The five-star apartment-style hotel is considered one of the great hotels of Queenstown. Quentin Long checks in to see if The Rees is much more than its incredible views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables.
Part ski lodge, part luxury apartment hotel the Rees delivers an outstanding refined stay no matter what Queenstown experience you seek, whether it’s skiing in winter, mountain biking, hiking in summer, or enjoying food, wine, and culture.
The two-bedroom apartments are the most popular option as they come with a full kitchen and dining area, laundry, huge living quarters, and mum-friendly separate bathrooms for each bedroom. Each apartment also features a balcony for alfresco summer sunset drinks.
Guests can expect outstanding service and all the facilities needed for a memorable Queenstown stay including a fine dining restaurant.
The Rees backstory
The Rees is officially The Rees Luxury Apartments and Residences, but it holds such an iconic status in Queenstown that it became known as “The Rees" shortly after opening in 2007.
The Rees is named for William Gilbert Rees, a Welsh settler who built the first buildings in what would become Queenstown. The first truly luxury modern hotel in Queenstown, it immediately achieved icon status for its high-end facilities, incredible location, and top-notch service.
The hotel is a typical strata development with most of the apartments being privately owned (reportedly mostly by Australians) and managed by the hotel management company that was formed exclusively for the hotel.
The Rees first impressions
From the start, The Rees reflects the essence of NZ luxury – understated yet incredibly high-quality. The entrance is restrained so as not to compete with the rock star of the entire hotel – the views of the lake and mountains.
From the approach, glimpses of the magnificent lake and mountain views draw you in and take some breath away. Inside, the vaulted ceiling with wooden cross beams, fireplace, and lounges are the warm embrace of a ski lodge.
The concierge desk faces the reception and Bordeau Wine Bar. Guests are served at the bar as they settle into the snug blonde lounges and wooden framed occasional chairs to chat, nibble, play cards, or simply enjoy the warmth of the fire and views.
Hidden in a small anteroom next to the bar is a cellar jammed with an astonishing array of great local, Aussie and Bordeaux wines. They are so reasonably priced it feels truly like a good friend’s cellar. Well, perhaps friends we would love to know…
The room
The Executive Lakeview two-bedroom apartment is simply designed with spacious living areas to maximise the panoramic lake views.
The front door opens to a tiled centre corridor that evenly divides the first two-thirds of the apartment before revealing the enormous carpeted lounge, terrace and of course, views of the mountains and lake.
A modestly sized second bedroom and main bathroom peel off the corridor, before the open kitchen and dining table fit snugly into a half-apartment-width space. On the opposite side of the corridor is the master bedroom and ensuite.
To maximise space, the master bedroom is accessed via two sliding doors that meet to form the corner of the room.
The L-shaped lounge faces a centred slate-coloured fireplace with a wall-mounted TV on one side and a desk and chairs occupying the other side of the wall.
The stylish wooden and sandy tones are found throughout the apartment. The finishing and fixtures are all high quality and durable.
The facilities
The True South Dining Room is a fine dining restaurant but does have a kids menu. The dining room also serves a full buffet breakfast and lunch.
The wine list is careful and while not huge, considerable for its diversity and quality. The kitchen also delivers snacks and meals to the Bordeau Wine Bar. For the record that is not a typo, the wine bar is in fact named after a local legend, Jules Bordeau who plodded up and down Skippers Canyon for most of his life.
As expected there is a dedicated wet room for skis, boards and mountain bikes. The hotel also has a gym and massages are available in room. Reception is operated 24 hours.
The Rees also operates a complimentary shuttle to the city centre and their transport fleet can also be used for private touring, booked through the concierge.
In line with Queenstown’s stated objective to be carbon neutral by 2030, there are a number of EV charging stations.
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The location
The Rees has its own jetty to access Lake Wakatipu. It is 3kms or a 5-minute drive from the centre of town and 5kms from the airport.
Sustainability
The hotel has a significant sustainability commitment across Tourism & Tikai Promise, People & Community, Environmental, and Economic and was awarded a Qualmark Gold status and the Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards in 2018 and 2020.
What we loved
The location and views as well as the luxe interiors and furnishings. The staff were outstanding.
What we would change
A little more lounge space in the bar area – occasionally it was a bit competitive for the best spots.
Details
Address: 377 Frankton Road, Queenstown
Phone number: +64 (0) 3 450 1100
Price: From $245
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