Family-friendly vacation rentals in Otago Region

What a gem, tucked above the cookie cutter apartments you have a thoughtfully curated nook to nestle into for your time in Queenstown. An easy walk to town and a short Uber home if the hill seems unnecessary at the end of an evening. We spent delightful hours watching the light over the lake and soaking in the spa.

We really enjoyed staying at Niagara Ridge Retreat. The house was comfortable, view was amazing, and we liked the location.

Great stay! Tania’s place is in a beautiful, peaceful neighborhood—super quiet and relaxing. The room was very clean, and it’s just about 45 minutes from the Mount Cook area, which was perfect for me. Tania was super kind and even reminded me about the hot tub—it’s tucked away in its own private spot under the stars, and honestly, it was exactly what I needed. Highly recommend!

A beautiful home in an absolutely stunning part of the world, the property is exactly as described but also very comfortable and very well equipped. The view from the balcony can’t be beaten and the hot tub is the cherry on top, we had an amazing stay, thank you for having us.

Julies place was beautiful warm and cosy felt like home. The cottage was so well equipped with everything we could possibly need. Plus gorgeous brekkie supplies. The bed was a super king fabulous. I did the farm tour was so wonderful loved it... was the cherry on the cake feeding Tommy the sheep his bottle. highly recommend this gorgeous cottage.

We had an incredible stay at this beautiful Airbnb in Wānaka. The home was warm, comfortable, and perfectly presented, with thoughtful touches throughout that made it feel so inviting. The outlook was absolutely stunning — peaceful, private, and a true reflection of the natural beauty of the region. The spa was a standout feature — soaking under the stars in the crisp mountain air was something we won’t forget. Check-in was seamless, everything was clearly laid out, and we felt at ease from the moment we arrived. This place truly felt like a retreat, and we’d come back in a heartbeat. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a serene and memorable stay in Wānaka.

We had a lovely stay whilst doing part of the Alps to Ocean bike ride. Really cosy place. The hot tub was the perfect temperature. The apple cake if you opt for dinner was brilliant. The only heads up I'd give other guests is that if you're over 5' 9 you might be ducking slightly in part of the bus, and there's no electricity inside. Neither was a problem for us though.

Amazing clean setting with awesome super comfortable beds. As described and the hot tub was on point after a week of hiking the mountains. Nice to have a washer and dryer in the house as well. Great shower with tons of hot water and pressure. Would highly recommend staying here. We will on our next trip to NZ for sure.

A true bed and breakfast in a sea of stale air bnbs! Sharon met me upon arrival and showed me to my private abode in the center of a working cherry (and other things!) farm. The fridge was stocked with eggs, milk, butter and bread, and there was a nespresso machine + a selection of teas. She also gave me a book of local wineries and their backgrounds which I greatly appreciated and used throughout my stay. Would stay here again if I’m ever back in the area!

Photos don’t do the view justice. Jeremy was a great host. This is a cabin type experience. We stayed in the winter and used the cottage as a home base for skiing and other activities which was great. Quick ride over to Arrowtown and Queenstown but far away enough to feel private and peaceful. Some important points regarding previous reviews I read about the place being “cold”…the ground floor is all slate stone…as Jeremy recommended, just bring some sandals or slippers to wear around. There is a large heat pump, a lovely pot belly stove, and space heaters and all the beds have blanket heaters which we actually didn’t use because they were too hot…so it’s easy to stay warm and the view and coziness are well worth it, but if you’re expecting a thermostat in a hotel room that you set and leave…this wouldn’t be the place for you. We loved our stay and the host was very responsive.

I really appreciated the host putting so much love and attention into the house. It really was perfect! After traveling the whole world, this is by far one the most beautiful beaches I have seen. You can see the sea lions from the bedroom window and on a short walk I saw a penguin. While there are little houses next to the property, the neighbors are seldom there. I stayed for a month and saw people maybe two or three times. The rest of the time it felt extremely private. The house is about 25min drive on an unpaved road from Milton. A super tiny town. So if you want to get away, this is the place. What a hidden gem! Super recommended.

Stu’s guesthouse was a lovely getaway in New Zealand! Close to Queenstown, ZQN airport, and to many outdoor activities. Very peaceful and private, soft linens, and felt right at home. It’s clear that this is not a cookie cutter Airbnb, but a real guesthouse, and it shows in the fit and finish of the property, and Stu’s helpful and kind approach to hosting. I would stay again in a heartbeat!

Great location for our purposes, excellent facilities with bedroom and separate lounge/kitchenette and separate bathroom/makeup area. Very clean and tidy. Steph is perfect host.

Great place and location! Host Abby is lovely!

We had a wonderful stay at Jan’s place. We loved all of the details and the interesting art, books and furniture. It felt really homely and there were lots of helpful and thoughtful touches. The beds were all really comfortable with lovely fresh linen. Jan was an incredible host who really made sure that our stay was enjoyable. She was accommodating with a few last minute changes and always responded to messages promptly. We will definitely be booking a stay at Jans the next time we are in Otematata.

If you're lucky enough to find availability with Beryle, book it immediately. She’s not just a host — she’s one of the kindest, most extraordinary people we’ve ever met. From the moment we arrived, she welcomed us like family. We even (seriously) asked if she’d adopt us — and we’re 29 and 30! She’s the ultimate Kiwi mum: warm, thoughtful, and endlessly generous. She made my partner’s birthday so special with heartfelt touches we’ll never forget. Beryle went above and beyond in every single way. She was incredibly helpful in reviewing our itinerary and used her local knowledge to help us adjust our plans when the weather changed. Her advice was thoughtful, practical, and spot-on. I would use my last dying breath to recommend you stay with Beryle. This was more than a place to sleep — it was a highlight of our trip, thanks to one remarkable woman. The bed was amazing and the bathroom great! We arrived as guests, left as family. I wish I could say more, but I only have 999 characters!

Great place to stay, good location not far from Wānaka town. House was clean and tidy and Paula was very helpful!

This is an excellent location and spacious property. Would happily stay here again.

Fantastic location, clean and tidy. Lovely and warm on cooler evenings. So handy being 2 minutes walk to the Cadrona pub for dinner.

Nice and tidy, great location. Would stay again.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Scott and Teresa’s and would definitely stay again. The living space and kitchen area is big with more than enough room for our family of four. The bedrooms are big enough for suitcases and moving around, comfy beds and bathrooms great. A lovely gas fireplace, heaters in two of the bedrooms and beds had electric blankets. The house is in a quiet neighborhood and only a short walk into Arrowtown or across to Millbrook.

We had a wonderful stay at Tracy's home! Upon arrival, we were in awe of the modern property and beautiful surroundings. There was a blend of rain and sun during our stay, so we took advantage of every space. The home's interior is both contemporary and comfortable, with a sitting room and living room on one end and bedrooms and bathrooms on the other. A great layout. The outdoor space is generous, with a large deck, roomy seating area, and excellent pool to take in the mountain views. If you're lucky, you'll get a visit from the adorable neighborhood cat. This home was in a great central location for all of our activities – close to the action, yet far enough away for peace and seclusion. We hope to return someday!

Suzanne’s property was the best decision we could have made for our trip. Gorgeous rustic design and a working ranch with deer stock nearby. Halfway between Queenstown and Glenorchy the location was perfect for a quiet retreat after a being out and about in town/nature. There are a few guest houses at the location and everyone was friendly and we had plenty of privacy while not being too isolated. Loved it and would stay again or recommend it to friends. Thanks Suzanne!

Nice little place, only 2 min walk from Cardrona hotel. Beautiful surrounding views. Lisa was a great host and was very kind. Thanks so much would stay again!