So at the end of an arduous day, how about an intimate 14-room hotel where a glass of wine awaits and the baths are supplied with cushions?

The Mountvista offers just such serene pleasures. Set in an unassuming modern building, it's a two-minute stroll through wooded gardens to the centre of Queenstown, an old lakeshore goldmining settlement surrounded by mountains.

What's the best thing?

Standard of service and attention to detail. The fivestar hotel achieves its claims of pure luxury with spacious suites and deluxe rooms furnished with beds dressed in fine linen. Every detail is taken care of from the cafetieres and fresh milk in the rooms to seals on the doors so that they close quietly.

Will it break the bank?

Deluxe doubles cost 320 per night with suites priced at 360, including breakfast.

Want to know more?

Mountvista Boutique Hotel, 4 Sydney Street, Queenstown, New Zealand (0064 3 442 8832; www. mountvista. com)