Matakauri Lodge Queenstown

Matakauri Lodge sits on the western shore of Lake Wakatipu, 12 kilometres from Queenstown town centre along the Glenorchy Road, positioned for uninterrupted views across the lake to The Remarkables mountain range and the Cecil Peak massif. The lodge opened in 2009 under the Exclusive Hotels and Retreats brand and has since ranked among New Zealand's top luxury properties, comprising twelve suites and two private chalets set into the tussock hillside above the lake. Each suite incorporates floor-to-ceiling glazing to frame the mountain and water panorama, with interiors drawing on organic materials—schist stone, reclaimed timber, and hand-woven New Zealand textiles—to echo the Otago high-country landscape. The Matakauri Restaurant serves a nightly multi-course chef's tasting menu with New Zealand wine pairings selected from a cellar of over 500 labels, with Central Otago Pinot Noir a particular strength. A private heated infinity pool overlooks the lake, complemented by an outdoor hot tub and a spa facility offering treatments drawing on local botanicals and thermal minerals. The lodge's adventure coordination team arranges bespoke experiences including helicopter flights to remote glaciers and the high snowfields of the Mount Aspiring National Park, guided fly-fishing on the Dart River, and private wine tours of Central Otago's Gibbston Valley vineyards. Butler service is available around the clock, and all arrivals include pre-arranged private transfers from Queenstown Airport. The property is adults-only and positions firmly as a couples retreat and executive escape.