Peppers Queenstown – The Perfect Base

Known as the 'Adventure Capital' of New Zealand, Queenstown is a vibrant leisure destination with a range of activities and attractions to suit most. There are loads of accommodation options but, in our opinion if you are looking for premier accommodation, you can't go past Peppers Beacon for comfort, style and elegance.  It's also perfectly located in the heart of Queenstown, just a five-minute level walk to everything.

From the moment we arrived at check in and were offered a delicious cup of piping-hot pumpkin soup, to our  arrival at our suite – where the aroma of fresh bread baking in the kitchen filled the air – we were impressed. 

Situated on the pristine shores of Lake Wakatipu, with superb lake and mountain views, it hotel takes its name for its proximity to the beacon that guides boats safely across the lake. 

After a recent $1 million restoration each of the 80 plus rooms have a stylish, contemporary look and breathtaking views across the lake to the Remarkables.

There are four luxury accommodation styles to choose from including a deluxe penthouse suite offering even more space.

To ensure you have a delicious start to your day the hotels Galley offers a comfortable breakfast lounge. Located on the seventh floor it serves a delicious continental buffet and made-to-order hot breakfasts inspired by the rich local ingredients found in the surrounding Otago region.

Venturing further afield the hotels staff are more than happy to guide you and for us that meant sampling some of the amazing local wines and food.  We had heard about a food trail put together by the hotel and, as Queenstown boasts more than 100 fine-dining, casual restaurants, cafés and bars,  we loved the idea of receiving first hand knowledge on some of the best local spots. 

The ‘Peppers Gourmet Food Trail’ guide available at reception makes eating out simple and it covers selections for fine dining; family friendly restaurants; after dark night caps along with the best breakfast and brunch cafes.  To make things even easier, the hotel has arranged charge-back facilities with selected venues. 

As an added bonus as a Peppers guest you also receive additional benefits.  For instance, when we dined at Wai, located on Steamer Wharf and offering stunning seafood, we received preferred seating and a complimentary glass of Mumm Cordon Rouge N.V. Champagne on arrival.

For an after dinner drink, the plush leather armchairs at Bardeaux were hard to beat and provided an ideal late night spot.  As guests of Peppers Beacon, we received a complimentary Central Otago Pinot Noir tasting with a flight of four local Pinots.

If you are travelling with the family, Finz Seafood and Grill has the perfect atmosphere with fine foods at affordable prices.  Preferred seating is offered to hotel guests ensuring the whole family is able to enjoy the waterfront view.

Queenstown’s gourmet experiences are not just reserved for after dark.  With a visit to the Gibbston Valley Cheesery you will enjoy a cheese making presentation and complimentary tasting.

The staff at Peppers can even ensure a visit to The Remarkable Sweet Shop coincides with the production of their world famous Remarkable Fudge.

A special little find was The Bunker Bar, tucked away down Cow Lane, set off the street and accessed via a short flight of stairs. A unique little setting, it features a roaring fire inside and a cosy outdoor area complete with leather couches. Old James Bond movies are projected on the wall of the old buildings that enclose the space.

Peppers Beacon Queenstown is the perfect base if you want to explore all that is on offer including skiing, snowboarding, tramping through national parks, scenic tours, bungy jumping, jet boat rides, pampering, or as we found wining and dining.

For our entire stay the staff combined personal and friendly service with exceptional knowledge of where to go and what to do.  Pepper Beacon offers a stunning base for a summer or winter vacation.

For more visit Peppers Beacon or phone +64 3 441 0890. 

Alison Carmichael-Rulten

Hi, I'm Alison Carmichael-Rulten the Publisher of Vacation Goddess, and I want to thank you for visiting Vacation Goddess – the one-stop shop for insider travel news, deals, 'Guest Goddes's stories, and of course our personal travel experiences. Plus, as we love to cruise we also try to find some amazing cruise deals for you too. From luxury, longer escapes right down to weekend breaks we know you love everything travel related. Here at Vacation Goddess, we hope you will find loads of inspiration and of course some amazing travel deals. We love a holiday at a great price and that's why we seek out what we call 'Champagne Experiences, on a Sparkling Wine Budget.' We constantly showcase a variety of special deals and offers and from time to time some very special competitions. Our recent 'Win a Trip to London' competition received over 24,00 entries. We invite you to visit us often, join our mailing list and please tell your friends