Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what? I wasn’t expecting much when our Uber turned down Peninsula Road – I mean, it’s basically a residential street in Kelvin Heights, and honestly, the whole area feels pretty suburban compared to central Queenstown. But then you pull up to the Hilton and suddenly everything clicks. The building itself sits right on Lake Wakatipu’s edge, and I’m talking literally waterfront – like, you could probably skip a stone into the lake from the lobby if the staff weren’t watching.

The thing about this place is the location actually works in your favor once you’re settled in. Sure, you’re about a 10-minute drive from the Queenstown action (though the hotel shuttle runs regularly), but being in Kawarau Village means you get these incredible, unobstructed lake views without the cruise ship crowds that clog up the main waterfront. The spa here is genuinely impressive – I’ve been to a lot of hotel spas that feel like afterthoughts, but this one has floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Remarkables, and honestly, getting a massage while watching the light change on those peaks is pretty spectacular. The infinity pool area gets packed during peak summer months (December-February), but if you hit it early morning or late afternoon, it’s this perfect spot where the water seems to blend right into the lake.

What really sold me on the place was the staff’s local knowledge – our concierge didn’t just recommend the usual tourist traps but pointed us toward this little vineyard drive that most visitors never hear about, and suggested timing our Milford Sound trip to avoid the worst crowds. The rooms are solid Hilton standard (nothing groundbreaking but reliably comfortable), and most have those lake views that honestly never get old. Parking’s free, which sounds basic but you’ll appreciate it when you see what central Queenstown charges. The only real downside? The restaurant gets pretty busy with wedding parties – we stayed during a weekend in March and there were actually two weddings happening, which made dinner service a bit chaotic. But I mean, you can see why people would want to get married here. On a clear evening, when the mountains are reflecting in the lake and the whole scene goes golden, it’s the kind of view that makes you understand why everyone’s so obsessed with New Zealand’s scenery.