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New Zealand vacation rentals

Book unique vacation rentals, houses, and more on Airbnb

Top-rated vacation rentals in New Zealand

Guests agree: these vacation rentals are highly rated for location, cleanliness, and more.

Guest favorite
Cabin in Twizel
Skylark Cabin – Private Luxury Escape with Hot Tub
Skylark Cabin is a private, luxury escape, nestled serenely within the awe-inspiring landscape of the Mackenzie Region. Surrounded by soaring mountain ranges and the rugged, ethereal beauty of an expansive valley, this isn’t just a comfortable place to stay, it’s an experience in itself. Witness the mesmerising clarity of a starry night sky. Connect with nature and escape from the pace of daily life. Skylark Cabin is 10km to Twizel, 50-min to Mt Cook, 4hrs to Christchurch, & 3hrs to Queenstown.
Feb 13 – 20
$418 per night
5.0 out of 5 average rating, 278 reviews
Guest favorite
Treehouse in Korito
The Treehouse: Off-grid Retreat
Shaded in a canopy of macrocarpa trees at the base of Mt Taranaki national park, The Treehouse is a grown-up childhood sanctuary. Built from recycled materials, a repurposed spiral staircase takes you up the multiple levels of The Treehouse to a secluded living space nestled between the trees. kick back in the canopy, swoop on the swings or shoot down the slide. This self-contained treehouse is powered by renewable energy and is only a short drive to New Plymouth, local beaches and the mountain.
Nov 13 – 20
$102 per night
4.97 out of 5 average rating, 257 reviews
Guest favorite
Cabin in Ben Ohau
High Country Cabin. Secluded getaway near Twizel.
High Country Cabin is a stylishly decorated cabin in the heart of the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand. Inspired by the Backcountry huts throughout the area, it provides a rustic country-style experience. Situated 15 minutes outside of Twizel in the heart of the Mackenzie, it has direct access to all of the natural amenities that the area is world famous for including snow sports, mountaineering, hiking & tramping, mountain-biking, hunting & fishing among many other activities.
Aug 20 – 27
$229 per night
4.96 out of 5 average rating, 735 reviews

Popular amenities for New Zealand vacation rentals

New Zealand house rentals

Guest favorite
Home in Te Anau
New Te Anau Holiday Home- Views, Spa & Space
Jul 27 – Aug 3
$345 per night
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 152 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Fairhall
The Nineteenth Vineyard Accommodation
Sep 21 – 28
$166 per night
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 185 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Dunedin, Karitane
An isolated retreat in a movie like setting.
Jun 25 – Jul 2
$162 per night
4.94 out of 5 average rating, 220 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Franz Josef Glacier
Gibb’s Guesthouse
Sep 24 – Oct 1
$184 per night
4.93 out of 5 average rating, 488 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Wanaka
Peaceful Private 2 Bedroom Lodge - stunning views
Sep 30 – Oct 7
$277 per night
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 142 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Kerikeri
Rustic Bush Retreat
Jan 22 – 29
$301 per night
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 126 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Taihape
Taihape off-grid Home with stunning views
Jul 6 – 13
$117 per night
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 132 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Ben Ohau
Antlers Rest- Twizel
May 31 – Jun 7
$202 per night
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 179 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Kaeo
Mahinepua Magic
Oct 5 – 12
$327 per night
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 158 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Kakanui
The Kakanui Cube
Nov 19 – 26
$206 per night
4.92 out of 5 average rating, 217 reviews
Superhost
Home in Lake Tekapo
The Lake House (Mary Macs)
Feb 16 – 23
$235 per night
4.82 out of 5 average rating, 356 reviews
Guest favorite
Home in Hamurana
Exit Lake Ridge view, Lux Villa 3bd2bth w/ HotTub
Jun 7 – 14
$418 per night
4.97 out of 5 average rating, 117 reviews

Other great vacation rentals in New Zealand

Guest favorite
Cabin in Ben Ohau
Cosy Alpine Escape in the High Country
Oct 27 – Nov 3
$287 per night
4.97 out of 5 average rating, 163 reviews
Guest favorite
Cabin in Pouto
Kaipara Lodge - Luxury waterfront
Oct 29 – Nov 5
$189 per night
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 102 reviews
Guest favorite
Cabin in Raglan
Akatea Hill - Peaceful, secluded, rural hideaway
Sep 8 – 15
$183 per night
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 165 reviews
Guest favorite
Farm stay in Okoroire
Teal Corner Cabin Reconnect with nature and relax
Jan 17 – 24
$128 per night
4.94 out of 5 average rating, 306 reviews
Guest favorite
Villa in Marahau
The Kite - Laid-Back luxury beside the Abel Tasman
Apr 1 – 8
$229 per night
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 184 reviews
Guest favorite
Treehouse in Raglan
Raglan Tree House in the Woods with Outdoor Bath
Oct 22 – 29
$157 per night
4.89 out of 5 average rating, 554 reviews
Guest favorite
Cabin in Dyerville
Tia Hut
Nov 14 – 21
$121 per night
4.96 out of 5 average rating, 292 reviews
Guest favorite
Hut in Hawkesbury
Omaka Valley Hut
Dec 11 – 18
$122 per night
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 364 reviews
Guest favorite
Tiny home in Lake Hayes
Kiwi Chalet
Aug 22 – 29
$151 per night
4.95 out of 5 average rating, 500 reviews
Guest favorite
Farm stay in Karapiro
The Rocks - 2022 Host awards finalist.
Aug 15 – 22
$344 per night
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 177 reviews
Guest favorite
Guesthouse in Kinloch
Chalk Farm Stay
Oct 6 – 13
$172 per night
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 206 reviews
Guest favorite
Cottage in Okere Falls
The Love Shack Lake Rotoiti. Lake Edge Cottage.
Feb 23 – Mar 2
$160 per night
4.96 out of 5 average rating, 350 reviews

Your guide to New Zealand

All About New Zealand

For a small country in the South Pacific, New Zealand — Aotearoa, or the land of the long white cloud, in te reo Māori — packs a punch with the sheer diversity of its landscapes and the distinctiveness of its natural treasures. In the stories of the tangata whenua (the people of the land), the South Island was the boat of Maui, who caught the great fish of the North Island using his magical fish hook. His brothers were jealous of his achievement and hacked at the fish, creating the mountains, rivers, and coastline.

The landscape here is hugely diverse, from the soaring, glaciated mountains of the Southern Alps and the central North Island volcanoes to the golden sands of Abel Tasman National Park and the Coromandel Peninsula. The same can be said for the flora: Subtropical ferns and palms pepper the North Island, while you can walk in the shadow of ancient beech forests on the South Island.

New Zealand’s major cities are just as appealing as its scenery. The water is never far from sight in Auckland, which stretches across an isthmus peppered with volcanoes. You can spend a day ducking in and out of hip boutiques along Ponsonby Road, followed by cocktails and dinner amid the reclaimed warehouses of Britomart, and then take the ferry into Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana the next morning to wander among the vineyards on Waiheke Island. On the south end of the North Island, Wellington isn’t just the nation’s capital but its cultural capital as well, home to myriad art galleries, museums, and the national symphony and ballet, not to mention its proximity to the island’s wine country. On the South Island, Christchurch charms with its English architecture and carefully tended gardens and parks, while mountainous Queenstown is the jumping-off point for outdoor activities.


The best time to stay in a vacation rental in New Zealand

Covering approximately a thousand miles from north to south, New Zealand experiences weather ranging from subtropical patterns in the far north to drier conditions in the southern Otago region. It can rain at any time of the year all over the country, but the summer months of November to March are generally drier and warmer, while it is colder and wetter in the winter months of June, July, and August. If you’re looking for a New Zealand rental, bear in mind that school summer holidays take place in January.

New Zealand’s national day is Waitangi Day on February 6. Thousands gather at the tiny settlement of Waitangi, north of Auckland, to commemorate Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi), the nation’s founding document. As well as the formal ceremonies at Te Whare Rūnanga (the Carved Meeting House), you can watch as a fleet of ornately carved waka (canoes) paddles across Te Ti Bay. The Pasifika Festival celebrates multicultural New Zealand in the Auckland region each March at Western Springs Park. Events throughout the park showcase traditional dances, songs, and culture from across the Pacific region.


Top things to do in New Zealand

Queenstown

Tāhuna (Queenstown), nestled in the mountains of the South Island, is often dubbed New Zealand’s adventure capital for the plethora of outdoor activities on offer: from jet boating on Lake Wakatipu to horseback riding in Glenorchy and winter skiing in the Remarkables (Kawarau) Range. You can catch the Skyline gondola up to the famous viewpoint and grab a bite to eat, then loop back to town or hike along the Moonlight Track up past Ben Lomond and all the way around to the Shotover River. For a more sedate day, take a paddle steamer across the lake or go wine tasting in the Gibbston Valley.

Rotorua

As well as geothermal wonders, world-class mountain biking, and stunning lakeside scenery, Rotorua is one of the best places in New Zealand for visitors to encounter Māori arts and culture. Since the 19th century, members of the Te Arawa tribe have set up Māori villages where you can help paddle an ornately carved waka across the lake, watch performances of traditional dance and song, and enjoy the tender food from a hāngī, or pit oven.

Fiordland

The breathtaking beauty of Fiordland National Park prompted UNESCO to make the remote southwest corner of New Zealand — Te Wahipounamu — a World Heritage site. Head to the tiny lakeside town of Te Anau to access boats and shuttles into the park. If you’re driving, the road to Milford Sound is amazing — make sure to stop every time there’s a sign to make the most of each viewpoint or take a scenic mini-walk. The Milford Track is a four-day hike that many New Zealanders aspire to experience at least once in their lives. You can also take a boat cruise from Milford Sound to see the stunning reflected beauty of Rahotu (Mitre Peak) and hear the roar of Bowen Falls (Hineteawa).

Destinations to explore