We love a bit of history. What was The Dairy Private Hotel before it was a private hotel?

It was, as the name suggests, a 'Dairy,' also known as a corner store. The store played a significant role in the history of the town and the local community, providing a range of local products, from fresh milk and eggs to produce from local farms, as well as treats from across the British Empire.

Following this, The Dairy site became home to a guesthouse as tourism to the region expanded with the onset of international travel in the 1950s. In these early years, the journey to Queenstown was lengthy until Queenstown International Airport opened in 1995.

Today, the hotel’s dining room, situated on the corner of Isle and Brecon Streets, still occupies the original Queenstown corner store site.

How long has it been operating as a boutique hotel? ‍

The Naumi Group transformed the three buildings the hotel occupies in 2020; before that, it served as a guest house.

Can you tell us more about the service and experience ethos behind The Dairy Private Hotel?

Personal service with attention to detail.

Generous hospitality is tailored to each guest.

The team has expert knowledge of Queenstown and the surrounding areas to give our guests the very best experience in the region. We also partner with local wineries, producers, distilleries, coffee roasters, and businesses to offer a uniquely local Queenstown experience for visitors.

Who designed the space?

Material Creative, a local design firm, worked on four elements of our brief during renovation and conversion: luxury, rustic glamour, uniqueness, and bespoke design, while paying homage to the style of traditional European ski chalets and the rich history of the area.
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We wanted them to exercise decorative freedom through craftsmanship, colour, and unexpected details.
The design vision for The Dairy was not only through grand statements, such as the bold red and blue tartan carpet, but also through small gestures like vintage decorative collections and eclectic artwork.

This mix of local and international influences has resulted in what customers experience today: an eccentric mix of opulence that feels unique to the location and a boldly curated hotel interior that offers guests a luxurious and restful stay with a balance of old-world charm and contemporary comforts.