SKYCITY Grand Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand

This five star luxury hotel is located right in the heart of Auckland, and has become something of an epicentre of entertainment for New Zealand’s biggest city as well as a great place to stay. Here’s why.

• Location: Corner of Victoria and Federal Streets, Auckland CBD.
• Accommodations: The hotel has 312 newly renovated guest rooms which are spacious and feature new fittings and furnishings, and with many enjoying views out to the Sky Tower and the harbour it’s very “Sex and the City”. Options range from spacious Premium Luxury Rooms with twin or king beds, to Premium Luxury King Suites which are generous in size at 58 square metres.  At the top end of the scale there is a Grand Presidential Suite on levels 14 to 21. Besides a modern decor, attractive features include Nespresso machines, pillow menus, a refrigerator and more. 
• Dining options: Dining at SKYCITY presents food and wine lovers with a lineup of tantalising options. Of the 14 restaurants, all of which offer something a little different, Bellota by Peter Gordon is perhaps the most lauded, featuring tapas and Spanish favourites, while Orbit 360 Dining is the revolving restaurant in the Sky Tower, turning a full 360 degrees every hour. Of the many SKYCITY bars, the bar called “twentyone” is described as “Vegas meets Monte Carlo” and generally has a livelier crowd looking to party late.
• What else is there: SKYCITY Grand has all the facilities of a top class hotel including a gym, a heated indoor lap pool, and for pampering there’s the East Day Spa. The SKYCITY Casino is a key attraction in overall complex, comprising several levels and more than 1,600 gaming machines and 100-plus tables, covering pretty much every game. SkyJump is a bungee experience right off the top of the Sky Tower or if you’re less adventurous you can opt to do the SkyWalk where you walk around the edge of the top of the tower, while tethered.
• What’s nearby: The hotel’s central location means that Auckland’s sights are on your doorstep, including a lineup of fine dining restaurants, bars, cafes and shopping, also pickup points for tours of the bay and beyond.
• Why go: From the moment you check in you realise this is not your typical casino hotel. Instead, it’s a contemporary and modern luxury hotel which is the perfect way to start or finish a travel experience in New Zealand.

The Space

SKYCITY Grand enjoys an enviable location in one of New Zealand’s great city destinations, and just one component of the huge SKYCITY entertainment precinct. Spanning nearly two blocks, the precinct includes the SKYCITY Grand Hotel, SKYCITY Hotel, the Horizon Hotel, a casino, an impressive lineup of restaurants and bars. There’s also the iconic 328 metre Sky Tower, which dominates the Auckland city skyline and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016. SkyCity is one of those hotels which often plays host to international celebrities who come to New Zealand, and even gets them to participate in photo opportunities, which include preparing to jump from the top of the Sky Tower. Beyonce, Bill Clinton, Justin Timberlake, Prince William, Heidi Klum and One Direction are among those who have stayed there.

Where We Stayed

We were fortunate to be upgraded into one of the Grand Presidential Suites; larger than the average one-bedroom unit at 116 square metres, the only downside was that we were only staying for one night! Our suite was located on the 21st floor and enjoyed stunning views over Waitemata Harbour, with complimentary fruit, water and chocolates amenities awaiting us. Breakfast for two and overnight valet parking is also included when staying in the Grand Presidential Suite, which is a plus. The suite has an expansive living room and dining room, as well as a separate bedroom with views over the whole city, and a spacious double bathroom. Highlights include a Californian king size bed which was incredibly comfortable, a walk-in wardrobe, an infinity bathtub and oversized shower, and Puriri Extract Amenities in the bathroom. Gadgets wise you get to enjoy a 50” plasma TV and Blu Ray DVD player, iHome Dock for iPhone/iPod so you can BYO music, a Nespresso Machine. 

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The panoramic views.
• The contemporary and luxurious decor.
• The huge bathroom and spa bath.

Insider Tips  

• The hotel offers free Wi-Fi for all hotel guests with no time limit or data cap.
• Executive car service and chauffeur day tours are also available.

The Details

SKYCITY Grand Hotel is located at the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets, Auckland, www.skycityauckland.co.nz.