Review: Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort (1 Bedroom Premier Lake View Apartment)

Nightly rate (incl. taxes/fees)	NZD 170 (US$100) (paid entirely with D$)
Offer stacked	Earn D$50 on GHA Discovery stays, up to 4 times
Length of stay	4 nights
Date of stay	Sep 2022
Membership level	Titanium (GHA Discovery)

What benefits to expect when you stay at Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort as a GHA Discovery Titanium member?

Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort opened in 2006 with a total of 129 rooms.

With this 4-night stay, I’ve wiped out most of my remaining Discovery Dollars balance that was generously converted from the Local Experiences of the old loyalty program.

Yes, the stay did not cost me anything and I even received D$50 with the stacked offer!

Location

This resort is located along the side of Lake Wakatipu, between downtown Queenstown and the Frankton/Airport area.

• 4 mins drive to Queenstown Mall
• 7 mins drive to Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
• 1 hr drive to Lake Wanaka
• 3 hrs 30 mins to Milford Sound

Arrival

I had reached out to the hotel about 2 weeks prior to my stay to request for a lake view apartment as a Titanium member recognition and was happily granted one! This was possible even though the apartment was listed as “sold out” on the GHA Discovery mobile app.

Upon arrival, at 12 noon, I parked my rented vehicle near the lobby to check in.

At the reception, the staff on duty was quick to dismiss my check-in request before even checking my booking/membership details. I had to let them know about the Titanium member benefits (which includes 12 noon check-in) and asked if my pre-assigned room was available for the early check-in.

She quickly apologised and asked me to wait at the lobby, while they get the room ready.

Pro tip: You can get GHA Discovery Titanium status from as little as 3 nights!

Parking is free at the property but there are limited lots available, which can be problematic during high occupancy.

If the carpark is full, your next best option will be to park at Andrews Road or Panorama Terrace about 10 mins walk away.

1 Bedroom Lake View Apartment

Room 646 is 55sqm / 592sqft in size.

The apartment honestly felt a lot larger than the measurements shared above. Maybe the balcony space was not taken into consideration.

The interior of the apartment is very well-furnished and truly made us feel at home. We especially enjoyed the large kitchen and fireplace.

Check out the video tour of this room on our Instagram page.

The outdoor space of this corner room was simply breathtaking.

It is large enough to hold a table for 6 and offers spectacular views of Lake Wakatipu and the mountain range, as well as the stars at night!

The balcony is also a good plane-spotting spot!

Due to staff shortages, I was told that the hotel is only offering limited housekeeping services. It wasn’t a huge deal for us, especially when the nightly rates are around 50% off!

Internet speed

WiFi speed was very good throughout my stay.

Other facilities

To get a little closer to the lake, guests can take the stairs from level 3.

The property has a very basic gym and does not have a swimming pool.

My ratings

This is how I am rating my stay, after considering the hotel’s usual nightly rate:

Service	8/10
Location	10/10
Room furnishing	10/10
View (from the room)	10/10
Peace & quiet	10/10
Facilities	8/10
Elite member recognition	10/10
Value	10/10

Bottom line

It was a fantastic way to return to my favourite city in the world since the New Zealand borders re-opened. I just couldn’t get enough of the amazing views from the balcony.

I knew right away that our upcoming stays in New Zealand would not be able to top this; especially when I literally paid nothing for it!

Oaks hotels run regular offers throughout the year and it was great to have the opportunity to take advantage of one. Also keep a lookout for upcoming GHA Discovery offers that are usually shared on Suitesmile’s Telegram channel.