The 'beyond five-star' Queenstown hotel where the toilet can give you a massage
When Kevin Carlin first came to Queenstown he was advised to park his BMW in a shed and drive a ute around town.
“I was told to not be too flash, as people in New Zealand call it.”
More than 30 years after moving from the United States to the country he chose for its lifestyle and security, he has opened one of the flashiest hotels ever built in Queenstown.
The “more than five-star” 14-suite Carlin Boutique Hotel stretches seven stories above the central town.
Each of the interconnected suites has its own outdoor fire and spa pool, and a kitchen where private chefs can whip up a meal.
“We don’t expect our guests are ever going to buy eggs and cook,” Carlin said.
The toilets have remote controls that do everything from lift the seat to provide a massage.
The walls are marble and oak, the waste baskets and tissue holders are leather and embossed with the newly-developed Carlin crest.
If you are unfortunate enough to have one of the few bedrooms without a view over Queenstown, you will instead have a 65-inch television linked to a rooftop camera that provides a live feed of the outlook.
Guests who walk into central Queenstown but want a lift uphill home can choose to be picked up in a Bentley, Porsche or Maserati – or grab an e-bike from the available fleet.
A night in a one-bedroom suite starts at $1750 plus GST, while the three-storey penthouse goes for about $25,000 a night for seven bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms, four spas, four backyards and four lounge rooms over about 510 square metres.
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Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.6% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.2% I want to be able to choose.
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47.2% Against. I want to deal with people.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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