Hotels

There are now over 20,000 visitor beds in this small town, ranging from backpackers to new apartments, international-class hotels, and luxury lodges, yet still they keep coming. Even with multiple new additions (and four major international hotel chains building over the next 2-3 years), it still pays to book well in advance. Should you arrive without reservations, head for the Queenstown Travel & Visitor Centre, in the Clocktower Centre, Shotover and Camp streets (tel. 03/442-4100; fax 03/442-8907), and ask for assistance. Rates include 12.5% GST and free off-street parking unless otherwise noted.

In Queenstown

Very Expensive -- The Spire, 3-5 Church Lane (tel. 03/441-0004; fax 03/441-0003; www.thespirehotels.com), is a small, classy, boutique hotel -- bigger and more contemporary than Eichardt's -- with 10 lovely rooms for NZ$995 (US$706/£359), which includes breakfast and airport transport. Just be aware that it's located very close to several boisterous bars and noise can be a problem. Take your earplugs.

Expensive -- Mountvista Boutique Hotel, 4 Sydney St. (tel. 03/442-8832; fax 03/442-4233; www.mountvista.com), is a small, quiet, intimate boutique hotel near Queenstown Gardens. Its fourteen rooms are modern and spacious. Twelve of them have big double baths, and 8 have balconies. You'll pay from NZ$490 to NZ$595 (US$348-US$422/£177-£215) and rates include breakfast.

Inexpensive -- Creeksyde Camper Van Park, 54 Robins Rd. (tel. 03/442-9447; www.camp.co.nz), is definitely the Mercedes of campgrounds, situated in what was once a nursery -- so there are trees and plants aplenty, plus room for 90 campervans, all with power outlets and water and waste hookups. There are also completely self-contained units and budget lodge rooms, all within a 5-minute walk of town. The charge is from NZ$25 (US$18/£9) for tent sites, NZ$40 (US$28/£14) for van sites; NZ$57 to NZ$137 (US$40-US$97/£21-£49) for lodge rooms, from NZ$72 (US$51/£26) for deluxe cabins, and from NZ$105 (US$75/£38) for motel rooms. New holiday units are from NZ$155 (US$110/£56). YHA Queenstown Lakefront, 88-90 Lake Esplanade, Queenstown (tel. 0800/278-299 in NZ, or 03/442-8413; fax 03/442-6561; www.yha.co.nz), has 147 beds -- dorm beds from NZ$23 (US$16/£8.30) and doubles from NZ$69 (US$49/£25).

Near Arrowtown

Moderate -- There are three charming rooms with en-suite bathrooms at Arrowtown Old Nick Bed and Breakfast, 70 Buckingham St., Arrowtown (tel. 0800/653-642 in NZ, or 03/442-0066; www.oldnick.co.nz), for NZ$140 to NZ$250 (US$99-US$177/£51-£90). Arrowtown Lodge, 7 Anglesea St., Arrowtown (tel. 0800/258-802 in NZ, or 03/442-1101; fax 03/442-1108; www.arrowtownlodge.co.nz), has four semidetached cottages that replicate something of Arrowtown's gold-rush heritage. Built of mud bricks, but providing modern conveniences, the cottages offer privacy and a definite ambience that captures something of the spirit of the area. All have underfloor heating and patios. You'll get charm and 21st-century comfort here at the unbelievably reasonable rate of NZ$150 to NZ$180 (US$106-US$128/£54-£65).

In Nearby Glenorchy

There's a bit of everything in Glenorchy, from cheap backpackers to a very upmarket lodge. Glenorchy Hotel (tel. 03/442-9902; fax 03/442-9912; www.glenorchynz.com) is a classic Kiwi country-style hotel with nine rooms and backpacker accommodations for 18; Glenorchy Holiday Park & Backpackers (tel. 03/442-7171; glenpark@queenstown.co.nz) has all the usual campground facilities, plus lodge rooms and cabins. Located between the Greenstone and Routeburn tracks, gorgeous little Kinloch Lodge (tel. 03/442-4900; www.kinlochlodge.co.nz) offers bunks and private rooms with shared facilities in a setting you'll always remember. Drive 45 minutes north of Queenstown and then take a 3-minute boat ride across the lake to the low-cost comforts of this outback gem.