The QT Museum Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand

More than just a well located boutique luxury hotel, as the name suggests, this fascinating property is a museum-cum-art-gallery in itself with original works scattered throughout the public areas. But that’s not all we love about The QT Museum Hotel as we discovered during a one-night stay. 

• Location:  Opposite the Te Papa Museum in downtown Wellington, New Zealand.
• Accommodations: Eccentric creativity meets luxury travel in the hotel’s design-driven guest rooms. There are 163 accommodations, ranging from QT Superior Kings to QT Junior Suites, all coming with a lineup of features including free Wi-Fi, and "luxury modern traveller perks" from night caps, to emergency bow-ties. There’s also a range of spacious, luxury apartments ideal for longer or group stays, some coming with two bedrooms. 
• Dining options: The curiously named flagship venue, Hippopotamus Restaurant & Bar, has remained since the takeover and renovation (we’ll be reviewing it shortly). It’s located on level three of the hotel boasting great views of the harbour and Te Papa, and offers a French-inspired menu with a heavy emphasis on local produce. There is a new venue at the hotel called Hot Sauce, serving a heady combination of Asian-inspired food and great cocktails and is a new place to see and be seen. The Lobby Lounge is the place to grab a coffee on the go, or relax to live music on Friday nights.
• What else is there: There’s an indoor heated lap pool, a spa and sauna, and a well equipped gym. Valet parking is available if you’re driving.
• What’s nearby:Wellington’s many charms are literally on your doorstep, and it’s a compact city which can be enjoyed on foot. Besides the Te Papa Museum across the road, the City Gallery Wellington and Wellington Museum are within striking distance, also Oriental Bay, and the rugged hike to Mount Victoria lookout. 
• Why go: The QT Museum Hotel maybe even quirkier now than it used to be before the takeover, but it remains an elegant and sophisticated place to stay with a strong sense of fun. Its harbour front location in one of New Zealand’s great holiday destinations also makes it one of those places which is perfect for a romantic getaway or a city break.

The Space

What was the former Museum Art Hotel, and one of Wellington’s most iconic properties, was taken over and rebranded as the QT Museum Hotel in January 2017. The hotel also underwent a revamp costing $12, and it has new, shiny signage to match. Located right in the heart of Wellington, the hotel is literally right across the road from the city’s magnificent harbour and New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa. But it’s more than just a well located luxury place to stay, with a unique feature being more than 100 pieces of original works dotted throughout public areas. When you step inside the lobby it’s breathtaking to see walls adorned with eclectic art works and classic motorcycles in a mad fusion of New Zealand contemporary art. When you bear in mind that the whole front of the hotel was physically picked up and moved in 1993 to accommodate the Te Papa construction, you will get a sense that this boutique hotel can quite comfortably call itself “unique”.

Where We Stayed

Our home for the night was a spacious QT Executive King Suite, which came with  a gamut of perks including a private patio balcony with seating looking out over Wellington harbour. Packed with art and quirky touches including faux fur throws and retro freestanding lamps, a highlight of the suite was a king sized QT Gel Bed, which was seriously comfortable. Entertainment consisted of a Bose sound system and large 42” TV, although we spent most of the evening out and about, so we didn’t get to experience these features much. Other welcomed treats included a fully stocked mini-bar, ideal for a nightcap while relaxing on the indulgent Gel Bed, and a Nespresso machine for our crack-of-dawn departure next morning. Our suite also came with a lovely bathroom and shower, although we were offered a bath on check-in if we preferred. 

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The harbour views from the patio.
• The outrageous design features.
• The top notch service.

Insider Tips  

• The stunning art dotted around the public areas of the hotel wasn’t part of the deal when it was sold to QT, but it should remain on the property until 2020 - so if you’re an art lover, get your visit in before it all goes! 

The Details

The QT Museum Hotel is located at 90 Cable Street, Wellington, New Zealand, www.qthotelsandresorts.com.