Hilton Broadens Footprint On South Island

Two years after its grand opening, Hilton Queenstownhas expanded its ambitions on the country's South Island and reestablished itself as Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa.

"We felt somewhat confined by the original name, which didn't quite communicate the expansiveness of the guest experience here," said Andrew Nisbet, general manager. "As a resort and spa, we're really embracing this destination as a place to experience some of the greatest natural wonders and most exhilarating pursuits available in all New Zealand."

Hilton has four properties spread throughout the country, with the Queenstown location being the only resort & spa. Situated at the foothills of the Remarkables mountain range, the property is a jumping off point for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and exploring hiking and biking trails in the summer, as well as the numerous adventure sports in the surrounding area, including Bungee Jumping, which began in New Zealand.

In celebration of its new conception, the resort has unveiled a new spa package, "Escape to eforea," which includes:

• Accommodation for two in a lake-view room with floor-to-ceiling windows, private balcony and a schist stone fireplace

• Two half-hour massages (per stay) at the award-winning eforea spa: at Hilton, with 20 percent discounts on additional treatments

• Full buffet breakfast at Wakatipu Grill, a finalist in Cuisine magazine's 2012 "New Zealand Restaurant of the Year Awards"

eforea spa has also received accolades, as a Conde Nast Johansens Luxury Spa Recommendation in 2012 and "Best Hotel Spa" in the Australasian Spa Association (ASPA) Awards last year.

Guests can opt for a la carte treatments like the Meditation Massage using deep aromatic oils, or select from three distinct spa journeys - Essentials, Escape and Men's. The threelevel spa includes a 25-metre heated pool with adjoining hot tub, sauna and steam rooms, and fully equipped fitness centre.

The spa, like the resort itself, has a strong sense of place. Renowned New Zealand designer Chan Andreassend created the ceramic lights, which emit a soft glow highlighting the etched symbols of Pacific culture. The earthy tones of the walls and the smoked oak wooden floors are in tune with Queenstown's position in the middle of the Southern Alps.

The resort is conveniently located only five minutes from Queenstown International Airport, and just a 15 minute drive or eight minute water taxi ride into the centre of Queenstown.