The Best Queenstown Stays Of 2026: Airbnbs, Hotels, Tiny Homes & More

Korimako is one of those rare stays that makes it into Airbnb’s “Luxe” listings category, so if you press that booking button, prepare to be blown away. Your four-bedroom home looks out over Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables, but the epic views are just the half of it. Expect a kitchen with premium appliances, an open-plan lounge, and a mega outdoor deck, plus there’s a lovely Onsen-style bathtub with a huge picture window for leisurely soaks with champers too.

Your hosts, Hello Queenstown, offer a secure bag drop service for early arrivals or late departures, which is pretty handy, as well as use of their exclusive guest lounge in Shotover Street for working and relaxing in town.

Back at your Airbnb after a day spent exploring though, there’s even more for your large group to enjoy. Head to the games room and challenge the crew to a game of pool (and grab a drink from the bar while you’re at it). Afterwards, we reckon a soak in the outdoor hot tub might be in order because, well… those views.

Call one of the oldest buildings in the Wakatipu Basin home for a while and you’re in for a seriously cute time. Hicks Cottage dates back to the 1870s and was a dilapidated wreck destined for collapse before being beautifully restored in 2022. Now, it’s a gorgeously romantic Queenstown stay with a timber-clad living, dining and kitchen space to die for. 

Your accommodation sits right on the Queenstown Trail, which is a haven for hikers, bikers and runners if that’s your jam. You can also hire e-bikes from the property if you’d rather explore without getting quite so puffed out—plus you’ve got Queenstown and Arrowtown within a 15-minute drive away so there’s plenty of opportunity for a mooch around town.

Station yourself among Queenstown’s finest vineyards with a stay at this architecturally-designed pad offering stunning views from every room. You can see vines and mountains from this top spot, which is just a 20-minute drive from town. Dark Skies is a two-bedder, which is perfect for two couples, as the bedrooms are privately located at opposite ends of the accommodation, each with their own ensuite and balcony access.

Hire some bikes and go on a wine tasting tour if you fancy. Peregrine Wines, Mt. Rosa Wines, Kinross Cellar Door, and Gibbston Valley Winery are close by. And if you love a spot of stargazing, this is the place for you, as it’s located under the Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park—a designated area recognised for its extraordinary starry nights and commitment to preserving a night sky free from light pollution.

Even better, this New Zealand stay has an outdoor hot tub that heats up to 40 degrees, so you can enjoy the night sky while feeling warm and toasty and clutching a glass of the vino you sampled earlier.

Location rules, right? And at Taimana you get a Queenstown Airbnb right in the heart of all the action. Not that you’d necessarily know it, because this epic accommodation is surprisingly quiet, perched on the fourth floor of an apartment block (and it comes with an allocated parking spot too, which is a real win). Your home away from home has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, so there’s no need to argue over who’s taking a shower next. 

It’s just 100m from the ski bus to Queenstown and Browns Ski Shop, and you’re a laidback amble from all the bars and eateries in town. Back at your pad, there’s more than enough space for a pre-dinner vino with the gang. Head out to your spacious outdoor entertainment zone, glass in hand and you can watch the TSS Earnslaw steamship cruising off towards Walter Peak. (Be rude not to).

Looking for something romantic but a little bit different a ten-minute drive from Queenstown? Look no further than The Box Car, an old freight train carriage that has been wonderfully renovated to create an adorably quirky Queenstown stay. This little pad sits in a quiet alpine forest and there’s room to park your motorhome or caravan on site which adds to its appeal if you’re on a road trip.

This place is super cute inside, with original restored floorboards, designer fittings, bespoke furniture and a lovely wood-fired indoor fireplace. There’s a cosy kitchen and barbecue for cooking up a storm and if the weather’s balmy you’ll want to throw open the big doors on either side of your carriage and let the outside in. Come sunset, you might like to take a soak in the private outdoor bath and drink in that serenity.

How about a spot of romantic tiny home living within five minutes of central Queenstown? That’s the intriguing prospect at this peaceful New Zealand stay with spectacular lake and mountain views. The Little Wanderer has a king sized bed, a sleeping loft with a double bed and starlights that kids will adore, plus a second chill-out loft to snuggle up in with your plus one.

The sunny outdoor deck is a delight, with its views of Lake Wakatipu, Cecil and Walter Peaks, plus the wood-fired hot tub that can be prepared for your arrival on request. There’s a barbecue out here too, to complement the full-equipped kitchen inside, and your host provides complimentary tea, coffee and hot chocolate for guzzling. Throw in the fact this accommodation has private onsite parking for up to two vehicles or a campervan and we think that’s pretty much your Queenstown holiday sorted.

Tucked away on a hillside, with an adorably pointy black roof and its own private outdoor seating spot, Kiwi Chalet brings a sense of breezy seclusion to your Queenstown holiday. It’s close to wineries, ski fields and cycling and walking trails, and yet you’re a mere 20-minute drive from town so you can lay down that lunch reservation with no hassle.

Clamber on up the wooden ladder and tuck yourself away in the loft for a couple of hours with a good book (if the sun’s out, chances are it might end with a snooze, but there’s no judgement here). Later, you might fancy hiring an e-bike from one of the two rental spots in Arrowtown. Your Airbnb accommodation has direct access to the Queenstown cycle trail so an adventure ride to the wineries of Gibbston Valley is a must.

Whilst we agree a good old Kiwi camping trip never goes amiss... we also think, screw it, why bother with your own tent when you can roll on up to Seffers Dome, Ben Lomond and stay in one of Queenstown’s first geodesic domes!

Just a 20-minute drive out of town and kitted out with absolutely everything you could ever need, from a hot shower to a flushing toilet, solar power and a gas hob, this hidden gem is worth finding. We also just love the fact that there’s no wifi or reception, allowing you to truly switch off from the outside world.

Native birds, mountain views, and the Shotover River right on your doorstep. Book a glamping stay at the Moonlight Dome and you’re in for a real treat. Your accommodation sits on a spot at Luna Retreat, a spiritual sanctuary for Yoga and massage just ten minutes’ drive from Queenstown, and it means you can enjoy yoga lessons, massage and spa and infrared sauna sessions for an additional fee.

Your Airbnb is beautifully furnished inside, with rugs, furs, candles and a comfy queen size bed. Step outside and you’ll find your own private bathroom, and an iron bathtub dating back to the 1920s that just calls out for you to take a long, hot soak while enjoying the view.

A one-of-a-kind, boutique luxury hotel The Carlin is one for the bucket list. Perched up on Hallenstein Street in the centre of Queenstown, its elevated location provides nothing less than an elevated accommodation experience.

With design cues and features similar to those of five and six-star hotels across Europe, step inside this masterpiece for an escape in true grandeur (including cocktails on arrival #sold). Privacy is paramount at this ‘beyond five-star’ hotel, with private butlers, chefs, massages and entrances available—oh and a private jet if you need one.

The one to four-bedroom suites range from 88 to 500 square metres and if you want something extra-luxe the penthouse is the largest in Australasia—with seven bedrooms and three levels connected by a private lift. We could go on, but we suspect we've said enough.

A short 20-minute drive from the centre of Queenstown you’ll find this peaceful stay, featuring its own on-site restaurant and a tempting day spa for pampering. Bag yourself one of the 24 private villas at Gibbston Valley Lodge and Spa and prepare for vineyard and mountain views, plus your very own private deck and sun-soaked courtyard.

Book yourself a bike ride along the Kawarau River (you can set off right from the door of your villa) before treating those muscles to a long soak in the on-site hot tub. Later, you can put your glad rags on and head to the Lodge Bar for a complimentary pre-dinner wine tasting. Win!

If you're looking for a hotel with one of the best views in town, look no further than QT Queenstown which is the pinnacle of Queenstown cool. Sitting pretty in nature’s playground, this lush lakeside resort emulates a nostalgic alpine and après-ski ambience.

Live your best life while taking in the views of Lake Wakatipu with a glass of bubbly or carefully crafted cocktail at the in-house Reds Bar with views to die for. After a blissful night's sleep pop down to the buzzy on-site Bazaar Marketplace—breakfast here is nothing short of spectacular. Extra points for direct access to the lakefront by walking through sister hotel Rydges.