Swiss-Belsuites Pounamu Queenstown

The Pounamu Apartments have a modern look with materials like glass, masonry, and stone, and the property's design takes advantage of its scenic surroundings. Its gardens are spare, relying heavily on native grasses, a choice that lends it a clean, modern look. It has few common areas, and the reception area does not set a luxury tone for a property that bills itself as five-pearl, with a rack of brochures and two straight back leather chairs by a small desk. Outdoors, there are slatted wood picnic tables near a grill, a tableau that lacks a chic touch. A small, backyard-style wooden swing set is on the grounds. There is also a four-person hot tub with some seating and a pretty mountain view. Guests are mainly couples and families who hike, ski, and bike, and want a self-sufficient option with a kitchen. They tend to keep their own schedule, and there isn't much socializing. 

The Pounamu Apartments are on a busy road that connects Queenstown to its airport. A car is fairly essential for those staying here, though downtown can be reached in under 15 minutes on foot or a three-minute drive. Guests say parking is tight in the urban area, so walking is a good option. The Sky City Queenstown Casino is a 15-minute walk away, while the off-site gym that's available for guests' use is a four-minute drive away. Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve is a five-minute drive away, while Arrowtown can be reached in about 20 minutes by car. Nearby golf courses include Jack's Point Golf Course and Queenstown Golf Course, which are a 15- and 20-minute drive, respectively. For skiing, the Remarkables Ski Fields are 33 minutes by car, while Cadrona Ski Mountain can be reached in about an hour -- plus there's a bus that picks up guests in front of the hotel. Skipper's Canyon, for whitewater rafting, is a 45-minute drive. The Queenstown Airport is under a 10-minute drive or 20 minutes by public transportation.

Furnishings here are nice but do not read as luxury; they include sofas that have velour-type material in grays or earth tones punched up with bright pillows. There are glass coffee tables, dark wood dining tables, and 42-inch flat-screen TVs on the wall, along with color photographs, often of nature. Bedrooms are outfitted with 21-inch flat-screen TVs. The beds have dark wood headboards and faux fur or satin throws. Floors are heated, a nice touch in the chilly season. Each of the larger apartments has a business center with computers, fax, and copy machines. There are also DVD players and iPod docking stations in all apartments as well as irons and boards, washers and dryers, and vacuum cleaners. Units can be cleaned for an additional fee. 

Cooking at the Pounamu Apartments, guests say, is a treat, as the appliances, cookware, and dishes are of good quality. Both the kitchenettes in the studios and the full kitchens in the one- and two-bedroom units have an open plan and are equipped with ovens, cooktops, refrigerators, microwaves, and electric kettles or coffeemakers. The studios have lackluster views. The one- and two-bedroom units face either the road and the lake or, in the back, the mountains. 

The bathrooms are simple and good-looking with matte white tiles, deep soaking tubs (in larger rooms), magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and Koha Spa toiletries. Bathrobes and slippers are also included. Some bathrooms have fold-up, slatted-wood seats in their stall showers, making bathing more convenient for handicapped or mature guests. Note that management, guests say, is restrictive on the number of guests in each room. One couple with an eight-year-old child reported they had to rent a second bedroom rather than pay for -- or be given -- a cot. 

A few extra private and shared amenities are offered at this self-catering apartment complex. Wi-Fi is free and some free local and international phone calls are included. Guests who spend above a certain amount when booking day trips through the property's website receive a free bottle of wine or chocolate. Other on-site perks include a hot tub for up to four people (which needs to be reserved), and free passes to a downtown gym. Barbecue grills can also be reserved for a fee. Bikes, skis (and ski clothing), and cars are available to rent. There is a place to store skis, golf clubs, and luggage. Free underground parking is available, a plus since guests say downtown Queenstown can get crowded. There are babysitting and laundry services for a fee. A concierge can book trips and help plan weddings and meetings. Airport transfers can be arranged for a fee. The property is handicapped accessible, and pets, with restrictions, are allowed.