There is no accommodation on-mountain at Mt Dobson, but there is very inexpensive lodging available in nearby towns within the Mackenzie District such as Fairlie and Tekapo.

Fairlie Accommodation

Fairlie in the Mackenzie District of the South Island of New Zealand is a quiet rural township. With a population of only about 800 people, this town is in complete contrast to the hub-bub evident in Queenstown and Wanaka. The town is well suited to those who want a peaceful inexpensive holiday, where a vibrant nightlife and adventure activities (apart from the skiing) are not high on the agenda.

Fairlie is well located for those skiing Mt Dobson, with the ski field only 26km (about a 40 minute drive) away. Fox Peaks ski field and Alpure Peaks cat skiing is also nearby.

Fairlie accommodation includes two hotels, a range of motels, bed and breakfast accommodation, cottages, a holiday park and various farm stay options. A common theme is the tariffs, which are very easy on the hip pocket.

Fairlie Hotels

The Gladstone Grand Hotel is located at 43 Main St, Fairlie. The pub style beds with shared bathroom facilities come at rock bottom prices.

The Fairlie Hotel, the Top Pub, also provides affordable accommodation within 10 rooms.

Fairlie Motels

There are a couple of motels in town, the Aorangi Motels and the MacKenzie Motel. The latter has studios that look a little like army barracks but they are very reasonably priced.

The Mt Dobson Motel is located 7km out of town towards Mt Dobson on SH8, so it’s the closest accommodation to the ski area. The motel has units that sleep up to 6 persons and have full kitchen facilities. The rates are very good especially if you’ve got a small group. 

Fairlie Bed and Breakfasts

There are various bed and breakfasts in the Fairlie area, some of which are farm stays offering the perfect opportunity for exposure to the traditional kiwi farming experience. You might even get to meet Shaun the sheep – baaa! Some B&Bs are within a few minutes of the town of Fairlie, but others are up to 20km from Fairlie.

Fairlie Cottages

For groups who want plenty of space and independence and very inexpensive accommodation, there are lots of self-contained cottages for rent in the Fairlie area. They generally sleep 6 to 8 persons, and many are within a 5 minutes drive of town.

Lake Tekapo Accommodation

The village of Tekapo sits alongside the spectacular Lake Tekapo, 44km west of Mt Dobson. Even though it’s a fraction further away from Mt Dobson than Fairlie, many people prefer to stay in Tekapo because it’s got a little bit more of an après scene and more activities. However because it’s more touristy, one disadvantage is that the rates for accommodation can be somewhat higher than in Fairlie.

Tekapo has hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, backpackers and holiday homes. See our Lake Tekapo hotels page for more information.

Other Tekapo Accommodation

The Residence is a new development for Lake Tekapo with luxury apartments in a variety of sizes and configurations. These are lovely so long as you’re happy to pay luxurious prices. Lake Tekapo Accommodation Listings

Peppers Bluewater Resort Studio, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom villas located only a couple of minutes walk from restaurants & bars in Lake Tekapo village. Resort style facilities & spectacular views.

The Godley Resort Hotel Budget accommodation for singles, couples, families and groups of all sizes. Located on the banks of the beautiful Lake Tekapo with spectacular views to Mt Cook.