A $180 million hotel and resort development in Wānaka is set to break ground next year, marking the town’s first major hotel project since 1986.
The Mount Iron Wānaka development will occupy 1.8 hectares at the foot of the mountain, aiming to address a long-standing gap in the local tourism market.
Project Scope and Design
The planned complex will feature a 136-room Sudima hotel alongside 72 townhouses and apartments. Hind Management, which operates the Sudima brand, will oversee both the hotel and residential components of the site. The development is expected to take four years to build.
The masterplan includes shared swimming pools, landscaped gardens, dining areas, and conference spaces. According to the New Zealand Herald, the development also incorporates an elevated 100-metre walkway known as the “Ridgeline” designed to run through the heart of the resort.
Did You Know? Wānaka has not seen a significant new hotel opening since the 106-room Edgewater resort launched nearly 40 years ago, despite the region experiencing substantial growth.
Revised masterplan addresses local hotel market gaps
The project was originally proposed in 2022 but was paused due to the economic downturn and evolving planning requirements. KR Capital, a division of the engineering and design firm Kirk Roberts, is responsible for the revised masterplan, which now places a greater emphasis on creating an alpine resort environment. The development is located near the town’s Three Parks precinct.
“Wānaka has grown significantly but its hotel offering hasn’t kept pace and we see a real gap in the market for a high-quality, full-service hotel,” said Sudesh Jhunjhnuwala, founder and chief executive of Sudima Hotels and Hind Management. Jade Kirk, chief executive of Kirk Roberts, added that the project is intended to “rethink the traditional resort model” by integrating residential living, hospitality, and wellness facilities.
“We wanted to rethink the traditional resort model and create something genuinely different – bringing together residential living, tourism, hospitality, recreation, and health and well-being within one integrated destination,” Kirk said.
“As the region continues to grow, we see an opportunity to introduce something that complements its natural environment while contributing positively to its long-term economic future,” Kirk said.
Construction Timeline and Approvals
While earthworks are scheduled to begin early next year, the project’s timeline remains contingent on the approval of an amended resource consent. The current masterplan requires this update to reflect the shift toward an alpine resort design. Work on the residential properties is expected to occur later in the year.
Local infrastructure is also seeing concurrent activity, with a $300 million health precinct currently under development approximately 700 metres from the site. A nearby 250-home residential project was recently granted fast-track approval.
“It’ll probably represent the tallest building we have in Wānaka at this point in time, so it is a major thing, but it’s also an area called Three Parks and it’s not close to existing residents,” Queenstown Lakes deputy mayor Quentin Smith told Morning Report.
“We’re in the tourist circuit and we get a lot of visitors here, and there hasn’t been a lot of large scale accommodation,” Smith said.
“It’ll probably represent the right thing in the right place,” Smith said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of residential properties are included in the development?
The project includes 72 residences, comprising 39 three- to four-bedroom townhouses and 33 apartments, some of which are penthouses. According to the New Zealand Herald, these properties are priced starting from $1.4 million.
Who will manage the resort operations?
Hind Management, the operator behind the Sudima hotel brand, will manage both the hotel and the residential resort operations. This follows their previous collaboration on the Sudima Kaikōura hotel, which opened in 2022.
What does this mean for potential buyers?
Sotheby’s International Realty agent Sheryl Alty said that the development is designed to appeal to various buyers, ranging from those seeking holiday bases to retirees. The project also offers managed rental arrangements for owners who divide their time between Wānaka and other locations.
“We see it appealing to buyers at different stages of life, from those seeking a holiday base to those making Wānaka their permanent home or planning their next chapter in retirement,” Alty said.
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