Eichardt’s Private Hotel Queenstown

Eichardt’s Private Hotel, a Queenstown icon, provides fine accommodation in seven luxurious hotel suites in its historic building situated on a premium lakefront position at the heart of Queenstown’s café and restaurant precinct, with some of the finest international shopping labels an easy stroll away.

The hotel reflects contemporary provincial elegance, its modern features in perfect harmony with the distinctive antiques and luxurious furnishings of this New Zealand icon. Eichardt’s opulent suites invite guests to soak up a sense of quiet before exploring one of the world’s truly remarkable locations.

Eichardt’s sets its own standard for gracious, luxury accommodation with the confident strokes and flawless symmetry that is the hallmark of New Zealand designer Virginia Fisher, married seamlessly with every amenity you would expect in a world-class hotel.

The hotel’s parlour offers guests the ideal setting for breakfast, with awe inspiring views over Lake Wakatipu. Evening cocktail service with complimentary whiskey selection is enjoyed amidst a background of exquisite antiques and objects d’art.

Eichardt’s Lakefront Apartments, just metres from the main hotel, is perfect for larger parties, families, professionals and longer staying guests. The split level suites are interconnected and can be opened to become a large single accommodation space, or sectioned off for smaller groups.

Eichardt’s Residence, a beautifully appointed three bedroom fully self-contained villa completes the collection. A short walk from the hotel, The Residence allows complete privacy – fully serviced and provisioned by the hotel and supported by concierge services.

For those who demand the height of excellence, The Penthouse is the ultimate in luxury and sophistication. Overlooking the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounds, The Penthouse tops the iconic Eichardt’s Private Hotel in pure indulgence.

THE PENTHOUSE 
The Penthouse adorns the top of the brand new Eichardt’s building and enjoys uninterrupted views across Lake Wakatipu to the snow-capped mountains beyond.

With 240m2 of spacious living areas, indoor and outdoor kitchens, two large bedrooms, marble bathrooms, sauna, spa and Queenstown’s largest private terrace, The Penthouse is the ultimate in luxury accommodation.

Exquisitely designed, the interior is beautifully appointed with sumptuous leather sofas and fully automated lighting, heating and entertainment systems. The stunning kitchen features Gaggenau and Sub Zero appliances, a granite island bench and further mountain views.

LAKE VIEW SUITES
Featuring expansive views over Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains, our Lake View suites offer a sumptuous environment where you can relax in the super king bed with signature designed throw or in front of the cosy fireplace.

Partake in an Eichardt’s exclusive Pinot Noir or local whiskey as you look out over the mountainous peaks whilst the sun sets behind you. Step through the spacious walk in dressing room and enjoy a generous bath, separate shower and double vanity.

MOUNTAIN VIEW SUITES
Featuring views over Queenstown’s vibrant mall towards mountainous peaks from private balconies, the Mountain View Suites are located within the original building with design that reflect upon traditional luxury with the sleek comfort of modernity.

Enjoy the super king bed and personal living space with feature fireplace allowing plenty of space before heading to the walk in dressing room and the double vanity bathroom with separate shower and bathtub.

LAKEFRONT APARTMENTS
The one and two bedroom apartments are a short walk away from the hotel (approx. 75 meters) and are perfect for larger parties, families, professionals and long-stay guests. The split-level apartments are interconnected and can become a large single accommodation space, or sectioned off for smaller groups.

Majestic vistas over Lake Wakatipu and surrounding mountains and luxurious amenities give the Lakefront Apartments all the comfort and style of a home-away-from-home, while guests enjoy full use of all Eichardt’s Hotel facilities, including concierge services, literally just a few steps away.

THE RESIDENCE
The Eichardt’s Residence is located just a short walk from the hotel and is set over three levels with glorious views over Queenstown Bay, to Queenstown Gardens and the Remarkables mountain range.

Hosting three large bedrooms each with split king beds, The Residence is designed with space and luxurious comfort in mind and is ideal for small groups, colleagues, and families with configurations tailored to meet your needs.

The master suite, located on the top floor, is complemented by a gas fire and floor to ceiling windows which open out onto a private balcony with superb views. Large balconies also extend from the lower floor suite and main living area.

EICHARDT’S BAR
Eichardt’s Bar is renowned as a Queenstown icon and a local favourite since 1867. It has a genuine atmosphere, history and ambience unlike anywhere else in the world, offering a welcoming environment for hotel guests, visitors and Queenstown locals alike.

Eichardt’s Bar is a revered Queenstown establishment, city icon and local favourite since 1867. Guests and locals are all invited to step inside and discover a unique atmosphere and genuine service that has existed on the shores of Lake Wakatipu for more than 150 years. A contemporary nod to an age gone but not forgotten.

The site of Eichardt’s Bar was once nothing more than a woolshed, erected at a time when Queenstown was a mere rural sheep station. The discovery of gold rapidly grew Queenstown’s prosperity, creating opportunities for business, trade and the establishment of a town, from which the hotel and bar rose. Eichardt’s Hotel and Bar were pioneers of hospitality service in Queenstown in the 1800s and the establishment has never forgotten its early beginnings.

The atmosphere and decor inside Eichardt’s Bar is an ode to our heritage. Sofas sit adjacent a homely fireplace, complemented by elegant furnishings acknowledging eras both old and new. Our passionate team are devoted to your experience, ensuring that everything from service to the menu is of the highest standard.

Offering a unique atmosphere and genuine service, guests will enjoy signature cocktails, selected regional wines and exquisite food in elegant, fireside surroundings.

With pristine high-country farmland, native bush and Central Otago wine country on our doorstep, our team takes inspiration from the environment, handpicking vegetables and sourcing meat from local farmers to create a fine dining experience for guests and visitors alike. Eichardt’s Bar also offers whiskey or wine flights and inspired cocktails to enjoy.

VAULT SPA
Hide away in our historic Vault Spa where your therapist will tailor a rejuvenating treatment plan just for you. The most secure room in the Hotel seems like the perfect place for a sanctuary.

Located in the heritage wing of Eichardt’s Private Hotel, the Vault Spa offers an exclusive bolthole to hotel guests and visitors alike. Originally a woolshed, Eichardt’s was erected in 1862 and quickly became a first-class establishment due the discovery of gold in the region.

The Old Gold Vault, dating from 1887, is now up to date, comprising a generous private treatment room offering unique, restorative therapies suitable for up to two people, bathroom, and a relaxing lounge room, promising a serene and rejuvenating experience for the guests of Eichardt’s.

Enhance your time in The Vault Spa by adding some of our most delightful treats to your retreat, from bubbles to our signature cocktails, petit fours to our legendary chowder, plus read our range of included drinks and dietary information.

WEDDINGS IN NEW ZEALAND
With a breath taking backdrop, elegant decor, five-star service and the convenience of a central location in the heart of the city, Eichardt’s Private Hotel is the dream wedding location. For Australians, a short three hour flight transports you to a location that feels worlds away, with ease of planning logistics close to home, and inexpensive travel costs.

For those who dream of a wedding in a far flung location, Queenstown’s inimitable beauty and otherworldly surrounds make for one of the most unique celebrations and honeymoon adventures, well worth the travel.

CORPORATE EVENTS
Eichardt’s is the ideal multi-venue space for corporate retreats and group events for guests visiting Queenstown. Enjoying premier locations and a reputation for five-star service, the collection is the ideal multi-venue location for your next corporate event in Queenstown.

Eichardt’s is designed to groups of varies sizes, with options to accommodate up to 60 and cater for seated and standing functions up to 200. Our menus feature a premium selection of dishes both inspired by and sourced from our lake and mountain backdrop.

Our menu include: Luxury Canapes, Choice Menus, Sharing Menus, Gourmet BBQ, Full & Half Day Delegates packages and Continental Platters. Our bar features a premium selection of local and international wines and beers. Handcrafted premium cocktails by our expert bartenders are available upon request.

EICHARDT’S HISTORY
Our story begins before Queenstown was a city, when the landscape was vacant of marked streets and buildings. A man, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales, sailed past the Remarkables mountain range along New Zealand’s longest lake, arriving on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in search of land for farming.

His journey and the discovery of gold in the region would prove to be instrumental in our establishment, cementing Eichardt’s Private Hotel in the history of this city.

In 1859, William Gilbert Rees arrived in Queenstown, surveying the area for pastoral land suitable for sheep farming. Accompanied by fellow explorer Nicholas Von Tunzelmann, Rees was the first European to settle the area and over the coming years, he would become an integral figure in the town’s development and a name that would have a lasting legacy in Queenstown.

Rees officially settled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in 1860-61, establishing a homestead on Run 356 and erecting the first building in the town – a humble woolshed. Where the woolshed once stood is today the site of our main building. Rees’ intentions to farm sheep by the lake were shortlived.

“So much of the local history has taken place in this spot. The cavalcade of colourful characters which have come and gone have congregated at Eichardt’s. They have all contributed some part to the history and should not be forgotten.” A.M. Miller, Queenstown District Historical Society President, 1975.

In November 1862, gold was discovered in the nearby Shotover River and Rees found himself called forth from farming duties and thrown into the midst of a gold rush. Prospectors, miners and opportunists began to descend on Queenstown, and Rees’ homestead run was soon declared an official goldfield from which the main business area would develop.

An entrepreneurial spirit quickly arose from Rees and within the first few weeks of the rush, he turned to hotel-keeping. As soon as the shearing was over, the woolshed was converted into a hotel and given a wooden facade.

An establishment for the purposes of accommodation and service emerged and Rees was soon joined in partnership by Sergeant-Major Hugh William Bracken. At this time, the hotel was named the Queen’s Arms and was one of seventeen licensed and unlicensed hotels in the area during the height of the goldrush.

Over the next three years, the hotel would continue to grow in prominence, becoming a first-class establishment in the town. In 1866, Rees entered into partnership with Albert Eichardt, who became the proprietor of the hotel during the same year.

In 1867, Eichardt and C.C. Boyes bought the hotel outright and in 1868, Albert Eichardt married Julia Shanahan, the former proprietress of the hotel and dining room manager.

By the following year, Eichardt would become the sole proprietor of the hotel, which was renamed Eichardt’s Queen’s Arms Hotel and later known simply as Eichardt’s Private Hotel. As the gold glint faded and Queenstown shifted from a mining settlement to a town with more permanence, the hotel began to cater to a new kind of patronage – tourists.

These were developmental years for Eichardt’s, encouraged by the fortitude of several individuals. Though Albert Eichardt was instrumental in the progression of the hotel, his wife Julia Eichardt would prove to be just as integral to the establishment and an admirable Queenstown figure, even to this day.

After Albert’s sudden death in 1882, Julia took over operations of the hotel, remaining there from 1863 until her untimely death, aged 54, in 1892. Julia was well-liked for her general disposition and kindly manner, and renowned for assisting the poor and needy in the district.

Of her many achievements through her time spent at Eichardt’s, one was bringing electricity to the hotel, making it the first building to have electricity in Queenstown.

The degree of reverence she commanded was reflected at her funeral; the town closed during the afternoon as a mark of respect and the funeral cortege consisted of some 400 mourners, with another 100 gathering at the cemetery.

Even to this day, Julia Eichardt is remembered as a successful businesswoman, with a generous, compassionate and strong disposition. Her invaluable contributions to Eichardt’s and legacy in the city are honoured by the hotel today through our female led management team.

These women embody Julia’s spirit, providing a genuine service to guests and commitment to upholding the hotel’s reputation as a first-class establishment.

QUEENSTOWN
Located in Queenstown’s central precinct, the airport is a 15-20 minute drive away. We offer airport transportation in our private luxury vehicles or aboard our cruising yacht, the Pacific Jemm. Queenstown is a four-season, year-round city, and choosing a time to visit is entirely dependent on exactly what you want to take away from your time here.

Speak to our highly knowledgeable team to plan the perfect itinerary for your trip to Queenstown. Our travel experts have created a summer compendium for you to browse with seasonal activities from a range of key partners to enhance your stay. Pre-booking is essential, email to enquire now.

SPRING
September, October & November. Temperatures span from 8 degrees C to 22 degrees C with crisp mornings and a mixture of lots of sunshine and rain. The perfect weather for all water activities, visiting wineries or fishing. The cooler mornings also mean you can catch good trails at the end of the ski season and relax afterwards with a massage.

SUMMER
December, January & February. Daytime temperatures span from 20 degrees C to 30 degrees C offering long sunny days for full day adventures. We recommend going on a local hike or even a Great Walk, mountain biking or cycling the vineyards, or attending a summer event.

AUTUMN
March, April & May. Temperatures can fluctuate from below zero to 25 degrees C with clear, settled days, cool evenings and gorgeous sunsets. Autumn provides some of the most picturesque colourful scenery for keen photographers, golfers, and day trampers, whilst the days are filled by a variety of festivals and events. Off-peak means that it is generally quieter and perfect for those looking to escape the crowds.

WINTER
June, July & August. Temperatures range between zero to 8 degrees C with frosty mornings, clear blue skies and the most amazing snow-capped mountain views. The perfect location for skiing, snowboarding and glacier helicopter trips. Winter is the best time for cruising on Lake Wakatipu with typically still waters and no wind.

GOLF
Golf lovers enjoy making the trip to Queenstown for the state-of-the-art golfing facilities and stunning lake and alpine scenery. From family-friendly 9-hole courses to the internationally celebrated 18-hole championship courses, a golfing challenge awaits you in Queenstown. Located within 20 minutes are three of the most prestigious courses in New Zealand. Queenstown invites you to test your game on the most picturesque courses in the world.

RIDE
Surrounded by majestic mountains and set on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, the natural beauty and the unique energy of the region create the perfect backdrop for a cycling day of adventure and exploration. From racing down steep terrain to quiet lakeside trails, Ventouro offer Bespoke guided tours to suit you.

SKI
Queenstown offers one of the longest snow seasons in the Southern Hemisphere, welcoming skiers and snowboarders from June to September. There are three ski fields within Eichardt’s backyard with breathtaking alpine scenery and wonderful terrain for all levels. Our team can assist in mountain transportation and gear hire is easily arranged.

HIKE
From the Remarkables mountain range to the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is surrounded by striking natural beauty. For guests who wish to explore the landscape by foot, there are numerous hikes and walking tracks to explore varying in level, duration, and distance, suitable for every guest.

LUXURY CRUISE ON LAKE WAKATIPU
With Eichardt’s Private Hotel sitting on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, and visible from most of the windows, it makes perfect sense to explore it! Eichardt’s Hotel has the means to do it; Pacific Jemm is our 80ft luxury cruising yacht.

Enjoy a 3-night luxury Queenstown stay at Eichardt’s Private Hotel, featuring a private cruise on Pacific Jemm, offering plenty of ways to watch the lake go by, whether it be at sunset or mid-day.

TOUR
Central Otago is home to world class wines, breathtaking landscapes and home to many Artists. Take the opportunity to have a tailor-made day with a private vehicle and guide to discover what makes our region so worth visiting.

FLY
Deep within Fiordland National Park lies Milford Sound, New Zealand’s most stunning natural attraction. The fiord’s cliffs rise vertically from the dark waters, mountain peaks scrape the sky and waterfalls cascade downwards from as high as 1000 meters. The versatility of the helicopter is admirably suited to this diverse terrain, ensuring enhanced visibility and unrivalled safety to experience this incredible landscape.

Website: www.eichardts.com

Rooms: 14

Price: from 634 EUR per night