Matakauri Lodge, Queenstown, review: Plush comfort and faultless service

From the outside the main weatherboard lodge and outlying suites, nestled amidst native shrubs and palms, are unassuming. Inside, doyenne of New Zealand lodge design, Virginia Fisher, has woven her magic wand, creating a richly coloured interior with comfy sofas and oversized armchairs in tones of gold, rust and terracotta that complement rather than compete with the view.

Staying at Matakauri feels rather like being a guest in the home of a well-heeled friend, where you'd be equally comfortable in the lounge dressed for dinner as in ski or hiking gear having a well deserved whisky sour at the end of an active day. Just don't get mud on any of the artworks, which include pieces by Picasso and leading New Zealand contemporary artists.

THE ROOM

Like many Virginia Fisher interiors my Deluxe Suite reeks of plush comfort. It's full of light, with furnishings in the same warm tones of terracotta and gold as the communal spaces, a huge bathroom with double shower, a gas fire and a mini bar stocked with complimentary drinks and home-made treats. I love the double-ended daybed, where I snuggle in a blanket at dawn to watch the first rays of sun illuminate the peaks of the Remarkables then fan westwards across the lake.

There are clever touches too: a flat screen TV hidden behind a framed photograph of Lake Wakatipu; a fold-down ironing board tucked behind a full length mirror; and motion sensors that activate the bathroom lights at night.

I'm not sure whether the king-sized bed, raised above the sitting area, or the freestanding bath in its own alcove, excites me more. Both have unimpeded lake and mountain vistas and it seems only right to empty the entire bottle of bubble bath into the tub and turn myself into a human cappuccino, with a view.

THE FOOD

Chef Jonathan Rogers and his team produce food worthy of any fine dining restaurant, with complimentary fancy canapés before dinner, however on a longer stay you'd probably need to practice restraint. We put our sommelier through his wine matching paces and he comes up trumps with all-Kiwi drops.

The intimate lodge offers several different spaces to dine all with fabulous views, although little can top an in-suite breakfast of smoked New Zealand salmon with creamy scrambled eggs.

In Queenstown itself there's a plethora of eateries to satisfy your appetite, from Josh Emmett's deservedly-lauded Rata and Malaysian street food Madame Wong to the iconic takeaway Fergburger.

STEPPING OUT

Snow sports are huge in Queenstown and the season lasts well into spring (when you can nab serious bargains on learn-to-ski packages whilst enjoying milder weather). From Matakauri you can be on the slopes at Coronet Peak in less than 40 minutes, with The Remarkables just a little further away; the lodge can enlist a ski concierge to guide you to and around the mountains.

Central Otago is a year-round destination, however, with adrenalin junkie pursuits aplenty, but if bungy jumping, giant swings and jetboats don't appeal, there's always the region's superb wineries to visit and pinot noir to taste.

And if you really want to relax then the spa is only paces away.

THE VERDICT

Though it opened under the Robertson family in 2010, nothing about Matakauri Lodge looks tired, and service is faultless. It fits the bill equally for a couple's escape, an upmarket house party or an uber-luxe ski trip, and you won't find a bath anywhere with a better view.

HIGHLIGHTS

Classy and cosy in equal measure, with superior service and truly extraordinary views.

LOWLIGHTS

The food is so fancy it might wear you down on a longer stay.

ESSENTIALS

Matakauri Lodge, 569 Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd, Queenstown 9371, New Zealand, +64 3-441 1008. matakaurilodge.com

The writer was a guest of Matakauri Lodge and Virgin Australia.