{"id":41034,"date":"2016-02-04T15:26:21","date_gmt":"2016-02-04T05:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/vc\/blog\/?p=41034"},"modified":"2016-02-04T15:26:21","modified_gmt":"2016-02-04T05:26:21","slug":"queenstown-heaven-a-stay-at-matakauri-lodge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/vc\/blog\/queenstown-heaven-a-stay-at-matakauri-lodge\/","title":{"rendered":"Queenstown heaven: A stay at Matakauri Lodge"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re looking for a special getaway, look no further. Because there\u2019s luxury and then there\u2019s Queenstown\u2019s<\/a> Matakauri Lodge<\/a>. Don\u2019t just take my word for it. It\u2019s a favourite of the rich and famous, even Kate and Will\u2019s stayed here on their recent trip. And hey, if it\u2019s good enough for royalty, it\u2019s good enough for me \ud83d\ude09<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Day one\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h3>\n

We make our way up the gravel driveway and can\u2019t help but say \u201cWow\u201d at the uninterrupted postcard perfect views. Positioned on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, among pine forests and overlooking the snow-capped mountain ranges of The Remarkables, this is my kind of ‘getting in touch with nature’.<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n

We\u2019re warmly welcomed by Jodi from the management team, bags are whisked away with us barely noticing as we\u2019re given a quick tour of the luxury lodge, trying to keep our jaws off the ground.<\/p>\n

With expectations now firmly high, I\u2019m excited to catch a glimpse of our suite and it doesn\u2019t disappoint. Located in the main building, and designed for maximum views and privacy, the styling is sleek Hamptons meets warm modern country getaway with elegant neutral styling and wouldn\u2019t look out of place in the pages of Vogue<\/em>. So far, so very good.<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n\"Hotel\n\"Hotel\n

The wow factor doesn\u2019t stop there: our very own fireplace, courtyard, walk-in wardrobe, complimentary snacks and drinks in the mini-bar, (including house-made cookies and brownies \u2013yes!) \u00a0lavish double bathroom with a huge shower and little touches like a motion sensor light and free standing bath. I\u2019m seriously considering just locking myself in our suite for the next few days.<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n

As usual though, my thoughts (and stomach) turn to food, and we make our way down the corridor to the dining area.<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n

A short lunch menu including daily specials, design your own salads, sandwiches and cheese plates makes choosing easy. It\u2019s hard to go past a steak sandwich and Matakauri\u2019s<\/a> is one of the best.<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n

Happy and fed, it\u2019s time to go to one of my other happy places: the day spa. Francis gives me a seriously good 90 minute remedial massages and I walk out floating. Relaxation levels are high, as they should be in a luxury retreat!<\/p>\n

After a quick freshen up, we\u2019re ready for happy hour in the lounge.<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n

Guests are invited to mingle over canapes and complimentary drinks before being seated separately for dinner service. It\u2019s a nice way to get to know your fellow travellers, without the awkwardness that can come with communal dining!<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n

We\u2019re lucky to score a window seat and soak up the view as we choose between the a la carte or tasting menu option. Let\u2019s be honest, it was always going to be the tasting menu \ud83d\ude09 Dinner is included in the nightly room rate with drinks additional. Matching NZ wines are $165 per person and the standard wine pairing is $105.<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n

With a focus on local produce, the food doesn\u2019t disappoint. The menu changes every day so it\u2019s impossible to get bored. \u00a0Mind you, I could eat that meal happily over and over again. We roll ourselves back to our room, grateful our pillows are a few minutes away to sleep off our food comas.<\/p>\n

Day two<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I didn\u2019t know it when I woke from a glorious sleep-in but this was going to be one of those magical travel days when your plans completely change, you make spontaneous decisions and you\u2019re rewarded with the best experiences.<\/p>\n

The luxury of Matakauri Lodge<\/a> seems like a very good excuse to slow down and have a relaxing day soaking up the grounds. We start with breakfast: continental (help yourself to a wide variety of seasonal fruits, pastries, yoghurts and cereals plus a la carte options (the scrambled eggs with fresh herbs are small but delicious).<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n\"\"\n\"Hotel\n

We make plans with the helpful team to go for a leisurely stroll around one of the local lakes and also mention we\u2019re interested in potentially doing a helicopter flight before we head back to Sydney, we are in the adventure capital of the world after all! Before we know it, Joanne manages to get us a spot on a Scenic Flight to Milford Sound <\/a>leaving in a couple of hours! It takes us about two seconds to scrap our walk plans in favour of heading for the clouds.<\/p>\n

Mr LML hasn\u2019t been in a helicopter before and I\u2019ve never seen snow so it\u2019s a trip of firsts for us both. John kindly transfers us to a heli pick-up point 10 minutes away \u2013 no need to head to the airport like everyone else when you\u2019re staying at Matakauri<\/a> \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

After a quick safety briefing, we\u2019re up, up and away, flying over Queenstown<\/a> sharing the skies with our pilot James and four other travellers.<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n

From landing on the beach to seeing mountains up close and landing on a glacier (!) it\u2019s an epic adventure and one I highly recommend.<\/p>\n\"Hotel\n

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H E L I \u2022 T I ME\u2022 The excited look of a girl who’s never even seen snow just hanging out on a glacier \u2744\ufe0fIf you’re ever in Queenstown, I can’t recommend @overthetophelicopters highly enough, one of the best things you’ll do #helicopter #nzmustdo #Queenstown #newzealand #adventure #bucketlist #holiday #travel #snow #glacier<\/a><\/p>\n

A photo posted by Nicole Gentle (@nicgentle) on