Where indeed do you begin your Wellington accommodation search of the most appropriate hotel, boutique property or backpacker style place to stay? Fortunately, Wellington accommodation comes in every guise. From the budget friendly dorm rooms suitable for backpackers keeping a close eye on their holiday funds all the way up to high-end luxury offerings designed to meet the needs of both discerning leisure and executive business traveller.

Starting from the top-end……..appreciators of art might like to lie their head at the elegant Museum Art Hotel – Chris Parkin’s Museum Art Hotel is New Zealand’s most distinctive design hotel, boasting its own collection of contemporary art, situated opposite the iconic Te Papa museum and three minutes on foot from Oriental Parade beach. Make the most of your lovely waterfront setting by choosing a room or suite with harbour views. Harbour-gazing is also possible as you tuck into your meal chosen from the French-influenced menu at the in-house Hippopotamus Restaurant and Bar. Fitness centre, indoor heated swimming pool, sauna and luxury day spa are some of the facilities to be found here.

For views of a different kind but with the emphasis still very much on elegant try one of the spacious studios or suites with their separate dining, living areas and fully equipped kitchens of the Bolton Hotel. CBD located, this boutique hotel offers a fitness centre, indoor heated lap pool and spa pool to keep on top of those fitness regimes while you’re away or simply to just unwind and relax. There is also a modern in-house restaurant with the possibility for private dining should you choose it.

As centrally placed options go, the modern InterContinental Hotel is a good bet with its two restaurants and contemporary styled rooms which include mini bar and cable/satellite TV. Just 10 minutes away from the iconic Lambton Quay Cable Car Station which runs up to Wellington’s Botanic Gardens, the hotel provides its guests with a fitness centre, Jacuzzi, indoor pool, an executive floor, child-minding services and valet parking, among other delights. A special offering as facilities go is the golf course available to InterContinental Hotel guests.

If luxurious bathing is your thing you might enjoy the marble bathrooms offered by the air-conditioned Amora Hotel also located close to Te Papa Museum and the sparkling waterfront area. All rooms have spacious seating areas, a work desk and come with a choice of harbour or city view. For further bird’s-eye views of the city’s skyline grab a table at Amora’s Grill Restaurant or enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in the Lobby Bar.

Spectacular harbour views feature yet again with the Rydges Hotel, an elegant Wellington offering located on Featherstone Street. Facilities include a lap pool, spa pool, sauna and exercise room and all the spacious rooms come complete with a kitchenette allowing for dining freedom and complete self-scheduling should you choose. Otherwise the Portlander Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

To go decidedly more down the boutique route try the Ohtel Hotel with its views of the Chaffers Marina situated in one of Wellington’s premium neighbourhoods – Oriental Bay. This exclusive location offers the best of both worlds because it is both a little removed but still within walking distance of all that central Wellington has to offer. Think ultramodern features meets sophisticated furnishings and exquisite design and you’ll start to get some idea of what awaits you here.

Harbour views are not just the domain of the top-end accommodation choices though – the mid-range selections include some gems too such as the charming Mercure Hotel located on top of The Terrace. The Mercure boasts its own indoor swimming pool, sauna, steak-specialising restaurant and stunning city views.

Those who prefer something rather more self-sufficient might enjoy the harbour-side serviced apartments of Quest Wellington situated on Lambton Quay. Apartments feature kitchenettes for self-catering and a grocery-shop service but continental breakfast is available and so too is the possibility of eating at nearby restaurants and adding the meal costs to your hotel bill.

Also in the mid-range selection is the West Plaza Hotel with its airy, light-flooded rooms and an award winning restaurant on site located a three minute walk from the national museum, Te Papa Museum – also an award-winner.

Those in need of more budget friendly Wellington accommodation and backpacker suitable rooms to stay can check out places such as YHA Wellington City, the funky Base Wellington and the Cambridge Hotel. Within this range you can choose from private or dormitory rooms with female-only dorms available and all feature communal kitchen facilities so you can keep the eating out costs down. All kinds of other facilities are offered such as Internet, bike hire, free movie hire, chill out areas, laundry service, TV rooms and bars.

Yet another option is that of home-stay such as the executive style accommodation with its spectacular, big picture-window views of Wellington offered by Jerry and Katie Grealish-Bridge, located within walking distance from the top of Cuba Street. Guest accommodation in this 1930s character home – offered for couples and families – is a spacious downstairs room for up to four guests with a price of $180. This includes breakfast while ‘on request ‘ dinner is available for an extra cost.

The major advantage of home-stay is that you can tap instantly into local knowledge – something which both Jerry and Katie have by the bucket-load. They also offer their own unique style ‘Wellington Day Tours’ which attracts an additional charge. Please feel free to contact them for availability and further information.