I can't say enough great things about this hotel and most especially, the staff! I stayed here for a week with a group of eight people for a yoga retreat for New Years 2014. Andrew, the GM, and his awesome staff (Hannah, Jen, and Bo, just to name a few) were SO accommodating and helpful. We loved them so much, their cheerful attitudes were so infectious. They booked all kinds of events for us, shuttled us in and out of town, gave great recommendations for activities, and were really flexible about our breakfast and dinner timing. They let us set up our early morning yoga practices in both the dining room (with a view of the surrounding river valley and mountains), and in the warm and cozy spa downstairs. I would give these guys 10 stars for service if I could.
And then there's the hotel itself. The rooms are spacious, the bathrooms are big and the beds are comfortable. They provide coffee and tea service in the room, along with a mini-fridge and a television. There is free wi-fi, but it was best accessed in the lobby or dining room. Some of us in the lower floor rooms had spotty connections, however, my lower-floor room also had French doors that opened onto a semi-private patio looking out over the truly stunning river valley. (Who needs to be staring at a screen??) Wildflowers were blooming right outside my patio, and a family of wild quail with about a dozen thumb-sized chicks made numerous appearances while I was there. Great place to sit and have coffee in the morning.
The dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows so that the view is all you see when you walk into the room. And what a view! The food was good, with generous portions, and felt very modern. The kitchen was very accommodating of those in our group with dietary restrictions (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.).
The spa is gorgeous. They have a big pool with beautiful mosaic tile work everywhere. There's also a hot tub, steam room and sauna. I had a massage while I was there from Keisha. She was so lovely, the massage was amazing, and I was in a room overlooking the river valley, again with giant windows to take advantage of the view (don't worry, no one can see in!). The spa prices were on par with what I pay at a spa in Seattle (e.g., $120/hr for massage).
The hotel is about a 10-minute drive from Queenstown, but the hotel provides shuttle service a couple times a day, and taxis are easy to get when the shuttle is not available. Go for the green cabs, they have a flat rate!
I love this place and would definitely return for another stay. read more