By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Blanket Bay is one of New Zealand's great luxury lodges: a stone-and-timber retreat on the shore of Lake Wakatipu near Glenorchy, about 45 minutes from Queenstown, looking across the water to the Humboldt Mountains. It was built by its owner to celebrate his passion for fly fishing, and with just 14 rooms, suites and villas, a spa and a heated outdoor pool, it is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
Blanket Bay is one of New Zealand's great luxury lodges: a stone-and-timber retreat on the shore of Lake Wakatipu near Glenorchy, about 45 minutes from Queenstown, looking across the water to the Humboldt Mountains. It was built by its owner to celebrate his passion for fly fishing, and with just 14 rooms, suites and villas, a spa and a heated outdoor pool, it is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
Location: Glenorchy, Lake Wakatipu
New Zealand's Southern Alps run the length of the South Island, a chain of glaciated peaks, deep lakes and fiords that ends in the wild, rain-washed mountains of Fiordland. Glenorchy is a tiny settlement near the head of Lake Wakatipu, where the road from Queenstown ends and the valleys of Mount Aspiring National Park begin. The landscapes here were used as locations for The Lord of the Rings, and the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand's Great Walks, starts nearby.
Blanket Bay stands on the lakeshore, about 45 minutes' drive from Queenstown, with the Humboldt Mountains reflected in the water.
Rooms at Blanket Bay
There are 14 rooms, suites and villas, from Lodge Rooms and Chalet Suites to the Owners Residence and The Villa, the largest at nearly 1,000 square metres. Interiors combine stone fireplaces, timber beams and big windows facing the lake and the mountains, in the style of a grand alpine lodge.
Facilities at Blanket Bay
There is a spa, a heated outdoor pool, a hot tub and a fitness room, and the restaurant and bar showcase New Zealand produce and premium New Zealand wines. The lodge arranges horse riding to a nearby high-country station, jet boating on glacier-fed rivers from its own dock, guided fly fishing, including by helicopter to remote rivers, hiking in Mount Aspiring National Park and helicopter flights to Milford Sound.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is the early morning, when the lake is still and the snow-capped Humboldt Mountains are reflected perfectly in the water outside your window.
Later, a helicopter lifts you over the Southern Alps to Milford Sound, or to a remote river where you may be the only person fishing for miles.
Why Blanket Bay is one of the best mountain hotels
Blanket Bay earns its place for its setting, among the most beautiful in New Zealand, and for its intimate, old-school luxury. It is a true escape, yet within easy reach of Queenstown.
Closer to town, Matakauri Lodge offers lakeside luxury with views of the Remarkables. For Fiordland, see Fiordland Lodge.
When to go to Blanket Bay
Summer, from December to March, brings long days for hiking, fishing and boating, and autumn, from March to May, brings golden colour to the valleys and calm, clear weather. Winter, from June to September, brings snow to the mountains and skiing at Queenstown's resorts, about an hour away.
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Questions, answered
- Where is Blanket Bay?
- Blanket Bay is on the shore of Lake Wakatipu near Glenorchy, in New Zealand's South Island, about 45 minutes by road from Queenstown.
- How many rooms does Blanket Bay have?
- There are 14 rooms, suites and villas, including the Owners Residence and The Villa.
- Is Blanket Bay a Relais & Châteaux property?
- Yes. Blanket Bay is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
- What can you do at Blanket Bay?
- Fly fishing, horse riding, jet boating, hiking in Mount Aspiring National Park and helicopter flights to Milford Sound.
- When is the best time to visit Blanket Bay?
- December to May for hiking and fishing; June to September for skiing near Queenstown.
