WHERE TO STAY

One good option is the stylish Hilton Queenstown is a 10-minute drive from the airport on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. The township is a short drive, or water taxi, away. Embrace an apres-ski vibe via the hotel’s lobby fire and Wakatipu Grill and Bar — both spots for sipping champagne. Those returned from outdoor pursuits can tend to aching muscles with a massage in the spa, Eforea, or enjoy a "flute and facial", with a glass of Veuve Clicquot to finish. For a little more than accommodation, The Sherwood hotel mixes luxury with wellbeing. Created by the people behind Wellington’s Matterhorn and Auckland’s now-closed Golden Dawn, the 1980s repurposed motor lodge includes an on-site restaurant using produce from the vege garden, organic and craft wines, and a yoga studio. Hipster heaven.

Hilton.com/Queenstown; Clicquotinthesnow.co.nz; Sherwoodqueenstown.nz