Hotels in Auckland

Hotels in Auckland: prices, timing and areas

When to book a stay in Auckland for less

Auckland is in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons run opposite to Europe. The cheapest is the end of the local winter, in August and September, when rates drop by about a fifth against the rest of the year. The priciest is February, in the height of the New Zealand summer, when a room can run up to half as much again as in autumn. The day of the week matters. The cheapest night is Monday, as traffic eases, while you pay the most midweek and towards the weekend. Auckland rewards booking well ahead; you catch the best prices about three months out.

What a stay costs by property type

Auckland has a wide range of prices, from a hostel bed by Queen Street to five stars with a harbour view. The cheapest sleep is in hostels and three-star places; you pay the most for a family room and upper-tier properties. Below are indicative nightly rates for two people.

Indicative rates for a double room. In Auckland the gap between a summer February and a quiet September, and between Monday and Wednesday, can be marked, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.

Where a stay is cheaper and where it costs more

Most people look for a room in the centre, around the Viaduct Harbour and Queen Street, from where you can walk to the Sky Tower, the waterfront and most restaurants. That is where prices run highest. Ponsonby, with its cafés and boutiques, is trendy and a little dearer, while it is quieter and cheaper in districts further from the centre, such as Mount Roskill or Mount Eden, well linked by bus. A separate hub is the airport area, handy for a first or last night. As transport is efficient, a longer ride usually lowers the bill more than it complicates sightseeing.

Which stay in Auckland suits whom

• First time in Auckland. The centre by the Viaduct Harbour and Queen Street is the easiest base. From here the Sky Tower, the waterfront and the ferry terminal are all on foot, without a bus.
• For families. Places with family rooms a little further from the centre, near parks and the marina. Children enjoy a ferry to Devonport or Waiheke Island and the Sky Tower viewing deck.
• For couples. Boutique hotels in the centre and in Ponsonby, such as The Hotel Britomart or Hotel DeBrett, with cafés and restaurants round the corner. Everything is close in the evening.
• With breakfast. Many places, such as Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre, include breakfast, which helps you set off early for a ferry or a trail.
• With a view. Hotels by the harbour and the towers in the centre, such as Cordis or Grand Millennium, give a view of the port and the Sky Tower. Handy for a short, striking stay.
• Near the airport. Hotels by the airport, such as Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport or Heartland Hotel, suit an early flight. The SkyBus reaches the centre from here.

Example hotels in Auckland with prices

From a hostel bed to five stars in the centre, a few Auckland names with a from price. Just a starting point, as rates can climb noticeably in February and at weekends.

From prices for a double room. In Auckland the same hotel can differ noticeably between February and September, so check your exact dates in the search.

When Auckland costs more

The dearest is February, in the height of the New Zealand summer, when the weather suits beaches, cruises and open-air events and hotels fill up. It is dear through the whole summer, from December to February, and around the southern-hemisphere holidays. The cheapest and quietest is the end of the local winter, in August and September. The nicest time to visit, with mild weather and fewer crowds, is the shoulder seasons, spring from September to November and autumn from March to May.