Best Luxury Hotels in Queenstown

This luxury property is in the heart of Queenstown, on a quiet street near bars, restaurants, and shops. The 82 large and elegant rooms have air-conditioning, underfloor heating, minibars, Juliet balconies, espresso machines, and Bose Wave radios. Extra touches include pillow menus and plush New Zealand possum throws. Modern marble bathrooms have separate tubs and rainfall showers, plus Lanvin toiletries. Sofitel has more on-site facilities than most Queenstown hotels; these include a French cafe (one that flies in pastries from Paris, no less), a cozy cocktail bar with a fireplace and live music, and a full-service spa offering Maori massages. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

The Rees Hotel & Luxury Apartments is an upscale property on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Most rooms of the 150 rooms and apartments have spectacular water views, and all have handsome hand-crafted wooden furniture, private balconies, and living areas. The hotel suits well-heeled couples, families, and groups, and often attracts foodies and wine connoisseurs as the property is well-known for its extensive wine collection and fine-dining restaurant that’s one of Queenstown's best culinary experiences. There's no spa here, like at Sofitel, but massages and facials can be set up in the rooms, and the hotel has a fitness center, observatory, and private jetty in the lake. Travelers wanting to be in the heart of Queenstown might prefer Sofitel, as Rees is a 20-minute walk or five-minute drive into the center of town -- though it does provide a free hourly shuttle and free on-site parking (parking at Sofitel costs a fee).

The 178-room, luxury Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa sits on the eastern shore of Lake Wakatipu in Kawarau Village. The resort is a 10-minute water-taxi ride from Queenstown's party scene, and under a 30-minute drive to area ski slopes. The stylish resort has ample features that include a variety of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, as well as a 24-hour gym, full-service spa (with sauna and steam room), and heated lap pool. Rooms are large and contemporary, with king beds, gas fireplaces, luxe bathrooms, and furnished terraces or balconies. However, Wi-Fi incurs a charge, on top of a daily facilities fee. (Wi-Fi is free at Rees, but that hotel lacks a spa or gym.) 

Spectacular views are the name of the game at this relaxing and romantic property. A 10-minute drive from central Queenstown, Nugget Point overlooks the Shotover River and surrounding mountains. All 36 spacious guest rooms feature coffeemakers, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and private balconies or patios, but room decor is surprisingly bland and only the top-tier suite has a gas fireplace -- a feature found in every room at Hilton Queenstown. Nugget Point's indulgent day spa is styled like a mosaic-tiled Roman bath, with plunge pools, indoor heated pool, sauna, and steam room (and amazing views). There are tennis and squash courts plus a fitness center, and in the winter months, ski rentals are available on-site. A long list of New Zealand wines -- plus more incredible views -- are available at the hotel's fine-dining restaurant.

A two-minute walk from center of Queenstown, Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel is a small property with chic, contemporary design. Its 19 rooms are spacious and filled with light; they come with such upscale amenities as modern kitchenettes, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and DVD players, minibars, and safes. Some guest rooms have views of the Remarkables Mountains. Like Sofitel, Queenstown Park's rooms feature both air-conditioning and underfloor heating. Excellent cooked-to-order breakfasts are available each morning (for a fee) and free canapes and drinks are served during evening happy hours. Skiers and snowboarders can make use of the hotel’s drying room, and there’s a conference center and meeting room for business guests. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and free car parking is available underneath the hotel.

The Spire Hotel Queenstown is an upscale boutique hotel in the center of town, only a block from Lake Wakatipu. The four-pearl property has 10 identical guest rooms with attractive furniture, gas fireplaces, huge furnished balconies, and bathrooms with soaking tubs and Molton Brown products. The hotel's highlight feature is its chic restaurant, No5 Church Lane, which serves Mediterranean fare and has a trendy bar with an outdoor patio. While Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa has a 24-hour fitness center with sauna and steam room and a full-service spa, The Spire lacks both facilities.

The upscale Oaks Shores is a (mostly) apartment-style hotel on the shores of picturesque Lake Wakatipu, about a four-minute drive from Queenstown's center (the hotel offers free shuttle service). Spacious apartments have full kitchens and large living rooms. Other standard amenities include 50-inch flat-screen TVs, underfloor heating, and free Wi-Fi -- but it's limited to 30 minutes per day (additional time costs a pricey fee). Many units also have gas fireplaces, private balconies or large terraces, and laundry machines. The restaurant and bar offers beautiful lake views, but it's not the renowned fine-dining experience found at Rees. Additionally, that hotel has chicer apartments with free Wi-Fi and a better fitness center -- but its rates are more expensive.