The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Queenstown

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Queenstown

Queenstown, New Zealand Queenstown, New Zealand

Visiting Queenstown, New Zealand for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to Queenstown, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in Queenstown based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting Queenstown for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to Queenstown before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting Queenstown for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in Queenstown for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Mercure Queenstown Resort

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $126 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Queenstown
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

Located at Sainsbury Road, Mercure Queenstown Resort has great rooms from $126 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, a casino, and a restaurant. It has a terrific 8.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 2.1 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a fitness center, scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, and a kid-friendly buffet at this relaxing hotel. The room service is especially nice after a long day. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Spire Hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $399 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is The Spire Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $399. Offering skiing, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 9.50 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Church Lane. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers parking, breakfast, hiking, mountain views, and child care which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.2 km from the city center. The restaurant serves delicious food, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Eichardt's Private Hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $1019 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Queenstown
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Eichardt's Private Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $1019. We loved that is has skiing, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Marine Parade. You'll also find breakfast, hiking, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.3 km from the center of town. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $244 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

With terrific rooms from $244, Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa, at 8 Duke Street provides skiing, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, parking, a kid-friendly buffet, mountain views, and child care. It's located just 0.3 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room


Heritage Queenstown

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $159 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Queenstown
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Heritage Queenstown has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The great rooms here start at $159 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 91 Fernhill Road. Furthermore, it also offers a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, and laundry services, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.8 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Sherwood Queenstown

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $103 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

The great guest rating of Sherwood Queenstown is 8.50 out of 10. This place has skiing, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $103, and it's located at 554 Frankton Road, Goldfield Heights. We also love the hiking, mountain views, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, and laundry services which are great for visitors. And since it's just 2.9 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. We find the kitchenette here to be a great way to get a good breakfast and save time and money. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $231 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel because it has great rooms that start at $231. It has skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and a kid-friendly buffet, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 21 Robins Road. Only 0.3 km from the city center, travelers will especially love hiking, mountain views, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, and laundry services at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $189 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Queenstown
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa offers skiing, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $189 (before taxes). It's located at Kawarau Village, 79 Peninsula Road and has earned a guest rating of 8.30/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a kitchen, a kid-friendly buffet, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, and laundry services which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 5.1 km from the city center. After a busy day, the heated pool is a nice place to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Kid-friendly
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchen/Kitchenette
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Train station shuttle


Browns Boutique Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $193 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 26 Isle Street, Browns Boutique Hotel has great rooms from $193 (before taxes). It offers skiing, room service, a restaurant, hiking, and mountain views. It has a terrific 9.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find child care, laundry services, golf, city views, and free parking which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.5 km from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator


The Rees Hotel & Luxury Apartments

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $243 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Queenstown
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is The Rees Hotel & Luxury Apartments which has nice rooms starting at $243. Offering skiing, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 377 Frankton Road. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a bar, hiking, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, and child care. It's located just 2 km from the city center, too. Having a kitchen means that you'll be able to cook, which is very convenient when you're on the road.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Wanaka, Cromwell, and Arrowtown.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Queenstown, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Queenstown, Best Cheap Hotels in Queenstown, Best Luxury Hotels in Queenstown, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Queenstown, Best Hotels for One Week in Queenstown, Best Hotels for One Night in Queenstown, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Queenstown, Best Hotels for Skiing in Queenstown, or Best Business Hotels in Queenstown.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Queenstown?

Queenstown Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$180

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Queenstown, New Zealand. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Queenstown, New Zealand based on data from 34 hotels is an affordable $180. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Queenstown.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $336
  • 4-star hotels: $147
  • 3-star hotels: $87
  • 2-star hotels: $18


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