Family at Millbrook Resort in winter

Things to Consider Choosing Accommodation with Kids

Book Ahead

It’s much easier to ‘wing it’ as a couple than travelling with the kids. It's best to book your accommodation ahead of time, especially since if you think a place is ideal for your family, chances are other families will like it and want to book it too.

Proximity to Town Centre

If your favourite stay is out of town, will you have a car, or is there bus or shuttle transport available?  If you’ve chosen the cute townships of Arrowtown or Glenorchy as your base they have their own vibrant centres.  Most activity and ski shuttle operators pick up at accommodations so being out of town is easy to manage.  Otherwise you might like to stay somewhere you can wander downtown with dozens of eateries and entertainment options right on hand.

Proximity to Activities

Everything is pretty easy to access around the Queenstown Lakes and there are plenty of fun family activities to choose from, including more than 130kms of walking and cycling trails, linking downtown Queenstown to all the surrounding suburbs in the Wakatipu Basin.

If you're here for a family ski trip, you might want to think about whether you want to stay close to our local ski areas. Coronet Peak is just a 20-minute drive from the town centre and The Remarkables is approximately a 45-minute drive from town, but both have accommodation close to the bottom of their access roads.

A good option is to look for accommodation in Frankton, it's just 6km from Queenstown centre, near the lake and closest to The Remarkables. Frankton is also a great shopping hub for Queenstown and has restaurants, supermarkets and an awesome base for kids’ activities such as trampolining and climbing.

Closest to Coronet Peak is Arthurs Point which is nestled right at the base of the access road, so no excuse not to be first up the hill in the mornings!  Arthurs Point has a holiday park, hotel and apartment style accommodation as well as a couple of cruisy eateries.

Family biking adventures in Queenstown

Catering for Hungry Kids

It’s pretty much a necessity for a family group to have at least a kitchenette for breakfasts and preparing snacks. Otherwise maybe you’ll opt for a hotel that has an in-house dining area for breakfasts or all-day meals.

Work out how you want your days to pan out and whether you need a fully-equipped kitchen, or whether you’re happy to eat out at one of our many great cafes, restaurants and takeaways.  There are many large, fully-stocked supermarkets around Queenstown, including the most centrally-located Fresh Choice.

Space to Run Around

Kids like space to let off steam – particularly while you’re trying to plan your itinerary or  relaxing with a wine at the end of the day.  Check how much safe, outdoor space your accommodation offers. Do they have a playground, games room, swimming pool or spa pool? Does your apartment/room offer a balcony or patio?

Extras to Make your Family Break Easier

A few final things to consider to make your stay that much easier.

• Childminders: Babysitting Queenstown or Tots on Tour offer a childminding service. Some accommodation providers have their own babysitting service or a kids’ club.

• Wi-Fi: All accommodation offers Wi-Fi, but some may incur a charge, or a charge.  It’s pretty useful with the kids to stay somewhere with unlimited free Wi-Fi in your room!  

• Views: If a lake view is an essential, ask about the view from the room you’ll be staying in to avoid disappointment.