9 Queenstown ski resorts for hitting the New Zealand slopes in style

If you want to be the first on the mountain each morning, Nugget Point Queenstown is only a 13-minute drive from Coronet Peak. Fuel up with breakfast from the hotel’s Kanuka Kitchen and Bar, with rich eggs benny and warm homemade breads. On your return from the snow, warm up in the hotel’s heated mosaic pool, steam room and sauna in the Roman bath-inspired spa. Your muscles will appreciate an Après-Ski Massage, which combines stretching, massage and menthol balm to ease any post-run stiffness.

No matter your suite, you’ll look out on spectacular panoramic views from your private balcony or patio. If you’re craving a quiet night in after the day’s adrenaline, you can self-cater in the Garden View Studio Unit’s kitchenette, or opt for a treat from room service. For ultimate luxury, book the Executive River View Suite to crack open some bubbly in your own outdoor Jacuzzi overlooking the Shotover River. When it’s time to venture beyond the ski slopes, central Queenstown is less than 10 minutes away by car. You’ll find blood-pumping activities like mountain biking, or you can slow things down with a leisurely lakeside stroll.

Queenstown’s Browns Boutique Hotel offers the charm of Europe without the flight miles. With only 10 private suites, you get catered hospitality on tap. Meet your hosts, then head to your room to leap under the soft quilted bedding of your super king bed. You can even cheekily sample a few complimentary home-baked treats before drifting off to sleep. When the sun streams through your windows for a gentle wake-up call, wrap up in your fluffy bathrobe and drink in alpine and river views from your Juliet balcony. While you peruse the continental breakfast, the hotel’s concierge will happily arrange your ski hire and transport.

After your run, shake off the snow in the hotel’s drying room and put your feet up in front of the crackling fire in the guest lounge (you’ll also find free mulled wine and cheese here). Or if you’ve got the energy to spare, you can walk to downtown Queenstown in 10 minutes. We recommend Steamer Wharf on the lake for dinner, where you can try a different restaurant or bar every night. There’s char-grilled salmon at Finz Seafood and Grill, and pizza and fresh pasta at Farelli’s Trattoria. To really chill out, Minus 5 Ice Bar is literally made of ice – everything from the cups to the walls and furniture.

If you’re looking for central Queenstown ski resorts, check out Heritage Queenstown. Coronet Peak is a 20-minute drive away, or if you’re brave enough to tackle a hike with 1,438-metre elevation, the Ben Lomond track is 10 minutes by car. For something easier, you can ride the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest cable car and zoom down more than 800 metres of luge track at Skyline NZ.

When you want to just stay warm inside, get cosy next to the fire at the hotel’s Mackenzies Restaurant, where a seasonal menu makes the most of local ingredients. Dine on pork belly with triple-cooked truffle potatoes or Canterbury silver fern lamb, then finish off with an artisan cheeseboard.

You’ll have views for days once you’re in your room. Picture box windows that bring the outside in, whether it’s a tree-filled vista from the Forest Wing or the turquoise waters of Wakapitu from a Lakeside Suite. All rooms have rich velvet furnishings, king-sized beds and spacious floor plans so you can really stretch out. To bliss out, even more, have a swim in the heated indoor-outdoor pool, then relax in the cedar sauna.

At Millbrook Resort, a huge luxury retreat on a golf course, you’ll be spoilt for choice with epic Queenstown ski packages and activities. Get the hotel concierge to arrange your transport and equipment, then head straight to Coronet Peak (19 minutes by car) or The Remarkables (45 minutes) for fresh powder runs.

For those not in the mood to ski, take a complimentary shuttle into historic Arrowtown to explore over 60 historic buildings and sample wares from famed wineries. Or, just stay in for indulgent pampering at the resort’s award-winning spa. The Sacred Nature Organic Facial uses butterfly bush extract to nourish tired skin, or you can reinvigorate your whole body with a Thousand Flower Detox Wrap.

Like everything at Millbrook, accommodation options are extensive and well appointed. Luxury retreats can accommodate groups and include personal concierge service to boot. Or for an extra restful stay, provincially inspired studios lie beside a babbling brook. Dining at Millbrook is a five-star experience, too: you’ll want to sample dishes at each of the four on-site restaurants. Our favourite choice? Get a telescope with your alfresco meal at Smithy’s Smokehouse for some pre-dinner stargazing.

Set over Lake Wakatipu, Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa makes for an elegant escape. Get dropped off at the slopes by the resort’s shuttle, then afterwards soothe your muscles in your private terrace’s hot tub overlooking the lake and mountains. If you’ve got the family in tow, you can cook up a winter feast in the full kitchen of your one- or two-bedroom Resident Apartment. Or let the kids splash in the 25-metre heated indoor pool while you indulge in a customised treatment at Eforea Spa. For some time alone with your partner, reserve the couples treatment room or go in on your own with a Signature Full Body Repair.

The centre of Queenstown is 13 minutes by car and stuffed with bars, restaurants, shopping and activity. If you’re feeling adventurous, book a ride on the Shotover Canyon Swing, which will launch you off a 109-metre cliff into a 200-metre swing!

When the adrenaline has turned into appetite, the resort’s Wakatipu Grill offers delicious local and seasonal cuisine. You’ll find scrumptious bites like coriander and orange-marinated wagyu flank steak and Fijian-style ceviche complemented by wine from Otago’s best winemakers. For something more casual, grab a takeaway at Me & Mee Chinese Restaurant or Stacks Pub.

You’ll reconnect with nature at Sherwood Queenstown, a hotel focused on wellbeing, sustainability and community. Wander by Lake Wakatipu beneath the watchful eye of The Remarkables, past the hotel’s tipi, kitchen gardens and bike track. An on-site orchard provides fresh organic produce – you’ll see it pop up later in-house-prepared meals like baked tua tua clam with parsley crumb or summer pea, pork and chives. Indulge in a unique bevvie from the creative drinks menu, with aperitifs using Mount Edward elderflower vermouth and pine-needle gin.

A 25-minute drive will have you on the ski trails of Coronet Peak, while central Queenstown is only seven minutes away. Or spend a morning at Skyline – apart from the gondola and luge, there’s mountain biking and a Jelly Belly store where kids can take on the Bean Boozled taste challenge. When you want some ‘me’ time, head back to the hotel for yoga, pilates, meditation or an Ayurvedic massage. Or just get comfy in your room with handwoven furnishings and thick, woolly blankets made from Aotearoa’s own sheep. Ease into the evening with a customised tipple from your far-from-average minibar – you’ll have your choice of organic soda, spirits and bio-dynamic tea.

If you want to be close to the action without feeling overwhelmed, there’s Peppers Beacon Hotel. With catered and self-catered options and rooms to suit large groups, families, couples and solo travellers, this Queenstown ski resort is ideal for stress-free holidays. Kick-start your day with a buffet in the hotel’s breakfast lounge, or stay in your pyjamas for casual brekkie in your suite’s own kitchen.

You’ll love taking your morning coffee onto your private veranda to admire the lake and mountains, or if it’s too cold outside, sinking into cushioned leather armchairs in front of a crackling fire. For luxury for the whole family, splash out on the split-level, five-bedroom penthouse. You’ll get uninterrupted views with a side of room-brewed espresso on your wraparound balcony (if you can leave the underfloor heating, that is).

Only a 10-minute drive from the airport, Peppers Beacon sits directly on Lake Wakatipu. A stroll along the shoreline will have you in central Queenstown in five minutes, where there are lots of places to eat, drink and soak up the lakeside charm. Take a cruise on a vintage steamship and visit Walter Peak High Country Farm, or try a spot of fishing on the lake. When the ski slopes call, a 23-minute drive will get you to Coronet Peak, where you can experience thrilling night skiing while a live DJ spins heart-thumping tunes.

Breakfree The Waterfront combines elegance with friendly New Zealand hospitality. Arrive with the family and rustle up an easy meal in your personal kitchen, then take your plates into your dining space or balcony for a hassle-free evening in. Or if the kids are more the adrenaline junky sort, you’ll find activities to spare on Queenstown’s main street just a few minutes’ walk away. Take a kayak out for the day or hire bikes to explore by pedal power. If you want some indoor action, the Odyssey Sensory Maze poses a unique challenge. Of course, Coronet Peak is 22 minutes away, and you can find kids club packages for youngsters aged 3 months to 17 years.

On your return from the peaks, kick off your snow boots into lockers and wiggle your toes on your room’s luxuriously plush cream carpet, then cosy up in the lounge to watch boats sail past your window. When tummies start to rumble, there’s no shortage of dining options nearby. You might be drawn to Flame Bar and Grill by the aroma of South African barbecue, or be in the mood for a burger from famed Fergburger. Get your fix of sweet treats at Patagonia Chocolates with artisan ice cream or a hefty bag of chocolates to nibble on when you’re back in the hotel room.

For the skier who enjoys the finer things, the exclusive Eichardt’s Private Hotel, established in 1866 as the first hotel in Queenstown, is now a Category 2 historic building under the Historic Places Trust.

Here you’ll find truly opulent suites and apartments: think art deco features, fireplaces, heated flooring, integrated entertainment systems and sofas to curl up on after days on the slopes. Lakefront apartments cater to large groups, or you and your partner can indulge in The Residence: three storeys of grandeur with multiple bedrooms, a European kitchen, stone fireplace and balconies overlooking Queenstown Bay and The Remarkables. If you book the Penthouse, the first-class treatment begins with a chauffeur at Queenstown airport. You’ll soon be sipping Moët by the lap pool on your private terrace – the largest in Queenstown – as your butler and personal chef attend to your every need.

If you do manage to leave such luxury for the slopes, the hotel will arrange everything from transfers to dogsledding. Dining at Eichardt’s is an exquisite affair, too. Throw on your evening best and glide into Grille by Eichardt’s for kumara beignets with roasted beetroot and seasonal oysters. For a true taste of the region, order the four- or six-course tasting menu with matching wines.