A red speedboat on a turquoise river surrounded by rocky banks and dense green trees.

Compare and book 3 Star hotels in South Island, New Zealand

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Check availability on South Island 3 Star Hotels

Our top choices for South Island 3-star hotels

A wooden deck with tables and chairs overlooking a lake and mountains.

1. The Godley Hotel

The Godley Hotel
3.0 star property
Lake Tekapo
8.2 out of 10, Very good, (720 reviews)
"Good no-frills place for an overnight in Takapo. Helpful staff and easy parking."
Australia
Marc
The price is £172
includes taxes & fees
4 Dec - 5 Dec
The Godley Hotel
A hotel room with a large bed, a desk with a chair, a microwave, and a minibar.

2. Airport Gateway Christchurch

Airport Gateway Christchurch
3.5 star property
Burnside
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, (1,001 reviews)
"Loved the airport shuttle, restaurant food was great. Everything was good would stay again"
Australia
Joanne
The price is £80
includes taxes & fees
16 Dec - 17 Dec
Airport Gateway Christchurch
A modern balcony with two green chairs and a small table, overlooking a cityscape with historic buildings.

3. Hotel Give

Hotel Give
3.5 star property
Christchurch City Centre
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, (1,004 reviews)
"Great place to stay"
Australia
Kevin
The price is £50
includes taxes & fees
15 Dec - 16 Dec
Hotel Give
A modern building with multiple floors, large windows, and a visible restaurant named 'Accor Live Limitless'.

4. BreakFree on Cashel Christchurch

BreakFree on Cashel Christchurch
3.5 star property
Christchurch City Centre
8.6 out of 10, Excellent, (1,042 reviews)
"Such good value and totally recommend for a stay close to cbd Always clean and cosy 💜"
Australia
Tracey
The price is £49
includes taxes & fees
6 Dec - 7 Dec
BreakFree on Cashel Christchurch
A lodge named Pinewood with a two-story building, a covered entrance, and a parking area with cars.

5. Pinewood Queenstown

Pinewood Queenstown
3.0 star property
Boydtown
7.8 out of 10, Good, (799 reviews)
"Great facilities. Easy walk into town. Nice to find an off street park too."
Australia
Rob
The price is £52
includes taxes & fees
16 Dec - 17 Dec
Pinewood Queenstown
A person in a hot tub with a view of mountains and trees.

6. Archway Motel & Chalets

Archway Motel & Chalets
3.0 star property
Wanaka
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, (445 reviews)
"Room is very clean and spacious."
Australia
Jason
The price is £152
includes taxes & fees
12 Dec - 13 Dec
Archway Motel & Chalets
A hotel room with two beds, a sofa, a desk, and an air conditioning unit.

7. The Village Inn Hotel

The Village Inn Hotel
3.5 star property
Te Anau
7.8 out of 10, Good, (338 reviews)
"Clean, good parking and the staff are very friendly"
New Zealand
Paul
The price is £106
includes taxes & fees
7 Dec - 8 Dec
The Village Inn Hotel
A hotel named 'Fiordland' with a modern architectural design, featuring a prominent sign and a unique roof structure.

8. Fiordland Hotel

Fiordland Hotel
3.0 star property
Te Anau
7.2 out of 10, Good, (725 reviews)
"Walking distance to everything, nice an quiet"
Australia
John
The price is £70
includes taxes & fees
9 Dec - 10 Dec
Fiordland Hotel
A small, single-story building with a sloped roof, a large sliding glass door, and a small porch area.

9. Lake Ruataniwha Holiday Park

Lake Ruataniwha Holiday Park
3.0 star property
Twizel
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, (237 reviews)
"We stayed at the Motel and this location is a hidden gem!! Beautiful clean and wonderful visit and location."
Australia
Paul
The price is £122
includes taxes & fees
16 Dec - 17 Dec
Lake Ruataniwha Holiday Park
A balcony with a view of the ocean, a dining area with chairs and a table, and a parking area with cars.

10. Hotel St Clair

Hotel St Clair
3.5 star property
St. Clair
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, (833 reviews)
"Great location"
Australia
Rochelle
The price is £101
includes taxes & fees
29 Nov - 30 Nov
Hotel St Clair
A modern hotel lobby with a bar, seating area, and large windows offering a view of the city.

11. The Hotel Nelson

The Hotel Nelson
3.0 star property
Nelson South
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, (1,000 reviews)
"Room was great but would of been good to at least have had a microwave. Love that had the restaurant right there. Great food and staff"
Australia
Marg
The price is £63
includes taxes & fees
9 Dec - 10 Dec
The Hotel Nelson
A modern cafe interior with wooden tables and chairs, a coffee bar, and shelves with decorative items.

12. Golden Hotel

Golden Hotel
3.5 star property
Riccarton
9.6 out of 10, Exceptional, (456 reviews)
"Clean room, we stayed in a 2bdr room which had ample space, Comfortable beds, room had everything we needed. Would stay again. Restaurant just around the corner which was so convenient"
Australia
Christine
The price is £68
includes taxes & fees
13 Dec - 14 Dec
Golden Hotel
A modern restaurant interior with tables and chairs, a neon sign, and abstract wall art.

13. ibis Christchurch

ibis Christchurch
3.5 star property
Christchurch City Centre
8.2 out of 10, Very good, (1,001 reviews)
"Been lovely to stay there"
Australia
Amy
The price is £85
includes taxes & fees
14 Dec - 15 Dec
ibis Christchurch
Bar (on property)

14. Drifter Christchurch

Drifter Christchurch
3.5 star property
Christchurch City Centre
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, (236 reviews)
"fun place to stay with good facilities"
Australia
Richard
The price is £87
includes taxes & fees
9 Dec - 10 Dec
Drifter Christchurch
A modern outdoor dining area with glass walls, a table, chairs, and potted plants.

15. Kaikoura Waterfront Apartments

Kaikoura Waterfront Apartments
3.0 star property
Kaikoura
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, (663 reviews)
"Immaculate accomodation with friendly staff."
Australia
Iain
The price is £87
includes taxes & fees
6 Dec - 7 Dec
Kaikoura Waterfront Apartments
A modern building with a glass balcony, a parking lot, and outdoor seating.

16. West Meadows Motel

West Meadows Motel
3.5 star property
Wanaka
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (500 reviews)
"Everything is excellent, while single beds are a bit smaller than the standard ones. Yet this is the best motel we stayed in the South Island of NZ."
Hong Kong SAR China
Lai Fan
The price is £147
includes taxes & fees
19 Nov - 20 Nov
West Meadows Motel
A sign for Alpine Motel with a mountain backdrop.

17. Alpine Motel

Alpine Motel
3.5 star property
Wanaka
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, (805 reviews)
"Just off the Main Street in Franz Josef, close to all the amenities and activities."
United Kingdom
Sarah
The price is £129
includes taxes & fees
12 Dec - 13 Dec
Alpine Motel
A greenhouse with a table set for two, surrounded by lush greenery.

18. Cardrona Hotel

Cardrona Hotel
3.0 star property
Cardrona
9.6 out of 10, Exceptional, (846 reviews)
"A beautiful historic hotel. Lovely done out rooms and a great stay for us. We really enjoyed our time here and it was a relaxing and pleasant experience."
United Kingdom
Stephen
The price is £77
includes taxes & fees
9 Dec - 10 Dec
Cardrona Hotel
A modern hotel room with a large bed, a desk, and a view of mountains and a lake.

19. Heartland Hotel Queenstown

Heartland Hotel Queenstown
3.5 star property
Queenstown City Centre
8.2 out of 10, Very good, (1,000 reviews)
"Great place to stay. Excellent service"
Australia
emmanuel
The price is £143
includes taxes & fees
14 Dec - 15 Dec
Heartland Hotel Queenstown
A modern hotel room with a large bed, two wall sconces, a view of mountains, and a curved ceiling.

20. Hurley's of Queenstown

Hurley's of Queenstown
3.5 star property
Queenstown City Centre
8.4 out of 10, Very good, (600 reviews)
"Comfy beds, clean well furnished unit. Great location and good price."
Australia
Lorraine
The price is £144
includes taxes & fees
16 Dec - 17 Dec
Hurley's of Queenstown
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Explore similar 4-star hotels

Many 4-star hotels have the same amenities as 3-star hotels. See all 4-star hotels in South Island.
La Quinta by Wyndham Remarkables Park Queenstown

La Quinta by Wyndham Remarkables Park Queenstown

16 - 18 Mountain Ash Drive Queenstown
The price is £110 per night from 12 Dec to 13 Dec
£110
12 Dec - 13 Dec
includes taxes & fees
9/10 Wonderful! (1,701 reviews)
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Learn more about South Island

Larger, less populated and harder to reach than the northern “Main Island,” this area features New Zealand’s longest glacier, its highest mountain and much more.

See all hotels in South Island
A town nestled between mountains and a large lake with several islands.

Top South Island Hotel Reviews

The Godley Hotel

The Godley Hotel

10/10 Excellent
"Good no-frills place for an overnight in Takapo. Helpful staff and easy parking."
Marc 1-night trip
Posted 3 days ago
The Godley Hotel
Pinewood Queenstown

Pinewood Queenstown

8/10 Good
"The only thing they could have had coffee mugs and face clothes. Everything else was great 😃"
Bridgt 2-night trip
Posted 4 days ago
Pinewood Queenstown

Find out more about South Island

Frequently asked questions

What are the best 3-star hotels in South Island?
You'll discover a range of 3-star hotels around South Island. Our guests recommend staying at YHA Queenstown Central - Hostel in Queenstown. It comes with a lake view and a nearby beach, and is roughly 0.1 mi southwest of downtown. The Lofts Apartments is also popular. Around 0.1 mi southwest of the centre of Queenstown, it offers first-run movie services and private winery tours.
How much does it cost to stay in a 3-star hotel in South Island?
Uncover the ideal trifecta of quality, affordability and comfort at a 3-star hotel in South Island with our filter tools. Enter your preferred travel dates and then adjust your search according to the rate you wish to pay per night.

  • Search for the lowest price per night right now from £49

What is the difference between a 4-star and 3-star hotel in South Island?
Book a 3-star hotel and you can look forward to tidy and comfortable rooms and amenities such as WiFi, gyms and tea and coffee makers. These lodgings may also include a bar and restaurant. Upgrade your South Island holiday by choosing a 4-star hotel. With things like a wellness centre, round-the-clock room service and premium toiletries, you'll experience an enhanced level of relaxation and comfort.