Peak luxury at Coronet Ridge

The newest addition to Queenstown’s luxury accommodation market is now open, following a comprehensive refurbishment of an existing property.

As one of the closest luxury properties to Coronet Peak, recently opened Coronet Ridge Resort takes the crown as a premier Queenstown destination for travellers seeking refined comfort and exceptional natural scenery.

At Coronet Ridge’s official opening ceremony, Queenstown Mayor John Glover described the hotel as occupying “the sweet spot between the countryside and thriving downtown Queenstown” and commended the new owners for having the confidence to invest in the district.

With Queenstown international visitor arrivals sitting just shy of pre-Covid levels, the alpine town leads the country in hotel performance, with operators posting simultaneous growth in revenue per available room, occupancy and average daily rate.

Positioned above the Shotover River in Arthur’s Point, the 41-room Coronet Ridge Resort is 10 minutes from central Queenstown and 15 minutes from the airport. Originally built in the 1980s as Nugget Point Hotel, the property was acquired by New Zealand–Singapore entity New Bay Group in 2023 through Bayleys.

Following a multi-million-dollar makeover, the completely remastered Coronet Ridge complex has just launched to the market, and is already garnering praise for its design aesthetic, hospitality and contribution to the local accommodation landscape.

Auckland-based firm Capstone Hotel Management was engaged to operate Nugget Point Hotel while Coronet Ridge was still in its planning and consenting stages. Capstone managing director, Clare Davies says they worked closely with the owners throughout the design process and contributed an operator’s perspective to the redevelopment.

“We collaborated on the overall look and feel of the property to ensure the finished product would resonate with the intended target market at the upper end of Queenstown’s five-star luxury segment.

“From an operational standpoint, we focused on ensuring the design delivered a distinctive guest experience that aligned with market expectations, would achieve a sustainable average daily rate and would support the asset’s long term commercial performance.

“The result is a bespoke property that will stand the test of time, both in terms of guest appeal and operational practicality, while minimising the need for significant refurbishment in the near future.”

In addition to the 41 suites and guest rooms, the resort has a conference room for up to 30 guests, a Roman-inspired day spa, outdoor hot tubs, a premium fitness centre, squash courts and a private cinema. The in-house Elevation Bar & Restaurant offers panoramic views of the Wakatipu Basin, the Remarkables, and the Shotover River, with guests choosing from alfresco terrace dining, open-kitchen experiences, après-ski offerings and evenings by the Library Bar fireplace.

Photo credits: Coronet Ridge Resort

Luxury positioning

Davies says launching a newly redeveloped luxury property is both exciting and challenging, with Queenstown attracting highly discerning and well-travelled guests with high expectations.

“Our focus from the outset has been on making certain the operational side of the business lives up to the quality of the product, through building the right team, establishing service standards and positioning the hotel within the competitive luxury market.

“We’ve also worked closely with our international trade partners, travel advisors and key distribution channels to ensure the property is visible to the right audiences globally, by targeting a mix of international leisure travellers, luxury travel advisors and premium domestic guests.

“The early response from the industry and guests has been very encouraging, so we’re confident the hotel will quickly establish itself as a standout luxury offering in New Zealand.”

Coronet Ridge Resort is well-placed to meet increasing demand globally for wellness-focused and holistic travel experiences. Davies says guests are seeking destinations that help them disconnect from busy lives, reconnect with nature, and prioritise wellbeing – qualities the hotel’s location and design naturally support. “Queenstown already offers incredible opportunities for outdoor activities and rejuvenation, and Coronet Ridge provides a boutique, tranquil base from which guests can experience that in a more refined and restorative way.”

With the current redevelopment of Coronet Ridge complete, and the hotel now operating as intended, Capstone’s immediate focus is on stabilising the asset, building brand awareness and operational performance.

“The owners do have longer-term expansion plans for the site, but for now, the priority is ensuring the hotel establishes itself successfully within the Queenstown luxury market,” explains Davies.

Photo credits: Coronet Ridge Resort

The look and feel

Auckland-based interior design and procurement specialist Furnz Group was engaged at an early stage to bring architectural designer G2 Studio’s interior vision for Coronet Ridge to life across the entire complex.

Furnz Group director Euan Armstrong says their role was to ensure every element aligned with the project’s budget and long-term objectives, leveraging the company’s global network of suppliers and manufacturers to deliver bespoke furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E), and carefully curating consumables (OS&E).

“With such a significant refurbishment of an existing structure, every member of the team played a critical role in reimagining what the hotel could become.

“Coronet Ridge’s owners placed full confidence in the New Zealand consulting team and committed to the level of investment required to deliver the hotel to an exceptionally high standard.”

Armstrong explains that in selecting materials and componentry, Furnz Group carefully evaluated Queenstown’s significant seasonal temperature variations to ensure all elements met durability requirements while maintaining a refined, high-quality aesthetic.

“Further, each custom-made component was intentionally manufactured and designed as part of a modular system, allowing for the easy replacement of individual pieces over time. This considered approach supports long-term sustainability while preserving the integrity of the overall design.”

With the new-look hotel now open, Armstrong says he’s thrilled with how the interior has come together. “While the view does much of the talking, the layered textures, natural materials and alpine-inspired palette create an immediate sense of place,” he says.

“When you wake up at Coronet Ridge, there’s no mistaking you’re in Queenstown.”

Nugget Point prior to the renovation