Avani Is Opening a Lakefront Hotel in Queenstown This September

Avani will make its New Zealand debut in September with a lakefront hotel in Queenstown, adding a contemporary lifestyle option to one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most competitive luxury resort markets.

Avani Queenstown is being positioned as the brand’s New Zealand flagship. Its Lake Wakatipu setting gives guests direct access to the scenery that drives the destination while keeping the restaurants, bars and adventure operators of central Queenstown close at hand.

The timing is significant for Australian travellers. A September opening arrives as the ski season gives way to spring hiking, cycling and wine touring, allowing the hotel to establish itself before the peak summer period.

Queenstown’s appeal has broadened beyond adrenaline tourism. Private aviation, high-end lodges, destination dining, golf and Central Otago pinot noir now attract travellers who want both wilderness and polished service. A lifestyle hotel must bridge those worlds without becoming interchangeable with an urban property.

The Avani brand generally emphasises informal public spaces, contemporary design, social dining and wellness rather than traditional grand-hotel ceremony. In Queenstown, the key test will be whether those elements remain connected to the lake, mountains and local makers.

Travellers considering an early stay should ask which restaurants and facilities will be operating from opening day, whether construction or commissioning work remains, and how lake-view room categories differ. Opening dates can move, so flexible flights and cancellation terms are sensible.

Season also changes the experience dramatically. Winter brings ski traffic, cold-weather logistics and premium weekend rates; spring and autumn offer quieter trails and wineries; summer brings long daylight hours but also Queenstown’s busiest visitor period.

For Avani, the property establishes a base in a globally recognised destination within easy reach of Australia. For Queenstown, it adds another internationally branded hotel at a time when discerning visitors increasingly expect a strong sense of place rather than luxury by checklist.

Fact box

– Hotel: Avani Queenstown
– Location: Lake Wakatipu waterfront, Queenstown, New Zealand
– Opening: Scheduled for September 2026
– Operator: Minor Hotels
– Significance: Avani’s Queenstown debut and New Zealand flagship
– Best for: Short luxury breaks, skiing, hiking, wine touring and lake experiences

The most compelling modern yachts increasingly borrow from residential architecture: clearer circulation, larger windows and outdoor rooms that feel genuinely connected to the interior. Custom Line’s new Navetta 35, given its world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival, pushes that idea across four decks.

At 34.5 metres long with a beam of 7.7 metres, the yacht is the new entry point to Custom Line’s displacement range. Its scale is substantial enough to create distinct private, social and service zones, yet remains below the dimensions of the yard’s larger custom superyachts.

The exterior was developed through Ferretti Group’s Strategic Product Committee and Engineering Department, while Custom Line Atelier supervised the interior definition and owner personalisation. That made-to-measure process is central to the brand: layouts, materials, furniture and artwork can be shaped around how an owner intends to use the yacht rather than applied as a fixed decorative package.

Outdoor living is distributed across the vessel rather than concentrated at the stern. The beach club brings guests close to the water; the main and upper decks provide protected entertaining areas; and the sun deck creates a more private elevated retreat. The design seeks to preserve open sightlines, allowing sea views to run through social spaces and reducing the sense of division between saloon and terrace.

The Navetta designation signals a displacement yacht intended for composed, efficient cruising rather than outright speed. For owners, the appeal lies in range, comfort and the ability to spend longer periods aboard. Technical specifications, engine options, range and top speed should be confirmed against the final shipyard data for the displayed hull.

What can be seen is a continuation of Custom Line’s preference for quiet sophistication. Instead of decorating every surface, the interior architecture uses proportion, natural light and carefully selected materials to carry the experience. Built-in pieces establish structure, while freestanding furniture and art allow an owner’s personality to emerge.

The debut also arrives during Custom Line’s 30th anniversary year. Since its foundation, the marque says it has delivered more than 300 made-to-measure yachts. The Navetta 35 is therefore both a new model and a statement about what the next chapter should look like: more openness, closer contact with the water and customisation that goes beyond choosing finishes.

At Cannes, where new models compete for attention metre by metre, the Navetta 35’s proposition is relatively restrained. It is not trying to look like the fastest boat in the marina. It is designed to feel like a highly private waterfront home — one capable of moving when the owner wants a different view.

Yacht snapshot

– Model: Custom Line Navetta 35
– Type: Displacement superyacht
– Length: 34.5 metres
– Beam: 7.7 metres
– Decks: Four
– Debut: Cannes Yachting Festival, 8–13 September 2026
– Builder: Custom Line, Ferretti Group
– Price: On application

Avani Is Opening a Lakefront Hotel in Queenstown This September

Four decks, 34.5 metres and a made-to-measure interior: step aboard the new Custom Line Navetta 35, unveiled at Cannes.