Rosewood Matakauri, Queenstown, New Zealand

Where it is

It sits right on the lake's northern edge, about eight minutes' drive from central Queenstown on the road to Glenorchy, with Queenstown Airport around 20 minutes away. From the terraces you look across the lake to the Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak.

Queenstown's restaurants and adventures are close, yet the lodge feels secluded. Arrowtown, Central Otago's vineyards, Glenorchy and the road to Milford Sound are all within reach.

Suites and villas

Accommodation is a small collection of lake-view suites and villas, with two-bedroom and four-bedroom villas for more space. The Grand Lake View Suites, of about 85 square metres, have open fireplaces, private balconies and contemporary interiors that keep the focus on the view through floor-to-ceiling glass.

Food, spa and the rest

Dining is a highlight: modern New Zealand cooking built on produce grown, foraged and harvested in the region, served in the Dining Room or on the Remarkables Terrace, with a deep list of Central Otago wines, especially pinot noir. Private dining can be arranged around the property.

The spa, pool and wellness facilities are designed for slow days, and the team can arrange every South Island adventure, from a helicopter flight to Milford Sound to wine tours, lake cruises and, in winter, skiing at the nearby fields.

The moment

Sundown, a log fire and a local pinot noir, while the light drains from the sky and the Remarkables flush rose and then purple over the darkening water. By day, the helicopter flight over the fiords to Milford Sound is unforgettable.

Why we chose it

Few lodges anywhere match this combination of view, intimacy and food, and Rosewood's arrival has added polish without losing the calm. It is expensive, but it is the finest base in Queenstown for travellers who want peace after a day of exploring.

For another lake-and-mountain view, compare The Omnia in Zermatt; for a wilder southern-hemisphere adventure, Awasi Patagonia.

When to go

New Zealand's summer, from December to February, brings long, warm days and the busiest weeks, when local and Australian school holidays fill Queenstown around Christmas and January. Winter, from July to September, is ski season.

The sweet spots for travellers without school dates are autumn, from March to April, when Arrowtown's trees turn gold and the light is soft, and late spring, in October and November, with snow still on the peaks and fewer visitors.

The longer stay

Give Queenstown at least four nights, with days for Milford Sound, the vineyards and Glenorchy. Rosewood's Suite Sojourn offer, at the time of writing, takes 25 percent off the best available rate when you book a villa for four consecutive nights. Matakauri also makes a natural anchor for a month-long journey around the South Island.