Ember Room · Rākau Alpine Retreat, Sunshine Bay

A cosy private queen room in our timber home in Sunshine Bay, Queenstown. Ember is a comfortable spot to rest after a day outdoors, with space to make yourself at home beyond your bedroom.



Make breakfast in the shared kitchen or spend a quiet evening in the lounge, with views across Lake Wakatipu to the mountains. Timber ceilings, original art and leafy plants bring warmth and personality to the house.



The room sleeps one or two guests, with linen, towels, heating and Wi-Fi included. You’ll share the kitchen, dining area, lounge and bathroom with your hosts and any guests staying in the Lake Room. The bathroom has a bathtub, and our resident dog and cat are part of daily life here.



We’re around for local recommendations and conversation, and happy to let you do your own thing.



Rākau shares the house with a working tattoo studio, up on the mezzanine. You might catch the quiet hum of a machine or see a fresh design taking shape on the drawing table. If you've been thinking about marking your trip with something permanent, you can book a session directly with the studio.



Your stay includes free access to the sauna and spa at Ora Retreat, our sister property nearby, so you can warm up after a day on the trails or the slopes. Bookings are required.



Your room is private and has its own lock. The kitchen, dining area, lounge, garden and the bathroom with a bathtub are shared with your host and any guests staying in the Lake Room. The upstairs living area and the creative studio are private. A free self-serve continental breakfast is set out each morning, and a massage with a local therapist can be requested on your arrival form, by appointment and charged separately.



Your host, Parth, lives here and is happy to share local tips or have a chat, while giving you plenty of space to do your own thing. Before you arrive, you'll receive a short arrival form and your check-in details. Messages are answered promptly.



Sunshine Bay is a quiet residential pocket on the hillside west of Queenstown, on the road towards Glenorchy. Mornings are slow here: the lake below, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak across the water, and very little traffic. Central Queenstown's restaurants, gondola and waterfront are a short drive away.



Good amount of off-street parking next to the property.

Bus stop is only 250 m away.



- Yuki the dog and Monkey the cat live here and wander the shared spaces, so expect a little pet hair. This isn't the right stay if you're allergic to pets.

- There is one bathroom, shared by the household.

- It's a timber house, so sound carries between rooms. Please keep voices and music soft in the evenings.

- The studio runs by appointment, so there may be occasional studio visitors.

- Rākau is a hosted home rather than a spa: there's no hot tub, sauna or yoga on site.

- The garden sits on a hillside and is not fully fenced.

- This is a quiet, hosted home: no parties or events.

- Guests' pets can't stay, as Yuki and Monkey live here. Assistance animals are welcome.