Central Queenstown
The Rees Hotel & Luxury Apartments
Best for panoramic views of snowy mountains
Set away from the town centre on the lakefront, The Rees offers elegant five-star luxury. Choose from well-appointed rooms, apartments, and larger private lakeside residences, then sit by your fire, admiring panoramic views of the lake and the snowclad Remarkables mountain range.
If you’re in town to ski, there are ski lockers to stash your gear, or The Rees is partnered with Snopro Ski Rental Delivery to offer hassle free ski hire as Snopro deliver and custom fit your ski gear in the comfort of your room.
Eat at the excellent restaurant or take the regular shuttle to the town centre a few minutes’ drive away. The courteous, hospitable team do everything to make your stay comfortable and their attention to detail, like delicious chocolates left in your suite, leaves a memorable impression.
377 Frankton Road, Queenstown
The Dairy Private Hotel
Best for quirky luxury
The Dairy is a glamourous, boutique hideaway in the buzzy heart of Queenstown. The décor will delight maximalists, with baroque botanical wallpapers, a plethora of art, and a library. The staff excel at the personal touch. Little treats are left in your room, from lavender hand lotion to instructions for gin cocktails with all the ingredients
Start your evening with a complimentary drink in the lounge from 5:00-6:00pm. And if you’re feeling peckish, help yourself from the open pantry, where jars of jet planes, snakes and milk bottles can be decanted into paper bags in tribute to the dairy corner store that used to occupy the building in the 1920s. There’s an outdoor hot tub for soaking up views of The Remarkables.
21 Brecon Street, Queenstown
The Dairy Private Hotel
Glenorchy
Glenorchy Lake House
Best for relaxed comfort in glorious Glenorchy
Owned by the friendly community group who run a number of businesses in the area, Glenorchy Lake House is the ideal base for exploring the top of Lake Whakatipu. Stay as a couple or hire the whole place with friends.
Midwinter comfort is assured with lush linens, down duvets, electric blankets and snug robes. Enjoy stargazing with a glass of wine in the outdoor spa. In the morning set yourself up for a day exploring the trails of the region with a generous DIY breakfast of fruit, along with ingredients for a continental breakfast or a fry up with coffee from the Trading Post next door.
13 Mull Street, Glenorchy
Blanket Bay Luxury Lodge
Best for a luxurious wilderness retreat
Blanket Bay is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated alpine lodges in a magical lakeside setting 45-minutes from Queenstown. Rugged architecture with soaring beams and rock fireplaces creates a dramatic setting for spectacular views of snow-capped mountains.
Tear yourself away from the vistas to explore the games room, gym, spa, and pool, or ask the friendly team to organise local adventures, from jet boating the Dart River to horse riding. Then enjoy Blanket Bay’s well-deserved reputation for exceptional food showcasing excellent local produce, before relaxing in your room with a roaring fire, fresh flowers, and treats.
4191 Glenorchy, Queenstown Road
Blanket Bay Luxury Lodge
Arthur’s Point
QT Chalet
Best for a skiing holiday with friends
QT Chalet is only a few minutes’ drive from downtown Queenstown and from Coronet Peak ski area. Warm and well insulated, with a fireplace and hot tub for soaking your muscles after a day on the slopes, you’ll be snug here even in the depths of winter.
The house has four bedrooms and can sleep up to eight people, and there are games, books and a PlayStation 4 to keep everyone amused. Bring your friends for a long weekend of skiing and Queenstown midwinter fun.
Mathias Terrace, Arthurs Point
Nugget Point Hotel
Best for a skiing base and the luxe après ski spa
The closest hotel to Coronet Peak ski area, set on the hill above the wild Shotover River, with views of the surrounding mountains, Nugget Point Hotel has more to recommend it than simply an excellent location.
Unwind from skiing with a massage in their luxurious marble spa with steam room, sauna, and plunge pool, or book an outdoor hot tub overlooking the river. The excellent restaurant also has wonderful views, or you can head next door to Cargo Gantley’s Pub for pizza and local craft beer.
146 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point
Nugget Point Hotel Pool
Arrowtown & Gibbston
Arrowtown House Boutique Hotel
Best for elegant, historic charm
An appealing retreat in the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown. The bijou Arrowtown House Boutique Hotel is a few minutes stroll from Arrowtown’s picturesque high street, packed with restaurants, bars, cafés, galleries, a museum and a boutique cinema. And you’re also within easy reach of the region’s many walking and cycling tracks.
Spacious bedrooms, king-sized beds, and large showers with heated floors cocoon you in comfort. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast and superb coffee in the dining room, watching tui in the trees outside. Welcoming touches include homemade cake for hungry explorers, free laundry, and attentive service from kind hosts for whom nothing is too much trouble.
10 Caernarvon Street, Arrowtown
Warbrick Historic Stone Cottage
Best for rural peace and a taste of gold mining history
This stone cottage was built by gold miners and won an Architectural Design Award for its sympathetic restoration. Set in the Gibbston wine region near Arrowtown, the cottage is nestled in a peaceful location, with idyllic views from the garden to the hills.
Ideal for couples or a small family group, the cosy living area has an open fireplace and a well-equipped kitchenette if you want to cook for yourself. You’re walking distance from three Gibbston wineries and with easy access to the Gibbston River Trail if you want to wrap up and jump on a bike for a scenic winter ride. Stock up on local wine and relax in rural tranquillity.
2403 Gibbston Highway, Gibbston
Both Arrowtown and Gibbston are well connected to many stunning cycle trails
Wilderness retreats
Paradise Trust
Best for rustic charm off the grid
People have been visiting Paradise for a dose of wilderness since the 1800s. This 300-acre property is 20-minutes from Glenorchy near Mt Aspiring National Park. It offers a choice of retreats for all tastes and budgets, with rustic off the grid huts, historic cottages, and boutique accommodation.
Six backcountry huts offer basic accommodation in spectacular beech forest and mountain meadow settings. Historic cottages have charming features like claw-foot baths and outside pizza ovens. While boutique accommodation in the historic homestead offers a cosy fire (and central heating), crisp linens offset with vintage floral prints, and stunning mountain views.
1771 Glenorchy-Paradise Road, Glenorchy
Mountainhut
Best for backcountry adventure
Fly in by helicopter to this backcountry hut high on the slopes of Mount Larkins. Simple mountain accommodation in an incredible location, this snug hut sleeps six. A log burner keeps you cosy in the snow, and a trip to the loo is an adventure under the stars. Your intrepid hosts are happy to arrange tenting or snow caving around the house if you have a larger group. Book an off-piste ski tour with a guide, or if you’re marking a special occasion, your hosts can even help you arrange a mountain celebration with a chef for a memorable moment you’ll never forget.
Mount Larkins
Early morning at Mountainhut