Hanmer Springs Settlers Motel

Hanmer Springs is where this motel keeps its footing, tucked off the main street in New Zealand's only alpine spa village. The rooms carry handcrafted wooden furniture built in a settler style, paired with heat pumps, double glazing and kitchenettes for self-catering stays. It is a compact property. Eight room types range from ground-floor studios to two-bedroom units, with a handful offering their own spa bath and a private outdoor patio. Bellbirds call from the forest nearby, and the thermal pools sit a five-minute walk away, close enough that guests borrow the motel's towels and carry them home wet or dry. Snow-capped peaks show from the first-floor windows on a clear day. Air conditioning and smart TVs run in every unit, and each kitchenette comes with a full-size plunger coffee pot, a toaster and a two-burner cooktop for anyone who would rather not go out. The site once held an early settlers' cottage, and the motel takes its name and its rustic, timber-heavy decor from that history. Parking sits directly in front of each room. Restaurants, a bakery and a coffee shop lie within the same short stroll, alongside the village's forest walks and mountain bike trails. Bike storage and free laundry are available on site, along with an outdoor barbecue area for evenings in.