Punatapu is our favourite lodge in Queenstown. Situated 20km outside the busy little town, the lodge is set amongst private gardens on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Although it is possible to walk down to the lake's edge, we must mention that there are not lake views from the rooms.
The lodge is a very comfortable collection of very different rooms set around a central courtyard in the style of a rambling French farmhouse. With walls of lovely yellow, the lodge has had a variety of resident artists for much of its history. These artists have left a delightful collection of paintings, sculptures, murals and odd objets d'art which make discovery of each room an adventure.
The rooms are smaller than the American model but of a good size for European rooms. With 5 suites comprising 7 bedrooms, this lodge works well for single party bookings. The "outdoor kitchen", giving out onto the central courtyard is particularly pleasant on long summer nights.
This lodge is owner-operated and one of the few top quality establishments in New Zealand which is New Zealand-owned and run.
We find that the distance from Queenstown allows our clients to access the vibrant town life as they wish and retreat easily to the peace and privacy of Punatapu. Our favourite activities from here include Milford Sound helicopter trips, wine discoveries with our private guides, private 4WD tours of high country stations, and any number of publicly available activities in Queenstown.
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