Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Auckland New Zealand

New Zealand is rated one of the most “inclusive and progressive” gayfriendly travel destinations in the world by Lonely Planet. Auckland, including has a few gay friendly hotels Auckland to accommodate during your stay in NZ.

The Auckland Pride Festival is an annual festival held in Auckland, New Zealand. It began in 2013 and is New Zealand’s largest Pride Festival. Auckland’s Rainbow communities will come together to celebrate our unique mix of cultures, sexualities and gender identities in February on each year.

Auckland, based around 2 large harbours, is a major city in the north of New Zealand’s North Island. In the centre, the iconic Sky Tower has views of Viaduct Harbour, which is full of superyachts and lined with bars and cafes. Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park, is based around an extinct volcano and home to the formal Winter Gardens. Near Downtown, Mission Bay Beach has a seaside promenade.

 

Top attractions to visit in Auckland Central

 

 Best for day trips in Auckland Central:

 

 

1. Cordis, Auckland  5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland

 

Cordis, Auckland
Cordis, Auckland

Located in the lively uptown area near Upper Queen Street and Karangahape Road, Cordis, Auckland is surrounded by a vibrant neighbourhood. From this central location, guests can stroll to the Auckland Domain or explore the city’s museums, galleries and thriving retail scene.

Designed with your comfort in mind, 411 modern guest rooms and suites convey a sense of understated sophistication with a blend of warm woods, handcrafted furniture and quality textiles. Thoughtful extras and stylish interiors reveal an attention to detail, reflecting the best in modern design. All rooms feature high-speed internet and WiFi to keep you connected 24/7.

Catering to guests with an appetite for variety, the hotel offers a range of dining options, featuring both local and international favourites. The contemporary Eight restaurant and sophisticated Lobby Lounge offer stylish spaces to dine and socialise, or enjoy a High Tea over a glass of Champagne.

Designed for guests who value heartfelt service and engaging experiences, Cordis Auckland is located in a lively uptown area, within walking distance of the city’s museum, galleries and shops. The modern rooms and suites are meticulously tailored to your way of life. Thoughtful extras and stylish interiors reveal a genuine attention to detail, with the latest in connectivity including complimentary broadband Internet-WiFi in all rooms and public areas. The contemporary Eight restaurant and sophisticated Lobby Lounge offer stylish places to dine and socialise, while peaceful Chuan Spa and a heated rooftop pool create the perfect urban retreat for guests to relax and unwind.

The location was great – only 20 minutes walk to Spark Arena yet not so close to Queen Street that it was noisy (something I have experienced in other hotels during the weekend in Auckland). The Sky bus from the airport stopped right outside the hotel. The room was very clean and well appointed with a very comfortable bed, and a bath and shower.

There was a feeling of luxury with nice little touches like complimentary toothbrushes, a well stocked mini bar, and a glossy magazine to read. There was someone playing the harp in the lobby / bar area. There was also a desk where taxis were organised for guests which was done very efficiently. An unusual feature that we found very good was that there were two layers of glazing so that you could open the outer window but keep the inner window a little more closed . This meant you could get fresh air into the room without having a draft. The staff were exceptionally helpful and gave great service.

The hotel is located at the upper end of town, a 12 min walk (a bit steep in places) downhill to Queen St. My favourite stop is the venerable Smith and Caughey department store in Queen St which is our David Jones/Nordstrom/Lane Crawford (not quite as high end as LC though). It has all the NZ fashion brands there.

There is a hotel shuttle bus that goes to and from the hotel collects hotel guests from cnr Custom St and Queen St (opposite H&M)to transport you back up to the hotel. Shuttle leaves from downtown back to the hotel at 15 and 45 mins past the hour. I find this very convenient as it is a downhill walk down Queen St (past many shops)! Also it drops you right back at the hotel.

Breakfast buffet was pretty good. Wide variety to choose from.

Location is also excellent with only a 2-3 minute walk to the top of Queens street and a 20 minute walk to the bottom of Queens st. Some great restaurants close by and hotel food is also very good.

This hotel has a great geographical location, you can reach Queen street just by foot. It’s really near to different shops along Queen street. Great experience indeed.

The room was perfectly appointed with a bar/kitchenette area (complete with dishwasher, microwave, fridge, hob and every kitchen utensil you’ld need), good living room area with a dining table for four, a couch with chaise lounge and chair. Large TV in both the living room area and bedroom. The bed was exceptional with USB Charger outputs and wall sockets where you expect them, right next to the bed.

The bathroom was well appointed and tastefully designed. Separate bath and walk in shower with both rain-shower head and separate hand shower, marble floor, heated mirrors, separate toilet, etc. Everything you’d expect, except for some form of night lighting in the bathroom.

The spa and pool area was well appointed. There seemed to be some external guests as well. Also, the (only) pool got crowded with kids during the day making it hard to swim a couple of laps. Chilled water is available free of charge in the pool area and other drinks can be ordered. As for the spa, I had a (deep tissue) massage which was very good, although it was on the expensive side: triple what my sports massage therapist back home charges.

The club lounge upstairs was superb. Very wide selection of good food during the evening hours, great wines and friendly staff. In the afternoon you can go there for a high tea with great scones and bread. There is ice cream and drinks at any other time of the day.

We had breakfast downstairs which was very good as well. Very wide selection of food on the buffet and made-to-order eggs. Just a bit limited as far as cheese was concerned. Cappuccino and other barista coffees are included with the breakfast and pretty good.

Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland
Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland

How much does a room costs at Cordis, Auckland?

Prices start 242 $/night for Superior King Room. The Junior Suite with Club Lounge Access
i
s 426$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This room features a separate sitting area for entertaining and a rejuvenating rainforest shower. The latest in-room technology is provided including a 48-inch Samsung LED TV, USB charging stations and complimentary WiFi and broadband internet.

As a junior suite guest, you also receive: – access to the exclusive Cordis Club Lounge on Level 10. – complimentary daily breakfast, afternoon tea treats and evening drinks and canapés – daily housekeeping – pressing of 3 garments per stay – shoe shine service. Please note that breakfast is served in the Cordis Club Lounge.

Where to book online – Cordis, Auckland by Langham Hospitality Group –  Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland – you can find the best hotels deals in Auckland during The Auckland Festival of Photography  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Auckland on  Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. ibis Auckland Ellerslie 3*Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland 

ibis Auckland Ellerslie

Ibis Auckland Ellerslie is a 15-minute drive to Auckland CBD and 20 minutes from Auckland airport. It is 1.5 km from the ASB Showgrounds and 2.2 km from Alexandra Park.

The comfortable rooms at Ibis offer satellite TV and work desks. All guests receive access to the gymnasium, which has massage facilities and conference rooms.

Ibis’ restaurant offers take-away dinners for guests and serves New Zealand cuisine. The landscaped Garden Bar is open daily in the summer. Guests also have access to Acacia Restaurant.

The hotel is located next to Ellerslie Race course.

The Ibis Ellerslie is located in the heart of Greenlane offering easy access to many Auckland attractions. The Ellerslie Events Centre and ASB Showgrounds are in walking distance, Vector Arena, Mt Smart Stadium and Eden Park are only a short train trip away.

It’s proximity to the Green Lane train station (less than 10 minute walk) makes it very easy to get to and from the city. The beds are very comfortable with high quality bedding making for a very comfortable sleep.

The Ibis Auckland Ellerslie Hotel is not into the center of Auckland but very close to the train station bringing you very quickly to the center (e.g. Viaduct Basin, Princess Wharf or Queen’s Wharf, etc.).

The rooms were a bit small but very clean and well designed. The sleep material was very good and comfortable (e.g. pillows, matτreσσ, linen,etc.) so that the sleeping experience was a relaxing one.

The staff was friendly and ready to solve any problem could be arisen. The complimentary breakfast was good having a plethora of fruits to be eaten.

The breakfast buffet offered a great variety of food, there was even a wellness corner with healthy snacks and coconut water. You had the choice of a continental or cooked breakfast, the price for the former was $24 and for the latter $32, although members get a 50% discount.

The hotel offers free luggage storage which came in very handy this time. You can also ask reception to print out your boarding pass or other documents, likewise very convenient.

Given all the above I can definitely recommend the Ibis Ellerslie and will no doubt be staying here again in the future.

The hotel is situated only 15-20 minute drive from Auckland International Airport and adjoins the Auckland Racecourse and close to trains. It shares the same lobby with the Novotel Hotel and a restaurant and bar, so it has all the facilities you would expect in a 4 star hotel which means it is superb value for money!!! A train from this hotel would easily get you into town within 15 minutes and the station is only 2 minute walk..

We stayed here to go to the Easter Show which we walked to from this hotel comfortably in 15 minutes – so it is a great place to stay if you need to attend the show grounds, races or as an out of town stay and transit by train to visit Auckland. We ate at the restaurant and found the food was terrific. We had a buffet dinner and breakfast and the food was great, especially the seafood – smoked New Zealand Salmon.

The rooms are small but clean and comfortable – if you are wanting a larger room you could spend more and upgrade to the Novotel however as we were only overnighting here we choose Ibis and did not regret our choice. Great and will stay here again.

How much does a room costs at ibis Auckland Ellerslie?

Prices start 142 $/night for Standard Double Room. The Business King Room is 168$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

Equipped with everything you need for a business stay, including internet and a desk area. This top floor room is air-conditioned and features cable TV.

Where to book online – ibis Auckland Ellerslie –  Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland – you can find the best hotels deals in Auckland during The Auckland Festival of Photography  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Auckland on  Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. The Grand by SkyCity 5*Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland

The Grand by SkyCity
The Grand by SkyCity

The Grand by SkyCity offers contemporary 5-star rooms and suites with views of Auckland Harbour and the city skyline. Guests enjoy award-winning restaurants, a bar, a fitness centre and a luxurious day spa. Guests enjoy free WiFi in the rooms.

The SkyCity entertainment complex, featuring a 24-hour casino, Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower, plus more than 20 restaurants, cafes and bars, is right on the doorstep of the hotel The property is situated in Auckland CBD (Central Business District).

The fully equipped fitness centre offers a 25 m heated lap pool, a sauna and a spa pool. East Day Spa offers a full range of facial and body treatments. Valet parking is available at an extra cost.

Each room at The Grand by SkyCity includes a modern bathroom with bathrobes, slippers and a shower. There is a flat-screen TV with in-house movies in every room.

Discover an oasis of luxury in the heart of Auckland’s vibrant city. Beautifully appointed, modern and spacious rooms are just the start of this 5-star experience. Stunning views, award-winning dining, the iconic Sky Tower and the tranquil East Day Spa await you. Wi-Fi is complimentary.

The Grand Hotel has everything that you could ever dream of, including all the little touches that make your stay so very memorable. From Bvlgari Toiletries to the endless supply of pristine white fluffy towels, the soft plush robes, and so many more special extras. The beds and pillows are like no other, you literally feel like you are sleeping on a cloud! The hotel also has a full pillow menu which ensures an extremely comfortable sleep. We have slept in many hotels around the world and usually struggle to adjust, but these beds are so comfortable that you do not want to get up. The rooms are extremely spacious, quiet and immaculately clean. I feel it is important to say that my standards of cleanliness are very high and The Grand Hotel have always exceeded my expectations.

The Presidential Suite is decorated beautifully with modern art, gorgeous furniture and elegant accessories. We were extremely impressed with the amenities available in The Grand Presidential Suite. Everything thing that you could ever need has been thought of. Endless espresso capsules, a large fridge, and freezer, a stunning dining suite, in-room surround sound system, a decadently stocked mini-bar, any TV channel at your fingertips, beautiful glassware and also fine crockery.
The shower is next level amazing! The pressure, the massage jets, and double rain shower heads – you can be guaranteed to have a spa-like pampering shower.

The panoramic views from this suite are breath-taking! From the fairy lights in Federal Street to the full cityscape view – you could sit anywhere in this suite and stare out of the windows for hours. You are also lucky enough to have the Sky Tower and the Auckland Harbour Bridge as part of that stunning view.
This stay, we ordered a selection of food from the in-room dining menu. Our meal was delivered so quickly, each dish was hot and exquisitely delicious! We also dined in at the restaurants in the hotel and every single one had incredible service and fantastic food. Everything we ordered was delicious and the tables we were given were very romantic.

From the moment you drive in, to the moment you get back into your car as you leave, you are made to feel so very special and welcome at The Grand Hotel.

Breakfast was standard continental with a dedicated egg station. Note however omelettes had to be specially ordered and extra charged as was espresso coffees. What was nice was the addition of Italian antipasto plus fresh hot cross buns. Watch out for happy hour at the lobby bar where free snacks are on offering with a purchased drink. A quick across the road is the casino and a plethora of world class restaurants and cafes.

Our favorite is Masu for Japanese & Depot for Seafood. Also tried the Sugar Club at top of Sky Tower – note its expensive & only degustation menu on weekends but worth it for once in a lifetime experience. Book early! The pool was under maintenance but they had arrangements with the Tepid Baths which for a tourist would be a bit of a mission to find. Anyway the thought was there. Free water battles every day and added bonus that the plastic is recycled into complimentary bottles to contain the shampoo and moisturizers.

Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland
Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland

How much does a room costs at The Grand by SkyCity?

Prices start 257 $/night for Grand King Room. The Grand Deluxe King Room is 270$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

Enjoy the tasteful surroundings of the Grand Deluxe King Rooms. It features plush cushions, soft cotton bathrobes and sophisticated glassware.

Where to book online – The Grand by SkyCity –  Gay Friendly Accommodation Auckland – you can find the best hotels deals in Auckland during The Auckland Festival of Photography  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Auckland on  Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

4. President Hotel Auckland 3*  – Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland

President Hotel Auckland
President Hotel Auckland

Located in Auckland CBD (Central Business District), 100 m from the iconic Sky Tower, President Hotel Auckland offers spacious accommodation, a fitness room and fully equipped meeting facilities. Guest receive free WiFi on unlimited devices.

Non-smoking throughout, all studios, suites and apartments at President Hotel Auckland include kitchen or kitchenette facilities, air conditioning and a 42-inch LED Smart TV with satellite channels.

Watergate Restaurant offers both a full buffet breakfast and an à la carte menu each morning. A 24-hour room service menu is also available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Hotel is a short walk to all the central business and tourist locations in Auckland. Rooms are comfortable and staff obliging. Great location for exploring the city and wharf areas. Lots of great restaurants in close proximity.

The location is excellent and we had rooms overlooking the sky tower and the strange group bungee jumping apparatus. The rooms though were very quiet at night even though we could see everything going on in the street. We were able to walk to the harbour area and all around the central area shops. The beds were extremely comfortable and all the amenities are great in the hotel.

GREAT location, supermarket next door and everything you need is near by! Harbour, Domain, shopping, Tepid baths, museum and more is all in walking distance. Extremely easy to use local buses as it’s so central.

The room is nice with a fridge and microwave and coffee/tea making facilities. Wireless phone charger next to the bed was a nice little addition! You can have your room cleaned everyday if you want to. Rooms are very clean with aircon. The rooms do look better, bigger and brighter (obviously) on booking.com but it’s really fine. Just a shame about my car park and ventilation window view but suppose that can’t be helped bring the location !

Rooms are a good size – the standard king room with a rollaway bed was still spacious and enough room. Weird layouts though and could be redesigned to be much more efficient.

Breakfast was good – lots of things to choose from and even soy milk for cereal which was awesome to see.

Rooms were kind of loud facing the street, but I had earplugs in while I slept

Great to have a microwave and fridge in the room.

Could do with a mirror in the main part of the room rather than just the bathroom.

Shower ok, manageable but could be better.

Overall, was great for what we needed and the central location could not have been better! Suited our needs and would stay here again.

Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland
Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland

How much does a room costs at President Hotel Auckland?

Prices start 110 $/night for Standard Studio King. The King Standard Studio is 132$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

Enjoy the tasteful surroundings of the Grand Deluxe King Rooms. It features plush cushions, soft cotton bathrobes and sophisticated glassware.

Where to book online – President Hotel Auckland –  Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland – you can find the best hotels deals in Auckland during The Auckland Festival of Photography  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Auckland on  Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

5. Avani Metropolis Auckland Residences 5*Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland

Avani Metropolis Auckland Residences
Avani Metropolis Auckland Residences

Offering an indoor pool and a fitness centre, Avani Metropolis Auckland Residences is 400 m from Auckland Art Gallery and 400 m from Skycity Auckland Convention Centre. WiFi access is available.

Situated in Auckland CBD (Central Business District), Avani Metropolis Auckland Residences offer spacious, self-catering accommodation, great in-room amenities and stunning city views.

This hotel offers apartments, many with balconies. Choose between the 1 and 2-bedroom suites, each of which has an open-plan living and dining area plus a fully-equipped kitchen.

Pause for a moment of ‘wow’ as you walk through the lobby, a sleek century-old courthouse transformed for an impressive arrival. Then rise up to your room. Once climbed by legendary French Spiderman Alain Robert, our towering hotel takes the meaning of ‘home away from home’ to new heights. Above it all, slide into a contemporary vibe and discover Auckland from the city centre. You’ve got culture, entertainment and the great outdoors on your doorstep!

Our apartment was lovely, spacious and clean with a small balcony and great Harbour views. It had great amenities, stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher, full size fridge etc although we were here to celebrate my birthday so we didn’t eat in. Good to have a washer and dryer too. The bed was really comfy. There was a bit of noise at night but nothing too much considering we were so central.

Rooms were very nice, great views from the higher up floors, nice gym and pool to use, and strong air conditioning. Great location near the heart of downtown, but on a quieter side street and right next to Albert Park.

The location was superb – a short walk to everything downtown but peaceful setting with minimal noise – and the apartment I occupied, while only on 11th of some 30+ floors, offered a quite nice, if not spectacular, view of many of Auckland’s downtown landmarks and was of ample size for any traveler or gay couple.

The location was superb – a short walk to everything downtown but peaceful setting with minimal noise – and the apartment I occupied, while only on 11th of some 30+ floors, offered a quite nice, if not spectacular, view of many of Auckland’s downtown landmarks and was of ample size for any solo traveler or couple.

Stayed at the Avani for 4 nights. Lovely room, clean and spacious. There’s a cooker, microwave, toaster, kettle, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and hairdryer in room. Also iron and ironing board. Hotel is in a central location with sky tower in walking distance as is the harbour. Would definitely recommend this hotel it’s a little gem.

Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland
Gay Friendly Hotels Auckland

How much does a room costs at Avani Metropolis Auckland Residences?

Prices start 190 $/night for One-Bedroom Suite. The One-Bedroom Harbour Suite is 240$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

Guests staying in this 1-bedroom suite can enjoy gazing at cruising ferries and watch sunsets over the city of sails. The suite boasts a marble bathroom, warm stylish interiors and lots of natural light.

Where to book online – Avani Metropolis Auckland Residences –  LGBT  Friendly Hotels Auckland – you can find the best hotels deals in Auckland during The Auckland Festival of Photography  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Auckland on  Booking.com or Trip.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.