With Queenstown being one of the most popular destinations to visit in New Zealand, I was understandably excited to check myself in to the area’s premier lodging accommodation: Matakauri Lodge, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Just a seven minute drive from the centre of town, the lodge is close enough for convenience but far enough to feel a world away from reality. So if you’re looking for an unforgettable, unique experience in Queenstown, here’s more about my stay at the luxurious but low-key lodge known as Matakauri!
Checking In: Matakauri Lodge
If a picture tells a thousand words, then stepping in to this real life fairytale is surely a book waiting to be written. The rooms at Matakauri lodge give you that unique New Zealand experience you’ve always dreamed of, with all the comforts of home and then some. Furnishings are warm and inviting, giving you that instant homely feel as soon as you walk in the door.
Around the lodge you can enjoy all the usual facilities of a five star property, but the additions of a warm jacuzzi and infinity pool make the outdoor experience even more enjoyable — even in winter! From the lodge you can also walk down to the jetty where you can enjoy the lake view
The views from Matakauri Lodge are the kind that inspire you to take up painting or watercolours – they’re really that surreal! From the lodge you get a clear and unforgettable view of The Remarkables, as well as unobstructed views of the lake from your room.
Inside the Rooms
The lodge is designed in a way that maximises guests’ privacy, with luscious greenery separating one room’s view from the next.
What I loved most about the room was the balance struck between luxury and purposeful living. Nothing in the room was over the top or unnecessary, as the lodge aims to make guests feel at home in New Zealand with their humble approach to luxury accommodation.
The room rate includes a complimentary mini-bar (the brownies are literally addictive – I can almost taste them just typing about them!), as well as an all-inclusive breakfast and gourmet dinner.
Each room also comes with a private terrace to enjoy the gorgeous mountain views, or you can kick back in the large bathtub and take in the views from indoors.
Around the Lodge
If you can force yourself to leave your room (which I assure you, is harder than it sounds), then you’ll find plenty of things to do around the resort. The resort has an infinity pool, jacuzzi, spa service and a well-appointed gym facing the gorgeous views. And yet even with that draw I couldn’t drag myself in there for a work out!
I would really recommend taking the time to wander down to the jetty for a view on the lake. The lodge has private access making this a great place to kick back and enjoy the sunshine + a good book in the warmer months.
The Matakauri Dining Experience
As mentioned earlier, the lodge room rates include a full buffet and cooked breakfast, all-inclusive mini-bar and a gourmet dinner each evening. Now, more importantly, how was the food!?
Breakfast is available to guests between 7-10:30am and is served in the dining room or alternatively in your room should you wish. The buffet is small but plentiful, with a full menu provided to order cooked breakfast items like Eggs Florentine, Waffles, or fluffy omelettes. Delicious!
Throughout the day I couldn’t help myself but to snack on the delicious homemade treats in the in-room mini-bar and if there’s one thing you should do before you die, its try the Matakauri brownies – they’re unlike anything else I have ever tried before!
Finally, for dinner, you couldn’t get a more refined, delicious dining experience if you tried. Guests can choose from an a la carte or tasting menu, and with so many great dishes on offer I just couldn’t help but to order the tasting menu two nights in a row. Prepare to swallow your pride and ask for the recipe – the dishes are out of this world!
World of Wanderlust visited Matakauri Lodge as a guest – however my opinion and oodles of photos are all my own!
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
