We search out the best hotels and resorts in Queenstown/Tāhuna.

Against a backdrop of snowy peaks and cool blue lakes, new five-star hotels and a swathe of luxury getaways bring refreshed energy to an already buzzy Queenstown.

Whether you’ve booked a summer getaway or you’re hitting the slopes, here are the best Queenstown hotels and resorts to book for an elevated stay in this picturesque city.

ROKI Collection Queenstown

Best for: Luxury wellness seekers

Address: 2 Brunswick Street, Queenstown

Cost: $$$$$

Just a few steps away from Lake Wakatipu, this arrival occupies a sweep of waterfront, further underlining Queenstown’s pull for top-tier resorts. The all-suite ROKI has the requisite Queenstown features: awe-inspiring views of The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu, an impressive wine menu and outstanding fine-dining, in this case, the gorgeous Essence restaurant led by Director of Culinary Paul Froggatt. But what sets it apart is its approach to wellness by way of the hotel’s thoughtfully designed and exclusive day spa, ROKI Pure. The space loosely resembles a Roman bath with its neutral tones, large pool and rounded arches. ROKI is the only hotel in New Zealand and the Pacific to partner with The Tides Wellness, a Dutch wellness brand specialising in rituals that work on the nervous system, as well as relax you. Yes, Queenstown’s ski slopes and wineries are just minutes away. But it won’t be easy to leave the serenity of this luxury sanctuary.

The Cottages at Lake Hayes

Best for: Active relaxers

Address: 4 Marshall Avenue, Lake Hayes, Queenstown

Cost: $$ – $$$

I’ve been travelling to Queenstown for a hiking holiday every year since COVID. So, when I found out The Cottages opened, I booked a lakefront cottage for my husband and me immediately. The five cottages on the property each have their own hot tub and view of Lake Hayes. There’s something about Lake Hayes as the ducks paddle across its surface and the way it perfectly mirrors the mountains. That sense of being in the hinterland of Central Otago, but really just a stone’s throw from Queenstown and a short drive to historic Arrowtown. Inside the two-room cottages, the decor is simple, elegant and cosy with a wood stack and woodburner at the ready. Owners Kirsty and Justin leave handwritten notes and welcome gifts like tubs of local honey and Akarua pinot noir. My favourite spot is the window seat of The Hayes cottage living room where the view is all golden hillsides, silver lake and yellow-green foliage. I love the two-hour Lake Hayes loop track, accessible from The Cottages. I walk it, but plenty of people bike it. The rest of the world may be chaotic outside; inside, that feeling of home-away-from-home takes over.

Sherwood Queenstown

Best for: Hipster foodies

Address: 554-558 Frankton Road, Queenstown

Cost: $-$$

Contemporary hotels in today’s cities often stick to a modern, minimal design look. Sherwood Queenstown, on Frankton Road, however, celebrates its former identity as an ’80s motor inn and overlays it with a woodsy American aesthetic. It’s got a great sustainability ethic – from the way the owners retained and reused as much as they could of the existing building materials during the hotel’s refurbishment to the commitment to composting food waste and keeping its own gardens. I’ve had patchy service the handful of times I’ve stayed, but the overall vibe here and food, especially, always impresses – Michelin-trained Chris Scott is the executive chef. My first visit to this accommodation in spring coincided with a day of bright, warm sunshine (perfect for the annual Queenstown Marathon, half of which I ran with friends), followed by a day of thick snowfall. For me, the place couldn’t have been more pleasing and I remember a warming breakfast of steel cut oats, black doris plums and mascarpone and looking at snow piling up on the ground outside.

Hulbert House

Best for: History buffs

Address: 68 Ballarat Street, Queenstown

Cost: $$$ – $$$$

This fine heritage-listed house, five minutes’ walk from Lake Wakatipu in central Queenstown, perfectly weaves together two tales: the colourful history of Queenstown’s era as a gold rush village of the 1880s and the reinvention of this Victorian villa as a luxe oasis for visitors who love a backstory. Filled with antiques, lush furnishings and views of the lake and mountains, this eight-bedroom accommodation is a place of warm, personalised service. You’re in the experienced hands of lodge manager Marina Silva, a longtime Queenstown local, and French chef and host Marie Dusch. More than 130 years ago, Hulbert House was the grand home of settler and businessman Horatio Nelson Firth (the Firth, also known as The Grand Room, bears his name). Later it became a guest house and, at one time, a nursing home before it was salvaged from disrepair and carefully restored as a Category 1 historic place. Stand-out contemporary wallpaper and drapery feature in every room. The rich sense of local heritage is expressed in the names of all eight room names. The McFarlane Room is an example, named after Elizabeth McFarlane, a previous owner whose guest book from 1924, gifted to Hulbert, can be viewed on request.

Coronet Ridge Resort

Best for: Busy mountain goers

Address: 146 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown

Cost: $$$ – $$$$

With its location on the road to Coronet Peak ski area, the scene is set: come to rest and recharge after busy days on the slopes. Coronet Ridge Resort is set high on a ridge overlooking the Shotover River, where local iwi (tribe) Ngāi Tahu run the Shotover Jet. Its design is sophisticated minimalism meets modern alpine retreat, extending a soft, earthy colour palette throughout the rooms, suites and shared areas. Rooms range in size from the 36-square metre Shotover River View Room (for two) to the 70-square metre Coronet Two Bedroom Suite (for up to four) and come with their own outdoor bathtubs. There’s a gym, day spa and steam and sauna room. With its panoramic views, taking in the Wakatipu Basin, The Remarkables and the Shotover River below, Elevation Bar & Restaurant is the place for brunch, dinner and aprés-ski cocktails. This resort is surely the recommended base for any modern mountain goer.