Description
For those seeking pure indulgence, few places compare with Eichardt’s on the lakefront in beautiful Queenstown. An historic landmark dating back to New Zealand’s gold rush days and located in the centre of this vibrant alpine town, the monumental building was originally built as a woolshed in 1859. Its owner soon found himself in the middle of the gold rush frenzy and adapted it to a hotel in order to benefit from the hoards of travellers seeking their fortunes.
Through time, Eichardt's has been totally transformed and now has boutique shops on the ground floor and exclusive romantic suites for guests on the top floor. Eichardt's has recently added a wonderful lake front cottage to its portfolio, offering a more family-friendly set up with self-contained 1,2 or 3 bedroom suites with the most incredible views over Lake Wakatipu.
Eichardt's has been sympathetically renovated to retain its character while providing bang up to date facilities and the atmosphere is one of sophistication and warmth, cleverly mixing antique and contemporary elegance. Enjoy gourmet breakfasts, light lunches and pre dinner drinks in front of the fire in the Parlour before venturing out to try one of Queenstown's many excellent restaurants. Alternatively have the chef prepare you dinner and watch the sun set from the parlour or your comfortable suite. The iconic House Bar also serves fresh and organic dishes, with ingredients sourced from local producers, throughout the day and is a great place to mingle with fellow travellers.
Queenstown is known primarily for its sheer beauty, but has much more to offer the visitor, from shops, restaurants, skyline gondola and fascinating historical sites linked to the town's mining past to a huge range of activities for those seeking adventure. New Zealand's adventure capital's highlights include sky diving, climbing, hiking, jet boating, bungy jumping, river rafting and helicopter tours. More relaxed excursions include golf, gourmet wine tours and fly fishing.
Accommodation
Eichardt's five luxurious Hotel Suites all have a super-king bed, fireplace and mini bar, a dressing room and generous bathroom as well as personal audio visual systems and internet access. The Lakefront Cottage is home to four two-bedroom suites, offering visitors flexible accommodation each with stunning lake and mountain views. These split level suites can interconnect to join groups and families or can be kept as smaller units. Each has a compact kitchen and plenty of entertaining space.
Childcare
Children are very welcome at Eichardt's and the flexible accommodation in the Lakeside Cottage provides families with plenty of options. Eichardt's is happy to organise a nanny or babysitting but there are no specific children's facilities at the property. Queentown is New Zealand's adventure capital and there is plenty here to keep children busy and ensure they are exhausted enough for a great night's sleep.
Facilities
The hotel's Parlour and iconic House Bar both have comfy sofas, crackling fires and here you can enjoy some of Queenstown's finest breakfasts, lunch menus and tapas as well as some great cocktails. The staff at Eichardt's can also organise beauty treatments and therapeutic massages in your suite.
Activities
Eichardt's is centrally located and plenty of adventure is within easy reach of its sophisticated urban comforts - just a stroll away, an array of world class restaurants and shopping experiences make a great change from skiing, hiking, golfing, jet boating, cruising the lake or fly fishing.
When to travel
The climate in New Zealand is incredibly pleasant, with warm and balmy summers and cold crisp winter months with wonderful clear, blue skies. The warmer high-season months of November to April are perfect for outdoor exploration. The colder months of June to August are the best time to ski.
Both North and South Islands are drier on the east coast, rather than on the west, where mountain ranges act as a trap for the moisture-rich winds from the Tasman Sea. It is also worth remembering that it is usually a few degrees cooler on the South Island than the North Island and as New Zealand has a maritime climate, the weather can change rapidly.
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Location and directions
Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand
Eichardt’s is situated on Marine Parade, on the lake front in Queenstown, New Zealand. The views of Lake Wakatipu are astonishing, and Queenstown's location makes for winter skiing in the Remarkables and summertime watersports on the lakefront.
How to get there
From Christchurch International Airport guests take a 45-minute flight to Queenstown. Eichardt's is situated a convenient 15 minute drive from Queenstown Airport. Alternatively, guests can take the 5 to 6-hour drive from Christchurch International Airport.
