I have heard plenty of good things about this lounge since it had been remodelled recently. The lounge also had a new location. The lounge was just open recently before my visit in mid-April. They are still doing the finishing touches. The lounge features one of the signature Air NZ coffee bars where barista coffee is on offer. It also boasts large windows with views of the tarmac and the Remarkables mountain range. The lounge is not overly spacious but will satisfy the demand of this regional airport. It can handle up to 218 guests at a time.

Access Requirements

The Air New Zealand Regional Queenstown Lounge opening hours are dependent on the flights of the day. It opens 1 hour before the first flight until the last departure. Access is offered to all Airpoints Elite, Gold, Elite Partner and Koru members departing on an Air New Zealand flight or Star Alliance flight. Typical Star Alliance access rules for guests follow. Kids under 2 are offered access too. I was flying on Air NZ from Queenstown to Auckland and managed to access this on account of my Star Alliance Gold status.

Arrival & Location

The location of the lounge is after security near gate 4. The lounge has a new location after the renovation. The location is very convenient and just a short walk away after clearing security. It is also near the boarding gates. You can access it via the stairs or the lift. The lounge is located a level above the main terminal. I was greeted by a rather grumpy old lady and was admitted upon scanning my boarding pass. The lady was super impolite. I had some ticketing issues and wanted to borrow the lounge phone but was met with a big fat no. To be fair, the rest of the lounge staff was excellent, especially the male manager.

Air New Zealand Regional Lounge Queenstown Airport

I arrive at the lounge at around 12.45pm. We had a slight delay in clearing security. The lounge is just a short walk away. Upon entering, I felt very welcomed by the tons of natural light and the views out of those large windows. It felt so bright and welcoming. I love the views of the mountain range nearby. Queenstown is so scenic. Here you can find some pictures of the seatings. Most of them are in typical lounge couches and on grounds of 2 to 4. It felt very comfortable and nice to sit on to wait for your flight. The seating is comfortable and power plugs are within reach. There are a couple of seating around the lounge and more seats at the side as well as at the back. The gorgeous bar sets up as the centrepiece of the lounge. I will share more on this later on.

As you approach the inner part of the lounge, you can find more seats as well as dining tables that are more suitable for dining. Although, you can dine anywhere around the lounge.

Check out the view from the lounge. The weather is perfect today! Blue skies and white fluffy clouds over the Remarkables Mountain Range.

Toilets and Showers

The lounge has its toilet in the lounge which is always appreciated. More or less these will be better maintained than the general facilities in the terminal. Unless of course, you are talking about Changi Airport. They are pretty basic and not too fancy. Do note that the lounge doesn’t come with showers but that shouldn’t be needed at a regional hub. This is more of a lounge where passengers are travelling for their international flight to Christchurch or Auckland.

Food and Drinks

Let me share the refreshments in the lounge which in my opinion is pretty decent. Drinks and snacks are self-served and located by the buffet line. There are both cold and hot options. While nothing memorable, they get the work done. The soup and cakes are pretty good.

I am more impressed by the drinks option. In the lounge, there is a gorgeous coffee bar where you can order barista-made coffee drinks all day long. It is fantastic. It kinda amazes me how Air NZ can get this going on while my beloved flagship SKL in Changi Airport can’t do so. You can order your drinks at the Ipad near the bar. You can order a Flat White, Cappuccino, or any drinks you have in mind. You also have options for various customization including Oat Milk, Soy Milk etc etc. The barista will then call out when your drinks are ready for collection.

I got an excellent Flat White.

The rest of the non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks are self-served and there are tons of options. You have various beers, ciders, soft drinks, tea, juices, wines and spirits. Excellent choices.

Conclusion

The associate was extremely unfriendly and ridiculous when all I want is to call a local number using the lounge phone. Thankfully the rest of the staff that I met in the lounge are lovely. This is a pretty good lounge that will come in handy while waiting for your flight. I spend about an hour here in advance of my flight to Auckland. While I won’t recommend coming early just for it, it is worth stopping by for some drinks and snacks. I certainly enjoyed my Flat White with the tarmac views. How awesome is this!