Auckland confidential: Where to sleep in the City of Sails

The Hotel Britomart: Sustainable, good design is at the very core of this 99-room haven in the heart of Auckland's chic Britomart district, heaving with stylish boutiques and atmospheric bars. The light-filled high-ceilinged lobby with natural finishes sets the tone for an unforgettable stay from the get go, while the rooms continue the elegant ethos, with timber-clad walls, handmade ceramics and picture windows with city views. There's no shortage of excellent eateries nearby, but for one of the neighbourhood's best, you don't even need to step out of the hotel, thanks to the onsite Kingi restaurant, which does a fine trade in three- or four-course menus celebrating hyper-regional and super-seasonal produce. From $336 per room, per night; thehotelbritomart.com

Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments: An excellent restaurant; a number of meeting spaces; a state-of-the-art wellness zone with classes such as water aerobics in the pool and yoga in the fitness studio; and a wide range of accommodation options - from standard rooms to three-bedroom apartments - make this hotel the ideal choice for business travellers. Pared-back contemporary design and CBD location further add to its appeal. But the feature that truly takes the cake is the hotel's stunning spa, where you can indulge in some top-notch treatments. Because sometimes you just want to switch off. From $238 per room, per night; pullmanauckland.co.nz

SO/ Auckland: Whether you're in one of the rooms with oversized mirrors and brass accents; at the lobby-level Mixo bar with velvet couches and striking pendant lights; or at the 16th-floor Hi-So rooftop bar, where bright-coloured neon lights on the wall set the stage for sweeping city views, SO/ Auckland is bold and beautiful at every turn. From $272 per room, per night; so-hotels.com

Park Hyatt: Four restaurants, a 25-metre infinity pool, a world-class spa and 195 well-appointed rooms, many with views of Waitemata Harbour ... you'll want for nothing when you check into this property, located on the water's edge in the city's Wynyard Quarter. Even the smallest rooms offer 47 square metres of real estate, with king-sized beds, walk-in wardrobes and marble ensuites with deep soaking bathtubs, but for a more memorable stay (and pictures), upgrade to a harbour-view room with balcony. From $465 per room, per night; hyatt.com

The Convent Hotel: Mismatching tiles and walls with peeling plaster are not the things that spring to mind when you think of hotel rooms. But these are precisely the features that make this gorgeous 22-room hotel, steeped in history and housed in a Spanish Mission-style building, stand out in a world of cookie-cutter hotels. Comfortable beds, plush couches and well-equipped ensuites offer creature comforts, but it is the old-world flourishes - ornate ceilings and stucco arches - that truly make this character-filled hotel unforgettable. From $186 per room, per night; theconventhotel.co.nz

Movenpick Hotel: Chocoholics of all ages will be in seventh heaven at this CBD hotel, steeped in Swiss tradition, starting with the art of making exquisite sweet treats. So forget "happy hour" and head to the property's BODA restaurant on the 13th floor at 3pm for Chocolate Hour, instead, where you can watch experts whip up irresistible goodies, from delicate cupcakes to dense chocolate truffles. At 16 square metres, entry-level rooms can be a bit tight, so if you're travelling with kids, it's best to book the 32-square-metre Superior Room with two queen beds. Just don't forget to enjoy the chocolate fondue platter - with a range of sweets, cheeses and fruit - at BODA, with a side of city views. From $222 per room, per night; movenpick.accor.com

Voco Auckland City Centre: You are in the centre of all the action when you check into this hotel - from Viaduct Harbour to the chic precinct of Britomart. Contemporary rooms promise a good night's sleep, while onsite facilities such as fitness and business centres cater for all types of travellers. Go for a cocktail at Albert, located on the hotel's 38 floor (making it the highest rooftop bar in New Zealand), stay back for hearty Italian at Mozzarela & Co on the hotel's ground floor. From $220 per room, per night; ihg.com/voco

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