Roki Collection
Review
Character and identity
Roki sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, built from stone, timber, steel and glass, with just 15 glass-fronted suites running from one bedroom to a four-bedroom residence (top-floor suites combine into a seven-bedroom penthouse). Interiors are calm: creams, sage greens, dove grays, fireplaces, triple-glazed windows framing The Remarkables. Two restaurants anchor the property: The Terrace for lobster rolls, caviar and Ruinart, and Essence, Paul Froggatt's tasting-menu room with surrealist touches. The spa leans Roman grotto, with two-hour treatments, lap pool and cold plunge. Service is lodge-style: black Defenders, helicopters, ski concierge, anything handled.
Who's it for
Best for:
Moneyed, discreet travellers who want lodge-level service inside town rather than an hour down a gravel road. Couples and small groups chasing skiing, heli days, vineyard lunches and a serious tasting menu, plus design-minded guests who value space, suite living and a fleet that quietly removes friction from every plan.
Should look elsewhere:
Anyone wanting a big-hotel scene with bustling bars, full kids' programming or a beach. Families booking the two-bedroom suite should know the second bedroom is compact and viewless. Travellers who prefer remote wilderness over a town-edge address will find the Rees Valley lodge, when it opens, the better fit.
Bottom line
What sets Roki apart is the combination almost no one else in Queenstown offers: full lodge service and access (Defenders, helicopters, ski concierge, Froggatt in the kitchen) two minutes from town. Book a lake-facing suite with a hot tub, come in winter for the ski operation or shoulder season for vineyards, and budget an evening at Essence.