Luxury hotel holiday Blanket Bay Glenorchy near Queenstown

Blanket Bay occupies a sunny position on Lake Wakatipu a couple of minutes' drive from the village of Glenorchy. The Lodge dates from 1997 and has been built in the grand style of the finest alpine lodges and finished with native New Zealand timber and stone, much of the timber being reclaimed from railway bridges throughout the South Island. The floors are made of matai wood from old woolsheds. Greenery, both grass, upon which sheep graze, lawns, which lead down to the lake and bush surround the Lodge. Mount Earnslaw can be seen in the distance and across the lake is the Humboldt mountain range, over which cross the famous Greenstone and Routeburn tracks. Inside the Lodge you are struck by a magnificence of size, yet also a tremendous warmth and cosiness provided by open fires, antique furniture and paintings. In addition to the Great Room, the wood-panelled Den and dining room, there is a games room (where there is a complimentary self-service bar), a map room where there is internet access for guests and a Spa and gym. Dinner is served at individual tables. The food is outstanding with an excellent choice at dinner and an enormous choice at breakfast - the freshly baked muffins (raspberry and chocolate during my stay!) were delicious. Guest rooms are found both in the main Lodge and in two chalets in the grounds. Rooms, particularly the suites, are exceptionally spacious and all are furnished with enormous appeal providing very cosy and comfortable accommodation in dramatic space. There is great attention to detail, amenities are of the highest standards and it all combines supremely well. Rooms have private terrace or balcony and suites have 400 sq ft terraces. The chalet suites are 700 sq ft each and can be combined with the use of a living room in between. Suites all have their own fireplaces. It is hard to beat sitting in front of your blazing fire watching the sun go down over the mountains across the lake. In fact, Blanket Bay combines astonishingly beautiful natural assets and an excellence of the ultimate luxury Lodge experience in a professional yet relaxing way. Well-worth staying as long as you can manage within your holiday.