About this hotel
General information
Rosewood Matakauri stands on the shore of Lake Wakatipu close to Queenstown, facing The Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak as they rise straight out of the water. The lodge takes its name from the Māori legend of Matakauri, a tale of a brave warrior and a sleeping giant woven into the landscape and lore of Queenstown.
Interiors combine open fireplaces and natural textures with a collection of New Zealand art; the lodge runs an artist-in-residence programme and offers private tours of the collection. It is small in scale — a handful of rooms, suites and villas, all facing the lake and the peaks. The kitchen cooks modern New Zealand food from regional produce and its own garden, and in winter four ski areas are within easy reach.
Location
On Glenorchy Road by Lake Wakatipu, a few minutes from central Queenstown. Queenstown International Airport, served by direct flights from Australia and domestic flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, is 15 km away, about 20 minutes by car. The concierge arranges private transfers; taxis and private water taxis are also available.
Spa
The Spa sits at the edge of a pine forest looking over Lake Wakatipu to Cecil Peak; treatments are by appointment in private rooms and use ELEMIS. The signature Glacial Indulgence is built around warm green clay, and the menu also includes a massage with heated New Zealand river stones, facials and a body polish. The wellness area adds a heated outdoor pool, a cedar-clad outdoor sauna, hot and cold plunge pools and a 24-hour fitness centre.
Sports & leisure
The lodge arranges quiet time on site as well as active outings around Queenstown:
- on site: the pool, sauna and plunge pools, a gym, a private jetty for swimming and picnics, guided stargazing and time with the artists in residence
- walking trails around Queenstown and outings to nearby Moke Lake
- helicopter flights to Milford Sound and glacier expeditions on the South Island
- wine itineraries in the Gibbston Valley, where vineyards cling to schist ranges above the Kawarau Gorge
- cruises on Lake Wakatipu aboard the century-old steamship TSS Earnslaw
- the original Kawarau Bridge bungy and a 160 m swing, plus trips to Arrowtown and Glenorchy
For children
The lodge welcomes children of all ages and describes itself as child-friendly; cots are free for infants up to 24 months. The split-level Lake View Two Bedroom Loft Suite is the best fit for families with children.
Restaurants & bars
The cooking is modern New Zealand — high-country lamb, lake-caught fish, produce from the lodge garden and honey from its own bees, while Double Rock Farm in the Kawarau Gorge grows berries, quince, hazelnuts and mulberries for Matakauri alone:
- The Dining Room — à la carte breakfast and dinner with a panorama of lake and mountains and a world-class wine list
- Remarkables Terrace — fireside alfresco dining above native gardens and Lake Wakatipu
- private dining in the Library or the main dining room, and dinners under the stars on the terrace
- in-room dining, and picnic hampers on the private jetty
Swimming
A private jetty on Lake Wakatipu, a short stroll from the lodge, is used for swimming in the clear water and for picnics. The grounds also have a heated outdoor pool and hot and cold plunge pools.
Skiing
Four ski areas are within reach of the lodge, The Remarkables and Coronet Peak being the closest. Heli-skiing and heli-boarding in the Southern Alps can be arranged.
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Rooms
Seven categories, from lake-view rooms and suites to two- and four-bedroom villas; nearly all have an open fireplace, and all of them face Lake Wakatipu and the mountains.
Private balcony or patio, bathroom with twin vanities and a soaking tub, mini-bar, television and Wi-Fi.
Lake View Deluxe Room
An intimate room with a balcony facing The Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak, a king or twin beds and a bathroom with a soaking tub. Sleeps two.
Lake View Suite
A suite at the water’s edge with an open fireplace, a walk-in wardrobe and a patio over Lake Wakatipu; king or twin beds. Sleeps two.
Grand Lake View Suite
A generous suite with the bedroom on a secluded mezzanine, an open fireplace, a large patio and a bathroom with mountain views. Sleeps up to three.
Lake View Two Bedroom Loft Suite
A two-storey suite suited to families with children: two bedrooms, a sitting room with fireplace and a large balcony over the lake and mountains. Sleeps up to five.
Lake View Two Bedroom Suite
Two bedrooms, each with its own balcony over Lake Wakatipu, plus an open fireplace and soaking tubs. Sleeps up to six.
Lake View Two Bedroom Villa
Two bedrooms with fireplaces and balconies, a lounge and dining room with fireplace, a modern kitchen for a private chef and a jacuzzi with mountain views. Sleeps up to four.
Matakauri Four Bedroom Villa
Four en-suite bedrooms with balconies over the lake and mountains, a lounge with open fireplace, a full kitchen, a study, a sheltered courtyard with barbecue and a panoramic jacuzzi. Sleeps up to eight.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.