Under normal circumstances we would not have stayed at this hotel but thanks to a fantastic deal on www.wotif.com we booked in there for several nights. Instead of about NZ$ 300 we paid $ 125 per night, including buffet breakfasts. This is not much dearer than accommodation in a double room at the backpackers on the lakefront where breakfast is not included in the approximate $ 80 rate for a double room. You just must have the nerves to wait and book short-term – which I would not do between Christmas and New Year or during the Winter Festival. But visitor numbers are dropping, so at most times of the year you can get a good deal in the big cities plus Queenstown with its many tourists.
The Copthorne Lakefront is one of the architecturally nicer hotels in Queenstown. It sits along the main road in Frankton (SH 6A), before you drive down the hill into the town centre. It is close enough to the centre, just a 10 to 15 minute walk through the Queenstown Gardens. So you can leave the car in the hotel garage (no charge) and save the parking fees you would pay in the CBD.
The hotel is a complex made up of several wings and an attractive little tower, all built around a nice courtyard very nicely planted with cabbage trees and other native shrubs and trees, with mountain and lake views.
We were upgraded to a lakeview room and enjoyed the vistas very much.
The room itself was very nicely furnished and spacious, with Sky TV, tea/coffee making facilities, and everything you need. You would have to pay for internet access, and they would charge crazy fees like most big hotels. Better you go to an internet café if you have no other technical options.
The bathroom was not very flash but ok and functional. The shower was over the bath tub, the head’s height not adjustable. The tiny storage space beside the handwash basin was right over the toilet, so you would not want to store too much stuff there, as it might fall into the toilet bowl. But there was enough space opposite the bathroom, so this wasn’t a real problem.
If there was any exhaust fan it did not work very efficiently. We always opened the windows of the room to get rid of the steam that would create a smelly atmosphere in the room.
The breakfast buffet was fine but did not offer a real big choice. I would not call it sumptuous but it had scrambled eggs, (not very delicious) sausages, tomatoes, a kind of bacon (I called it ham…), a small selection of fruit (most tinned) and some danishs. The only bread choices were toast and crumpets, and as you had to toast it in a single toasting belt machine, this caused queues at peak times.
But well, for the money we paid we were perfectly happy with it, and we loved our perfectly quiet room with the great views. We had great sleeps and a great time, and the staff at the reception were overly friendly and helpful.
Photo 2 shows the bathroom.
Photos 3 and 4 show the nice architecture and courtyard and mountain views.
