Room review: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown - a surprising place to find one of town's best happy hours

Open a couple of years now, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites on the corner of Sydney and Stanley Streets is an imposing slab of jaggy, modern architecture. It feels like a large lodge and the appropriately titled Great Room is home to the reception, the bar and general socialising.

There are 227 rooms offering a variety of room sizes from standard, to those with a view, all the way up to two-bedroom suites accommodating up to five adults.

Close enough to all the entertainment the centre of town offers, but also far enough away not to be slap bang in the middle of it, the hotel is a brisk five-minute walk (downhill). Depending on how much merriment you have, the stagger back may take longer.

The king room with a mountain view was tidy and intimate, with large windows looking out at the gondola and the Remarkables. The bed was exceptionally comfortable and with black-out blinds and soundproof windows, getting to sleep was a breeze.

The power shower and toilet were compact, with the door serving dual purpose as both the shower and toilet door.

There are the usual trappings of irons, ironing boards, tea and coffee, and a fridge, and the more unusual one of a torch for any big emergencies that may occur.

The 49-inch TV can connect to Chromecast, so you can all bring all your streaming favourites from home. There’s also a table and a couple of chairs, which probably could be taken out as it took up valuable space.

This is a hotel that knows it audience: adrenaline junkies.

There are places to store skis and golf equipment, a place to clean your mountain bike, and a couple of self-serve laundries to recycle your outdoor clothing. There’s even a sauna to ease those tired muscles from a big day of adventuring. A well-equipped compact gym is also on hand for those who need an extra pump.

There are two business rooms catering for meetings between four and 60 people.

The hotel has 12 accessible rooms with large doorways and accessible bathrooms for wheelchair users. There is also an accessible reception desk.

A complimentary breakfast in the Great Room is a great way to start off the day with all the usual hot and cold options. You can also order pizzas from the bar.

Well this is Queenstown, so you’ll never get bored. All the town’s facilities are a short stroll away, as well as the vibrant bar and food scene.

The centre of town is still being dug up with various improvements ongoing so isn’t looking its prettiest, but take a short walk beyond and there are plenty of walks and hikes to breathe in the crisp air.

It’s the surprisingly good happy hour. Between 6pm and 8pm, it is $6 house drinks, a perfect place to watch the sun set behind the mountains while chatting to friends and strangers all about the activities you got up to during the day. An outdoor firepit adds to the lodge charm.

This isn’t the hotel’s fault, but workers nearby cracked a pipe meaning we were without water for a few hours, just as I was about to have a (much-needed) shower.

The hotel is a on Booking.com. This means staff have undergone Proud Hospitality training, and there is a dedicated representative who makes sure their whole team is committed to providing an inclusive stay for LGBTQ+ travellers.

A fantastic base for all that Queenstown has to offer, mixed with a chilled-out vibe. The location can’t be beat.

A king room with a mountain view is just over $500 a night, but rooms start around $280.