79 Peninsula Road, Kawarau Village, Queenstown, New Zealand | (618) 248-8274
Short drive to the Queenstown airport and overlooking Remarkable Mountains
Contemporary rooms with kitchenettes, upscale furnishings, and picturesque views
Four restaurants serve casual and gourmet menus, plus room service
10-seat, private screening room and DVD rentals
Free shuttle to airport and downtown Queenstown
Fitness center, foosball and pool tables, and bike rentals
Meeting room for up to 190 guests, plus business center
Free Wi-Fi in lobby and free parking
Warm chocolate chip cookies on arrival
15-minute drive to center of Queenstown
Slow Wi-Fi, and costs extra in rooms
Pricey dining options
The DoubleTree by Hilton is a good value, three-and-a-half-pearl property that's a five-minute drive from the airport and overlooks the Remarkable Mountains and Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. A 10-seat screening room sets the tone for the property, whose contemporary lobby (with popcorn machine and candy) resembles a movie theater. This hotel offers free shuttles to the airport and downtown Queensland, but seats fill up fast. Its 98 rooms, all with mountain or water views, include sleek kitchenettes; upgraded rooms have fireplaces and balconies. There's in-room Wi-Fi, but guests say it is slow. Four pricey restaurants, a small fitness center, and bike rentals are on hand. A pool and sauna is available next door for a fee at the Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa, a more expensive and luxury alternative.
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Scene
Stylish chain property with hip vibe for an athletic crowd
The modern, fitted-stone exterior of this Doubletree by Hilton and its minimalist gardens and stunning mountain and water views make for a dramatic setting for a chain hotel. The lobby has cove ceilings with red lighting, a sinuous black sofa, brown velvet love seats, and glass coffee tables. A popcorn machine, 10-person private screening room, and DVD rental desk make the lobby feel like an art-house cinema. The lobby also has a lounge area, set with pool tables in an airy, streamlined space. Warm chocolate chip cookies are served upon arrival to the guests. There are several restaurants, including the casual Lake Counter Cafe with colorful beechwood chairs and framed advertisements for retro goods and the serene Me and Mee, with delicate, wall-mounted, hand fans and pops of red, reflecting its Chinese menu. Guests complain that the food and beverages, while good, are pricey. This is a bustling property geared to an athletic, younger set of guests who appreciate stylish elements in a chain hotel that's near skiing and golf.
Location
Between a lake and the mountains, a five-minute drive from the airport
This Double Tree is conveniently located near the airport and among the natural beauty in Kawarau Village. It sits between the Remarkable Mountains and Lake Wakatipu. Opportunities for outdoor activity abound with Jack's Point Golf Course a nine-minute drive away and Kelvin Heights Golf Course 10 minutes away by car. The center of Queenstown is a 15-minute drive. It's a 16-minute drive to the Skyline Queenstown Gondola. The Remarkable Mountains Ski Fields are a 26-minute drive. It's a 52-minute drive to the Kawarau Estate for a vineyard tour and tasting. Skipper's Canyon, for white water rafting, is 54 minutes by car. The Queenstown Airport is a five-minute drive.
Rooms
Airy and stylish rooms, with kitchenettes and a sophisticated color palette
Rooms at this DoubleTree are airy and come with stylish furniture and kitchenettes. The decor, in shades of gray, white, and black, is modern rustic with streamlined furnishings and fabrics in country textures and patterns like knits and plaids. The floors are glossy, dark wood and laid with contemporary area rugs. There are large windows with draw drapes for light and privacy, and stark views that include the Remarkable Mountains and Lake Wakatipu. The kitchenettes include small to medium-sized refrigerators, cooktops, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Guests complain that reaching the microwaves requires kneeling as they're placed below the counters. Nice quality cookware and dishes are placed on the shelves. There are also flat-screen TVs with large speakers, radios, and, for a fee, Wi-Fi (though it's slow). The rooms include safes, irons, and ironing boards. The bathrooms are crisp and modern with gray, rectangular tiles, gray and white damask-patterned wall coverings, and chrome fittings. Some have tub/shower combos and others have shower stalls and soaking tubs. Toiletries are by Aroma Actives. Upgraded rooms have whirlpools, balconies, fireplaces, and good views of the lake or water.
Features
Free shuttles to town and airport, plus a screening room
There are several interesting features and amenities at this DoubleTree by Hilton that elevate it above the chain hotel standard. Guests praise the free shuttle to the nearby airport and town but caution that seats fill up fast and depart about every two hours. There's also free parking on-site. The property has several dining options, including a well-reviewed breakfast buffet, for a fee, and a casual cafe, Chinese restaurant, and grill. Note prices are high for dining outlets. The hotel welcomes guests with warm chocolate chip cookies in the lobby, where they can also find free Wi-Fi and DVDs to watch in their rooms or in a 10-seat private, screening room. Another diversion is the lounge-like space with pool and foosball tables. A concierge, currency exchange, and luggage storage are also on hand. There is a business center with computer, fax, and copy machines, and a meeting space for 190 people with audiovisual equipment. The property has bicycles for rent and a small fitness center with Precor equipment. This hotel is well-suited to handicapped guests. Service animals (but not pets) are welcome here. For a fee, guests can use the gym, spa, and pool at the Hillton Queenstown Resort and Spa, just next door.
