Avani Queenstown is scheduled to open on Queenstown’s lakefront in September 2026, bringing a full-service lifestyle hotel, destination dining and dedicated wellness facilities to New Zealand’s alpine resort town.
Minor Hotels announced the opening on 5 August, calling the property Avani’s New Zealand flagship. It will be the brand’s first hotel in Queenstown and its second property in the country, following Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences.
Formerly Oaks Shores Resort, the Frankton Road property is undergoing a transformation, shifting from serviced apartments to a full-service hotel. The repositioning will bring new dining and social spaces, alongside Avani’s established fitness and spa concepts.
A new design for the Lake Wakatipu property
Set beside Lake Wakatipu at 327–343 Frankton Road, Avani Queenstown will pair clean-lined interiors with warm finishes influenced by its New Zealand setting. The design is intended to create an easy base for exploring Queenstown while offering inviting spaces for slower evenings by the lake.
Shared areas will accommodate après-ski drinks around the fireplace, private dinners and events ranging from intimate celebrations to larger functions. The existing Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort offers hotel rooms and apartments, including four-bedroom penthouses. Most accommodation categories have private balconies, while published features include kitchen facilities or kitchenettes and views towards the lake or surrounding mountains. Minor Hotels has not yet confirmed the final room categories or opening rates for Avani Queenstown.
Craig Hooley, chief operating officer of Minor Hotels Australasia, said in the announcement: “Combining a standout lakefront location with Avani’s design-led approach, the hotel delivers a contemporary guest experience that reflects how travellers increasingly want to stay, connect and experience a destination.”
Six to Midnight will serve guests and Queenstown locals
Six to Midnight, the hotel’s planned all-day restaurant, will place local and seasonal produce at the centre of globally inspired menus. The venue will start with breakfast and lunch, then shift into high tea, après-ski get-togethers and evening à la carte dining.
Designed for residents as well as hotel guests, Six to Midnight will function as one of Avani Queenstown’s main social spaces. Its extended daily format should suit travellers returning from the ski fields, walking trails or activities around the lake.
The concept is separate from the restaurant service currently advertised at Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort, which has a more limited weekly dinner schedule during the property’s transformation.
AvaniSpa and AvaniFit will support active stays
AvaniSpa will provide a dedicated setting for treatments and recovery, while AvaniFit will introduce the brand’s contemporary approach to exercise. Detailed treatment menus and fitness facilities have not yet been published.
Coronet Peak is listed around 25 minutes away by car, with The Remarkables approximately 30 minutes from the hotel. Queenstown Gardens and the Skyline Gondola are both within a short drive.
Queenstown Airport is approximately 15 to 20 minutes away by car, depending on the estimate used by the existing Oaks and Minor Hotels listings. The current property also advertises a complimentary shuttle to central Queenstown, although Avani has not confirmed whether this service will continue after the relaunch.
September opening follows a substantial renovation
The Avani announcement gives September 2026 as the opening month but does not specify an exact date. A construction notice on the current Oaks website says work on the final building connected to complex block 3 is expected to finish by 30 September. It also says the existing gym, sauna and spa will remain closed until the work is complete.
The adjacent Frankton Track is listed as closed until early November 2026, with Queenstown Trails providing updates. The lakeside route would normally offer a scenic walking or cycling connection towards central Queenstown.
Minor Hotels is positioning the opening around Queenstown’s established year-round appeal, which stretches beyond its winter ski season to hiking, lake activities and food-led trips. James Billing, area general manager of New Zealand for Minor Hotels, said the town now attracts visitors throughout the year.
Avani Queenstown also extends the brand’s Australasian portfolio following the opening of Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Avani, founded in 2011, now has more than 40 properties across five continents.
