Hip Apartments in Queenstown You'll Want to Call Home

Named in honour of the grape hyacinth, cherry blossom and white jasmine that decorate the property in spring, the studios are a ten-minute walk from both the Queenstown Gardens and the 130km Queenstown Trail. Those looking to explore from the skies may wish to take advantage of the ‘Stay & Fly’ package; in conjunction with local operator The Helicopter Line, guests get a night’s stay along with a 20-minute scenic flight.

The bulky welcome pack honours Maori traditional hospitality with complimentary Kiwi cookies, chocolates, crisps and beer. The staff here are on hand to book any day trips or activities via a reception room. The ten ensuite studio rooms and two self-contained apartments are priced according to season, but the holy trinity of views – the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu and the Skyline gondola – can be seen all year round.

Queenstown is renowned as New Zealand’s party capital, but these sleek apartments on a quiet side street near the bay beach offer a noise-cancelling buffer from the action on Shotover Street. Skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of the lockers and drying room, while similar facilities are tailored to cyclists. Additionally, as anyone who has ever tried to park in Queenstown will know, the free off-street parking is a welcome extra.

Residents here are likely to get a daily glimpse of the Edwardian steamer TSS Earnslaw making its graceful journeys from Queenstown’s Bay. For a closer look, speak to managers Connah or Tori for a discount to climb aboard. They may even tempt you with local wine trails and horse rides. The apartments themselves come with a fern-guarded outdoor spa, ensuring maximum privacy in the bubbling pool.

Large groups can request exclusive use of the courtyard area at The Glebe Apartments, where a gas BBQ will be provided. Private chefs and catering can also be arranged with a guest service team eager to personalise your experience. Mobile massage, childcare and local tours are other popular requests at The Glebe. During the ski season, underground parking and a temperature-controlled drying room prove just as big a draw.

The white-washed walls of these serviced apartments dazzle as bright as the snow-tipped Southern Alps that form its backdrop. With distinctive brutalist architecture, it is unlike any other building in Queenstown, each apartment lined up in a staccato design. Interiors are warm and welcoming, plus a range of hot drinks and bathroom toiletries are provided. As the two flags flying high outside would suggest, all of their complimentary products are local to New Zealand.

A 15-minute walk from Queenstown’s central hubbub, guests are given the choice of 16 self-contained units, most with magnetic views of Lake Wakatipu. Handily for those booking online are the self-explanatory names for each pad (e.g. “panoramic lakeview studio”), leaving no doubt as to what is being booked. Queen-sized beds come as standard, while some studios offer spa baths and laundry facilities as extra.

These well-supplied apartments are a popular alternative choice for business travellers, thanks to their proximity to corporate event hotels nearby. Drivers should have no problem locating the motel, just off the 6A state highway (Frankton Road). Each unit has an allocated parking spot included. Alternatively, hail a taxi from the airport and you’ll arrive in less than ten minutes – it’ll be one of the most scenic cab rides you’ll take.

There’s a very good reason that the sofas in these apartments face the windows rather than the television. Nesting on a rise adjacent to the Ben Lomond Reserve, wide window frames drench the comfy interiors in light, bouncing off Queenstown’s dusty peaks. Apartments range from one to six bedrooms. The sheepskin electric blankets that accompany the queen beds are a cosy flourish during winter.