Travel – Onsen Queenstown review

After having our two gorgeous boys, we hardly have time for travelling and most importantly hubby isn’t very confident with travelling with kids after an incident 4 years ago in Hong Kong. Long story short, he had an anxiety attack and has not been able to travel without these attacks coming back.

This year, it is our 10 year wedding anniversary and we decided to try somewhere within New Zealand that involves flying (we have been here 2 years ago and that did not go well, road trips are better, but still not ideal). We chose beautiful Queenstown for a relaxing holiday and my parents were able to look after both my boys for us (so very grateful for that).

As this is more of a relaxing getaway for us, I decided to book into the Onsen. Something we won’t be able to enjoy peacefully with the kids around. I was already booking one month in advance and there were only a couple of time slots available on Thursday to Saturday’s and they were 9:30/10pm slots. I selected the 9:30pm slot and paid for the booking straight away, the next week I checked, everything was fully booked.

I booked a 2 person room for the Tandeki Experience ($150) where you can use the room for a full hour, there will be aromatherapy candles, a snack of your choice (ice cream, chocolate or chips), and a drink of your choice (wine, bottled juice, beer and hot tea (loose leaf tea). They also gave me a bottle of water and a commemorative water bottle to take home.

Unfortunately, my hubby’s tummy did not agree with the seafood platter we ate earlier that evening. He ate all the fatty salmon, bluff oysters, tuna AND octopus all by himself because I don’t eat raw meat/fish. He ended up staying in the hotel while I drove myself there to enjoy the onsen.

I arrived about 15mins before my booking time and there were a couple of flights of stairs to go down to the reception area from the car parking (when chair access also available). The area is well lit up at night which is quite beautiful too. While they set up my room and my snacks and drinks, I could use the bathroom and rest on one of their couches.

I was then led into my room and was instructed with the time limit and how they would knock on the door when I have 10 mins left to get changed and leave the room. If you need more time to get changed, they do have changing rooms. Towels are provided and they are nice large towels. You are also supposed to take a quick rinse before you get into the pool and there are shower facilities in each room.

The temperature of each onsen is set to a comfortable 38.3 degrees before you get there. You are not supposed to use anything inside the bath – no soap, no bath bombs no oils etc. if you do, you will be fined. There are a couple of buttons within reach around the bath to control the jets, turning them on and off, dimming the lights, opening and closing the canopy, and a button to add cold water when it gets too hot.

The overall experience is so relaxing, even if you are enjoying this onsen by yourself, in the day time or at night. I feel that at night, you are able to really quiet down, stare into the pitch dark sky and concentrate on the stars. During the day, the scenery is breathtaking and photo-worthy. This place is enjoyable all year round and either with friends or your loved ones. I will definitely come back with my hubby and kids next time to fully enjoy it in the day time as well.

Side notes:

• Children aged under 5 is not recommended at the onsen due to high temperatures of the water.
• Children aged 5-11 are not allowed after 4 pm
• To allow for more availability options, book at least 2 months in advance as their peak season is Winter (Apr-Sep).
• You can reschedule up to 4 hours before your reservation however cancellation requires 12 hours’ notice.
• If you have chosen packages with the massage and/or facial, it will be performed after enjoying the onsen.