Novotel Queenstown Lakeside is the easy, well-located middle choice. It stands on the corner of Earl Street and Marine Parade, on the quieter eastern edge of the town centre, with the lakefront, the Queenstown Gardens and the main shopping streets all around a hundred metres away. The four-star rooms come in several categories: Standard rooms with a king bed or two double beds, Alpine view rooms facing the mountains, and Lakeside rooms on the water side of the building, plus an accessible room with a special access bathroom and a 52-square-metre apartment with a king bed. Standard rooms with two double beds are about 26 square metres and sleep up to four, which makes the hotel popular with families. ELEMENTS restaurant serves breakfast from early morning and dinner in the evening, with mezzanine seating and an al fresco terrace in the hotel’s rose garden, and the Elements Lounge is a relaxed spot for coffee, lunch or a sunset cocktail. There is a fitness centre and an on-site car park.
Location and getting around: the hotel’s position is its biggest strength. You can walk out of the door to the lake, cross into the Queenstown Gardens for a morning stroll on the peninsula, and reach Steamer Wharf, the Mall and the adventure shuttles on Shotover Street in a few minutes. The Skyline gondola is a slightly longer walk across town.
Rooms: the Lakeside rooms are the ones to book if you want to look over the water, while Alpine view rooms face the mountains. Families should choose a room with two double beds, and the apartment suits a longer stay. Rooms are modern, comfortable and practical rather than distinctive.
Who it suits: families, first-time visitors and anyone who wants a reliable international brand in a walkable spot without paying luxury prices. It is also a handy base for Milford Sound coach tours, most of which offer pick-ups in central Queenstown.
Good to know: breakfast is charged separately unless your rate includes it, and the on-site car park carries a fee, so factor it in if you are driving. Lakeside rooms are in demand in summer, so book early for December to February.
Why stay here
- ✓Lakeside and Alpine view rooms
- ✓Family rooms with two double beds
- ✓ELEMENTS restaurant
- ✓Rose garden terrace
- ✓Elements Lounge
- ✓Fitness centre
- ✓On-site car park
- ✓Accessible room
Good questions
How far is Novotel Queenstown Lakeside from the lake?+
Lake Wakatipu, the Queenstown Gardens and the main shops are all about 100 metres away, roughly a minute’s walk. It is one of the most central mid-range hotels in town.
Is Novotel Queenstown Lakeside good for families?+
Yes, rooms with two double beds sleep up to four, and many guests are families. An apartment with more space is also available.
Does Novotel Queenstown Lakeside have parking?+
Yes, there is an on-site car park. A parking fee applies, so check the current rate when you book.