Glenorchy Queenstown, New Zealand
Renovated
2018
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe ResortOutside the door
High-country alpine outpost
In the double-height Great Room, deep sofas and a roaring walk-in hearth anchor floor-to-ceiling views across Lake Wakatipu to the Humboldt Mountains.
“Blanket Bay lodge sits on a Wakatipu promontory framed by fine-leafed beeches on the slopes of the dogtoothed Richardson Range.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Soaring thirty-foot timber beam ceilings meet South Island schist fireplaces and antler chandeliers.
Remarkable
Fireside evening aperitifs in The Den, five-course degustations, and private Wine Cave tastings.
Notable
On-site helipad excursions to Milford Sound, guided river fly-fishing, and station biking.
What they say
Two Michelin Keys
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and The 50 Discovery.
The lodge itself is stunning — it’s almost shocking that it contains only eight rooms, so grand is its scale.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Set along Lake Wakatipu on a working high-country station, the lodge offers easy access to braided rivers and Mount Aspiring trails.
The rooms
Lodge rooms feature vaulted ceilings and lakefront balconies, while suites add walk-in schist fireplaces, deep soaking tubs, and private steam showers.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Heated and open during summer, the 18-metre lap pool sits within schist walls overlooking Lake Wakatipu.
The spa and gym
The lakeside hot tub looks out at snow-capped peaks, alongside dedicated steam rooms, a gym, and a massage suite.
Restaurant
Dining Room & Lakeside Terrace
Five-course degustations showcase South Island produce and game, served beside a stone hearth or out on the terrace.
Rooms, chalets and villas have a rustic quality, tastefully appointed with vaulted wood ceilings, oversized beds, granite bathrooms and private balconies or terraces.
How it began
Californians Tom and Pauline Tusher fell for Wyuna Station, commissioning architect Jim McLaughlin in 1999 to craft an alpine outpost.
Good to know
Stay here
Blanket Bay
Choose your dates to see every room and rate, and book in a few steps.
Add dates to see the price for your stay.
Or book with
Booking.com ExpediaWe may earn a commission when you book through Booking.com or Expedia. It never decides which hotels we include or how we rate them.
Queenstown
More like this
Rosewood Matakauri
“Alpine lakeside refuge”
Millbrook Resort
“Alpine golf estate”
Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa
“Organic vineyard showpiece”
QT Queenstown
“Pop-art alpine lodge”
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.