Sudima Queenstown Five Mile — Hotel in South Island

“Sudima Queenstown Five Mile” -is in Queenstown, right? The name seems pretty clear.

It’s shown as being in “Queenstown Central” which is in central Queenstown, right? The name seems pretty clear on that point too. Close to the lake perhaps, looking towards the mountains, near the Queenstown bars and restaurants?

WRONG. WRONG.

“Queenstown Central” is not in central Queenstown. It’s the name of a shopping centre outside of Frankton, next door to the airport, surrounded by massive carparks, supermarkets, K Mart etc and about 50m off the main State Highway 6A.

Hence the “Sudima Queenstown Five Mile”, despite the name, is 7.6 km from Queenstown according to Google maps (or a $50+ taxi ride away, as I can tell you from frequent experience) and about as far away from the experience or the convenience of staying in central Queenstown as you can get. Close to the lake perhaps, looking towards the mountains, near the Queenstown bars and restaurants – in your DREAMS.

Having booked in a hurry and taking at face value the name(s) described the reality, we were stuck at this hotel for three nights.

On arriving we were given an “underground carpark pass”, meaning that as an elderly couple we had to park 5-10 minutes’ walk away from the hotel in an isolated underground location, walking through deserted carparks late at night or early in the morning. (As we were checking out, we discovered that the receptionist could have simply noted our car registration number and for the duration of our stay we could have parked in the massive carpark immediately outside the hotel door.)

We were given Room 223 for our stay, which I found overlooked the massive nearby roundabout on the main State Highway 6A (meaning trucks would be audibly braking at all hours), with a view to K Mart, I went back to the desk and asked for a room away from the Highway.

We were moved to Room 214. On entering Room 214, I discovered a woman lying on the bed, semi-undressed, on the telephone. I quickly backed out of the room and went straight down to reception, where I was told, “that’s odd, someone mustn’t have updated the system”. I went back to Room 214, knocked on the door and apologised to the occupants, explaining what had happened.

All attempts to find another hotel to stay in were unsuccessful; there were no vacancies at such short notice. We stayed in Room 223, but tried to be out of the hotel as much as humanly possible.

I had booked restaurants in Queenstown – full degustation menus with matching wines, for every night we stayed - meaning I couldn’t drive - and we consequently were paying an extra $100-130+ per night to go to dinner and return to the ‘carpark-hotel’.

Had the room we stayed in been in a hotel located in central Queenstown then it would have been a pleasant experience, but what we experienced was simply awful.

Might the name of both the hotel and the shopping centre mislead people who are booking a stay in Queenstown? I will leave it to...

We stayed at the Sudima Queenstown Hotel for four nights around February 15, 2025. The location was excellent, with easy access to supermarkets, restaurants, and takeaways, eliminating the need to visit the city center frequently. The hotel itself is new and well-maintained, but unfortunately, we encountered several issues that affected our stay, particularly for our kids. While the checkout staff made an effort to address some concerns, there were still numerous problems that need attention.

Issues We Faced: -

The cold tap handle in the bathroom came off the first time we used it. The bathroom door didn’t close properly, compromising privacy. Room service was inconsistent: One day, they only made the beds but left the toilet and floor uncleaned. Another day, the room floor was not vacuumed, despite being quite dirty. Body lotion was not refilled, requiring us to request it separately from reception. The locker facility was not working, and we didn’t escalate it further after experiencing multiple other issues. The fridge in our room froze our child’s milk, turning it solid. We had to leave it outside to reach room temperature, causing inconvenience. However, reception did offer a replacement and a voucher, which was a kind gesture.

Podium Dining Experience: -

We dined at Podium on our last evening, but the experience was disappointing. The manager on duty seemed to prioritize Kiwi guests, making us feel overlooked. Instances included: Forgetting to provide the drinks menu and drinks despite reminders. Forgetting to serve chips after we ordered them. Checking in on other tables multiple times but never asking us about our food experience, which felt discriminatory and unwelcoming.

Safety Concerns: -

The elevator stopped while my wife, kids, and I were inside, forcing us to use the emergency button. This scared my wife and children. I suggested to reception that the hotel should improve security for lift access at night. Currently, anyone can follow a guest inside after they scan their room card at the entrance, as the lifts have no access restrictions for non-guests.

Final Thoughts:-

The hotel has great potential, but there is significant room for improvement, especially in room service, security, and the Podium dining experience. Addressing these issues would greatly enhance guest...

I have never stayed in a Sudima hotel before so I don't know what to expect. However the location looks great from Google map, and with an early flight the next morning, I want to remain closed to the airport, while I still have access to good amount of food outlets and shopping within walking distance. Honestly I was taken surprised on how the hotel is really literally located in the middle of a shopping mall. After passing a Japanese restaurant, I entered the lobby of the hotel. The staffs could not be friendlier and more helpful. Despite a noon/1pm arrival, the staff was able to find me a room that is already ready. I got an one category upgrade too. ||The room was not crazy huge but is spacious enough. I have a nice view of the airport too, which is a big plus for an AvGeek like myself. The bed is comfortable. Everything is new and I am fairly impressed. It is not a luxury hotel but is comparable to an upscale Hilton Garden Inn/Courtyard by Marriott/Holiday Inn hotel across the world. The staffs are friendly around. ||As a Sudima member, I get a discount in the hotel's restaurant, so I went there for dinner. It was actually a pleasant dining experience. ||The hotel does not have its own gym, but you get free 24/7 access to a major gym "Flex Fitness" right across the street. You just need to stop by the front desk and they will have you sign something and then give you the key card to access the gym. The mall is quiet in the middle of the night but the shopping mall is pretty safe. I did not use the gym this time but when I walk past it, it looks good. It is a big gym that you can typically find in any major cities. ||The Five Mile Shopping Center has a giant Woolworth across the street that opens daily between 7am and 10pm. There are plenty of restaurants and shops. I actually like this location better than downtown. Even if you want to go to downtown, it is easy to call for a taxi or use any rideshare app. ||I will definitely stay here again, when I...