5 Best Heritage Hotels In Queenstown, New Zealand - Updated 2024

Alex
Alex 
Updated
| 3 min read

Known as “tahuna” in the local Maori language, the resort town of Queenstown offers some of the biggest fun in the country. With a relatively small population of 16,000, most visitors to the city come to Queenstown as tourists. What sets the city apart from many others is that Queenstown is basically a year-round resort town. In the winter months, the nearby ski mountains bring in people from all over the world to hit the slopes. In the summer months, people take to the rivers and lakes or even the skies with paragliding or sky diving. Many buildings and structures from the mid-1800s era still remain, giving the modern city a touch of historic charisma. If you’re staying in the city, check out some of these best heritage hotels in Queenstown, New Zealand.

We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) the property's historical and cultural significance, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 09, 2024.

1. Eichardt's Private Hotel & Lakefront Apartments (from USD 782)

Located in the city center is Eichardt’s Private Hotel & Lakefront Apartments. The building is one of the oldest in the area, having been built in 1867. Despite its age, the hotel remains elegant and classy, but also adds contemporary flair and modern comforts. The ornately decorated facade of the building gives guests a feeling that they’re entering a veritable heritage hotel complete with warm and comforting design choices. Guests can lounge in the parlor and enjoy a cocktail, or do a little reading by the crackling fireplace. Breakfast is offered daily, but if you don’t feel like dining in, there are plenty of restaurant options within walking distance of the hotel. Wi-Fi access is available, as well as a shuttle service and even a bike rental.

Stayed at this property?

Eichardt's Private Hotel & Lakefront Apartments

Wheelchair accessible

Address: 2 Marine Parade, Queenstown City Center, Queenstown, New Zealand, 9300

Parking Restaurant Room service Meeting/banquet facilities Bar 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Fitness centre Non-smoking rooms

2. Hulbert House (from USD 657)

Located near the downtown center of Queenstown is the gorgeous Hulbert House. The hotel is a remodeled and renovated Victorian-era villa that offers modern amenities like Wi-Fi access and on-site parking. The rooms here are all luxuriously designed with ornate wallpaper, large comfy beds with canopies, and vintage lighting fixtures. The beds themselves have Hungarian goose down blankets and Egyptian cotton pillows and bathrobes. Each suite also has a coffeemaker and grinder so you can have your cup of joe as fresh as possible. If you’d rather head to the restaurant, breakfast is served daily. The menu includes fresh jam and baked sourdough bread, as well as free-range bacon and eggs.

Stayed at this property?

Hulbert House Luxury Boutique Lodge Queenstown

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: 68 Ballarat Street

Parking Bar 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Golf course (within 3 km) Garden Terrace Non-smoking rooms Laundry

3. The Dairy Private Hotel (from USD 240)

Located a short two-minute walk away from the vibrant downtown center is The Dairy Private Hotel. It has been around since the 1920s, starting as a corner store and the town’s first dairy shop. The guest rooms here are designed with a 1920s-era aesthetic with a touch of modern charm, and modern amenities included. Ornate wallpaper and dark wood tones mix with modern light colors and furniture, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows, for a touch of modern class. Guest rooms also offer views of the vistas and mountains, as well as a glass of sparkling New Zealand wine upon arrival. Guests are free to use the hotel’s amenities such as the pool, lounge by the fireplace, or browse the on-site library.

Stayed at this property?

The Dairy Private Hotel by Naumi Hotels

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: 21 Brecon St

Parking Non-smoking rooms Dry cleaning Facilities for disabled guests Skiing Internet services Express check-in/check-out Safety deposit box

Nearby heritage hotels

4. New Orleans Hotel (from USD 114)

Built in 1866, New Orleans Hotel is one of the oldest around New Zealand. The hotel was renovated in 2019 and now features plenty of modern amenities with tons of Old World charm. The on-site restaurant serves modern fare and is one of the best restaurants in the area, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner using seasonal and local ingredients. Stop by for a pint or enjoy a cocktail on the sunny patio during the summer, or a warm drink by the fireplace in the winter. Rooms feature mountain and river views, as well as Wi-Fi access and coffee-making facilities.

Stayed at this property?

New Orleans Hotel

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: 27 Buckingham Street

Parking Restaurant Meeting/banquet facilities Bar Golf course (within 3 km) Terrace Non-smoking rooms Fishing

5. Cardrona Hotel (from USD 123)

At first glance, Cardrona Hotel might not seem like a quintessential heritage hotel. It is small and looks a little old with its wooden Western-style facade. Cardrona Hotel is indeed one of the oldest hotels in the country and is a part of New Zealand history. The hotel was established in 1863 when Cardrona Valley was experiencing a gold rush. The rush meant more and more people came into town and the city experienced a boom in population. Cardrona Hotel offered miners and people passing by a place to stay. By the 1960s, the hotel was more known for its pub, which still remains to this day. After closing its doors in the 80s, the iconic hotel and pub were reopened in 2013. Cardrona Hotel now offers modern amenities such as Wi-Fi access and a hot tub, but it remains a simple and historic place to stay for people heading between Cardrona and Queenstown.

Stayed at this property?

Cardrona Hotel

Wifi Available

Address: 2312 Cardrona Valley Road

Parking Restaurant Meeting/banquet facilities Bar Garden Terrace Non-smoking rooms Laundry

Historic New Zealand

Queenstown has tons of Victorian-era hotels and buildings that offer both a more quaint or more elegant experience. No matter the time of the year you’re visiting, there’s always something to do, so bring your skis or your bathing suit and check out the fun and fantastic city of Queenstown and its historic hotels.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Alex is a Canadian university graduate with degrees in English literature and History. He was born in Montreal and when he's not traveling he enjoys movies, video games, playing the drums and...Read more

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