helena Bay — include breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and canapés, and a multi-course dinner in the nightly tariff. Wine and helicopter excursions are usually extra.

Which is the best luxury lodge in New Zealand overall? Huka Lodge near Taupō — the country's most decorated all-inclusive lodge, a Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2026 property, freshly refurbished, with genuinely inclusive dining.

What is the best-value all-inclusive lodge in New Zealand? Otahuna Lodge near Christchurch offers a genuinely inclusive tariff (dinner, breakfast, bar) at a lower entry rate than the cliff-top resorts. For lake-base flexibility, The Rees in Queenstown is the cheapest luxury option overall.

Which lodges are best for golf? Rosewood Kauri Cliffs in Northland and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay both have world-ranked clifftop golf courses included as part of the estate experience (green fees charged separately).

Are the all-inclusive lodges near Queenstown? Rosewood Matakauri (seven minutes from town) and Blanket Bay (near Glenorchy, about 45 minutes away) are the genuinely all-inclusive lodges closest to Queenstown. In town, Eichardt's and The Rees are room-plus-breakfast options.

When is the best time to visit New Zealand lodges? The December to March southern summer brings the warmest, driest weather and long daylight. Autumn (March-May) is quieter with strong colour, while winter suits ski-focused Queenstown stays.

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Bottom Line

New Zealand is one of the rare places where all-inclusive luxury is the genuine article: a circuit of small lodges where dinner, breakfast, and pre-dinner drinks come standard. Huka Lodge is our Best Overall for its awards, refurbishment, and riverside setting, while Otahuna Lodge is our Best Value for a real inclusive tariff at a gentler rate. Golfers should weigh Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers; farm-and-coast travellers Wharekauhau; food-and-privacy seekers Helena Bay; and Queenstown-bound guests Blanket Bay or Matakauri. If you want an in-town base instead, Eichardt's and The Rees deliver lakefront luxury on a room-plus-breakfast basis. Confirm exactly what each tariff includes — wine, helicopters, and golf are typically extra even at the most inclusive lodges.

Sources

• Huka Lodge — Official Site
• New Zealand Luxury Escapes — Top 10 NZ All-Inclusive Resorts and Luxury Lodges
• Wharekauhau Country Estate — Official Site
• Helena Bay Lodge — Official Site
• Blanket Bay — Rates
• Rosewood Kauri Cliffs — Official Site
• Walk Into Luxury — Best Luxury Lodges Australia and New Zealand 2026

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