Discover the best place to stay in Queenstown

Located on the shore of Lake Wakatipu on the South Island, Queenstown is a lovely city that offers many unique attractions and experiences. It’s also a great base camp for exploring the wonders of the Southern Alps region, which is home to historic mining towns, prominent ski resorts and award-winning wineries and vineyards. You’ll have virtually endless options for how to spend your time, as well as a variety of accommodation options in some of Queenstown’s best holiday areas. Whether you want a romantic trip, a family holiday or time to relax and explore on your own, find out more about the best place to stay in Queenstown and explore your accommodation options.

Best places to stay in Queenstown

From the bustling downtown area to the outlying wine and adventure regions, you can find an array of options for where to stay during your Queenstown holiday. Whether you want to sightsee and explore the nightlife or you prefer to wander the tracks in the forest, take a look at the best places to stay in Queenstown to plan your trip.

Downtown Queenstown for family fun

Downtown Queenstown is the hub of nightlife and dining, so it’s the best place to stay if you’re looking for a city break with the kids. You’ll have numerous accommodation options to choose from including apartments, boutique hotels, hostels and baches. Downtown is also a great base camp for outdoor fun because it’s close to many of the ski resorts in the region and adventures like jet boating and bungee jumping off the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge. Plenty of accommodation options are available, ranging from budget-friendly to decadent, so you’ll have exactly what you need.

Gibbston Valley for wine tours

Known as the ‘Valley of the Vines’, the Gibbston Valley is an incredible scenic wine valley with vineyards between mountains and gorges. The area experiences cold winters and hot, dry summers, creating challenging grape-growing conditions that produce world-renowned wines. Most of the wineries produce pinot noir, but you’ll also find pinot gris, riesling, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. If you want to enjoy culinary tours and winery experiences, you can find vineyard-based accommodation in Gibbston Valley.

Lake Wakatipu for outdoor adventure

One of the largest lakes in New Zealand, Lake Wakatipu is a lovely lake near Queenstown that was formed in a glacial valley. The lake is surrounded by towering peaks where you can hike and climb, and you’ll have the lake and 2 rivers for water sports, fishing and boating with the whole family. Queenstown is one of the cities on the lake, but you’ll also find other charming lakeside communities along the shore. Lakefront family holiday homes and baches are available to stay close to the lake and enjoy spectacular views, but you can also book accommodation in the mountains for a scenic escape.

Arrowtown for history and culture

If you want to stay outside the city but close enough to the family attractions, Arrowtown is a great option. The former gold-mining town offers cheap accommodation and is popular with history buffs who want to experience the local attractions and still have opportunities for sightseeing and nightlife in Queenstown.

Types of accommodation in Queenstown

Queenstown offers a diverse range of accommodation options to suit your needs. You can find baches, hotels, hostels, holiday homes, resorts and lodges that range from affordable to extravagant, all offering unique family amenities and perks. Take a look at the types of accommodation you can find in Queenstown to see what you can expect.

Luxury accommodation in Queenstown

If you want a pampered holiday in Queenstown, you can book luxury accommodation in just about every configuration you can think of. You’ll find luxury hotels and resorts, swanky serviced apartments, extravagant holiday homes and charming baches with decadent touches. Luxury accommodation comes with exciting amenities, such as on-site restaurants and bars, pools, fine furnishings, organised community activities, adventure tours, entertainment for the kids and child care services, so you’ll have all you need in one place.

Budget accommodation in Queenstown

Budget accommodation in Queenstown is a great way to stretch your holiday funds and make the most of your experience with the family. With self-contained budget baches, holiday homes, lodges and apartments, you’ll have your own kitchen to prepare meals, plenty of space to entertain the kids at home and an array of comfortable amenities so you don’t feel like you’ve skimped. When you stretch your budget, you’ll have some room to splurge on more extravagant experiences in Queenstown with the kids, such as adventure tours, a night on the town or shopping in the city.