Three of New Zealand’s most sought-after holiday rentals are clustered around Otago’s premier travel destinations, according to a new ranking released by Bookabach.
The booking platform recently published its 2026 Baches of the Year list, rounding up five premium properties from about 12,000 listings nationwide.
While the selection is framed around the homes’ impeccable guest ratings and host reliability, Bookabach’s final cut is more a showcase of what large, high-design builds can become your temporary home in New Zealand’s world-class tourism hotspots.
Star picks for 2026 include an alpine chalet in Queenstown, a countryside stay among the Marlborough grapevines and a beachfront villa in the Bay of Plenty.
More than anything, the list shows just how far the Kiwi bach has evolved from its relatively modest roots.
Topping Bookabach’s list is Queenstown’s Lakehouse 3, a split-level home on Frankton Hill with a prime spot above the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
The four-bedroom retreat boasts sweeping views of the Southern Alps through its floor-to-ceiling windows and multiple indoor and outdoor gathering spaces.
Tucked into the hillside with a year-round outdoor fireplace, the secluded abode offers as much tranquillity as you’ll find within reasonable distance of the action in town.
Across the Kawarau River in nearby Jack’s Point, Sun Peaks Villa evokes the associations of an alpine chalet within its high country setting beneath The Remarkables.
Mere minutes’ drive from the skifield access road and with an 18-hole golf course on its doorstep, the home is fitted with the appropriate features to help guests unwind after the day’s expeditions, including a hot tub and outdoor fireplace.
Just over the Crown Range, Wānaka’s Southern Cross Lodge has a character all its own.
Built with a mix of timber, stone and metal, its open-plan space is separated into four bedrooms, three bathrooms and multiple living areas, including a dedicated movie room.
Guests at the view-blessed lodge get access to the nearby Peninsula Bay recreational facility during their stay, rigged with a pool, health and wellness facilities and a barbecue area.
Further north, the Marlborough wine country forms the perfect rural setting for another top holiday abode in one of Aotearoa’s most sun-soaked regions.
The Nineteenth Vineyard Accommodation sits on the rolling hills of a private vineyard, anchored by an expansive deck that overlooks Fairhall’s wine terraces and the Marlborough Golf Course.
Close to some of New Zealand’s best wineries and sleeping up to four people, it’s also the most economical pick of the bunch in terms of nightly rate.
Rounding out Bookabach’s list of charming lodgings is a “Mediterranean”-style villa that flows directly on to Pāpāmoa Beach.
While not quite Southern France in grandeur, the wooden, weatherboard-clad quarters feature a sea-view kitchen and doors opening out to a seafront terrace.
With an abundance of space and direct access to the sandy surroundings, this Bay of Plenty rental ticks all the boxes for a sun-soaked vacation with loved ones.
Bookabach’s 2026 Bach of the Year winners
- Lakehouse 3, Queenstown – four-bedroom home overlooking Lake Wakatipu for ~$1,571 per night
- Sun Peaks Villa, Queenstown – three-bedroom home below The Remarkables for ~$1,610 per night
- The Nineteenth Vineyard Accommodation, Blenheim – two-bedroom home in the Marlborough wine country for ~$300 per night
- Beachfront Mediterranean Villa, Pāpāmoa – four-bedroom beachfront villa for ~$1,375 per night
- Southern Cross Lodge, Wānaka – four-bedroom, lake-facing hillside home for ~$761 per night
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