Picolo recommends · Hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand
The Rees Hotel
Every window frames the same scene: Lake Wakatipu in front and the jagged line of The Remarkables behind, a little way out of town.
Draw the curtains and the lake fills the room, with The Remarkables rising sharply on the far side. The Rees sits right on the water a short way out of the centre, and every room and apartment is turned towards that view.
Downstairs, True South serves dinner with a cellar built around wines from Central Otago, the region known for its pinot noir. Getting into town takes a few minutes by car, or you can arrive by boat across the lake.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose The Rees Hotel
This is where we would stay for the view alone. The apartments, with their own kitchens, also make it one of the easier choices in Queenstown for families who want space and the option of eating in.
You are not in the middle of things. Bars and restaurants mean a drive, a boat or a longer walk along the water, so if you want to step straight out into the evening crowd, a hotel in the centre suits you better.
What you get
- Views of Lake Wakatipu from every room
- Apartments with full kitchens
- True South restaurant
- Boat connection across the lake into town
- A short drive to central Queenstown
A day at The Rees Hotel
- Morning
- Along the lakeshore path towards town while the water is still flat.
- Midday
- A ride up to the slopes or a trail in the hills above the lake.
- Afternoon
- A drive to the wineries of Gibbston for a pinot noir tasting.
- Evening
- Dinner at True South as the last light goes off The Remarkables.
Location
Lake Wakatipu shore, Queenstown, New Zealand
Open in MapsQuestions about The Rees Hotel
Do all rooms at The Rees Hotel have a lake view?
Yes. Every room and apartment at The Rees faces Lake Wakatipu, with The Remarkables across the water.
Is The Rees Hotel good for families?
Yes. The apartments come with kitchens, which gives families more room and the choice of cooking their own meals rather than eating out every night.
How do you get from The Rees Hotel to central Queenstown?
It is a few minutes by car or a short boat trip, and on a fine day you can walk the path that follows the lakeshore.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
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