The Portage Resort Hotel

Description:

• The Portage has been providing hospitality for more than 100 years, but in its latest revamped guise there's much to be recommended here. For a start, the Kenepuru Sounds setting is breathtaking. The rest of the world may as well not exist. All rooms -- from backpacker style to deluxe suites -- look out over the water. They're simple rooms and the bathrooms may be a little small in some cases, but this is offset by splendid public areas and a location to die for, just 10 minutes from Picton by water taxi.

  Facilities: 2 restaurants (Te Weka [contemporary NZ]; Snapper Café [light meals]); 2 bars; outdoor pool; nearby 9-hole golf course; Jacuzzi; watersports equipment rentals; bike rentals; sand volleyball court; giant chess; pétanque; basketball; children's program/adventure center; courtesy transport for water taxi to and from Torea Bay; babysitting; laundry service; on-call doctor/dentist; nonsmoking rooms

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010