ROKI Collection Queenstown: New Zealand’s new Luxury Hotel
ROKI Collection Queenstown, an urban retreat on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand, has opened and received immediate accolades.
ROKI Collection Queenstown has been named to Travel + Leisure’s 2026 It List of Best New Hotels, an annual global edit recognizing the year’s most compelling hotel openings. Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, ROKI Collection Queenstown was also recognized as one of T+L’s 19 Best New Luxury Hotels in the World. Each year, Travel + Leisure editors and contributors evaluate hundreds of new and renovated properties around the world, narrowing the selection to just 100 hotels that define the year in travel.
Designed as a contemporary lakeside retreat, the property features 15 expansive suites, each with panoramic views of the Remarkables mountain range and the lake beyond.
Interiors are calm and considered, with natural materials and soft tonal palettes by designer Virginia Fisher. The experience extends beyond design to include a dedicated wellness offering at ROKI Pure, as well as curated, highly personalized itineraries that connect guests to the region, from alpine adventures to private lake experiences.
“From the outset, ROKI Collection had a vision that ROKI Collection Queenstown was about creating something that feels distinctly of Queenstown, that is design-led, intimate, and grounded in place. To be included in Travel + Leisure’s It List is a meaningful acknowledgement of that,” said Stephen McAteer, General Manager, ROKI Collection.
T+L contributor Kendall Hill writes, “Accommodations at ROKI – meaning peace and tranquility in Māori language – range from 540-square-feet junior suites to the four-bedroom ROKI suite, with almost 6000 square feet of living space, terraces, and a jacuzzi.”
“The exemplary service at the hotel extends beyond into the adventure capital of Queenstown; the hotel concierge will arrange gear and heli transfers to ski fields, or dispatch guests on hikes, winery tours, and scenic flights over the Southern Alps.”
“ROKI Collection Queenstown brings something truly different to New Zealand – an urban retreat that combines the tranquillity of a lodge with the energy of a hotel in stunning Queenstown, where you can immerse yourself in nature,” said Stephen McAteer, ROKI Collection General Manager.
“Every aspect has been thoughtfully designed to be a space to pause and breathe, a sanctuary of calm. ROKI is where gracious service, curated design and breathtaking natural beauty converge.”
Each of its 15 spacious suites, ranging from 1 to 4 bedrooms, offers swoon-worthy panoramic views of The Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu. Each has a fireplace, private bathtub, and walk-in wardrobes.
A fine dining narrative of New Zealand
For gourmands, ROKI Collection Queenstown will have two restaurants available to in-house guests and the public: Essence and The Terrace.
Essence offers a fine-dining narrative of New Zealand, blending modern European influences with local produce, led by Culinary Director Paul Froggatt, the Luxury Lodges of New Zealand Chef of the Year 2023/24, and a respected figure in the culinary industry. This will also be the first time guests outside of a lodge environment can experience Paul Froggatt’s cuisine.”
“At Essence, my approach is simple—to honor the purity of exceptional ingredients, letting flavor, seasonality, and technique speak for themselves. Each dish is a reflection of place, memory, and craft and is designed to evoke a sense of quiet luxury and connection to New Zealand’s natural rhythm,” said Paul Froggatt.
The Terrace, a seafood-inspired restaurant, offers the best restaurant views in Queenstown. It is an ideal perch for an aperitif, lunch, or relaxed dinner after a day of adventure, framed by two fireplaces for all seasons.
Guests can also enjoy the sophisticated yet relaxed Library Bar, also open to the public, and Conservatory, with a cocktail or a wine list highlighting New Zealand’s finest. Private dining is available in intimate snugs, or the 3 – bedroom Brunswick Suite, 4-bedroom ROKI Suite or 7-bedroom Grand ROKI Suite.
ROKI Pure wellness sanctuary
For after a day of skiing, hiking or vineyard hopping, there is ROKI Pure, a dedicated wellness sanctuary where guests can truly pause and reconnect. ROKI Pure has a thermal zone, two private treatment suites an indoor pool, and a jacuzzi.
“We have moved well beyond the traditional spa model. Today’s guests are wellness savvy and not just looking for pampering. They want wellness experiences that shift something, that make them feel different,” said Mr McAteer.
ROKI Pure is a sanctuary of serenity, exclusive to guests staying at ROKI Collection Queenstown and designed for modern travelers who crave more than just rest and relaxation. ROKI Pure offers guests immersive signature Rituals, ‘Resets’, ‘Rewilds’, and a personalized Sleep Concierge.
Rituals: Signature Rituals begin with a tranquillity walk to a secluded sanctuary and are two hours of uninterrupted calm, care, and complete indulgence. These immersive sensory experiences are designed to release tension, restore balance, and guide guests into deep relaxation. They soothe the nervous system, replenish energy — slowly, gently, beautifully.
Resets: ROKI Pure Resets are self-led, in-suite rituals designed to elevate a guest’s stay with purposeful intention. Each Reset offers a carefully curated blend of sensory tools, therapeutic elements and quiet moments to support how travellers want to feel.
Rewilds: Guests can book a bespoke series of The Tides and ROKI Rituals, exclusive to ROKI Pure.
The Tides Wellness, a globally respected wellness brand known for its powerful, science-backed rituals that work with the nervous system, not just the muscles. ROKI Collection Queenstown is the first destination in New Zealand and the broader Pacific to offer guests these exclusive The Tides/ROKI Rituals.
ROKI Pure signature scent: Grounded in warm cedarwood and clove, and lifted by soft ambrette, tonka, and blackcurrant, BREATHE by ROKI Pure is created exclusively for ROKI Collection and is part of a personalized Sleep Concierge experience for guests, to extend the wellness journey.
Excursions
The hotel offers direct access to the region’s renowned experiences. Guests can ski, enjoy private heli-skiing, take scenic flights over Fiordland National Park, or unwind with a lakeside aperitif. Bespoke excursions include romantic gourmet mountain lunches, private tours of the best Central Otago wineries with pinot noir tasting, private boat charters, guided hikes, fly fishing, and golf. The property is a three-minute walk to the city center and close to the Botanical Gardens, Skyline Gondola, and Steamer Wharf.
All guests can enjoy local drop-offs in the hotel’s house car, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, available from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Check availability and book ROKI Collection Queenstown here.
