Native materials
Schist stone, rimu timber, wool textiles and brass — sourced from the Southern Alps and Central Otago wherever possible.
Our Story
A decade of quiet alpine hospitality
Founded in 2016 on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Wowwavehouse blends the raw beauty of the Southern Alps with the refined warmth of a casino-inspired salon — kept entirely offline.
Established2016
Since 2016
Built from schist, rimu and a love of slow evenings
Wowwavehouse began as a single stone lodge above Queenstown Bay, restored by a small family team who believed luxury should feel personal, not performative. Local stonemasons laid the schist walls; cabinetmakers worked native rimu into headboards, bars and reading nooks.
A decade on, the house has grown into a boutique hotel of five room categories, a spa, a restaurant and our signature salon — yet the spirit is unchanged: unhurried, warm, face-to-face.
The Concept
Casino atmosphere — never online gambling
Our salon recreates the elegance of a classic casino: green felt tables, brass chips, low lamplight and the soft shuffle of cards. It exists purely as a social atmosphere for our in-house guests.
There is no real-money gambling, no online gaming and no remote play of any kind. The salon is a place to gather, converse and enjoy a hand of cards the way it was meant to be played — in person, between friends.
Our Philosophy
Quiet luxury, rooted in place
Native botanicals
Mānuka, kawakawa and harakeke anchor our spa rituals — grounding treatments in the land that surrounds us.
Face-to-face only
Every experience — salon, spa, dining — happens in person, for our guests. No apps, no online play, no distance.
10
Years of hospitality
24
Rooms & suites
9k+
Guests welcomed
68%
Returning guests
100% offline. Wowwavehouse is a physical hotel only. No real-money gambling or online gaming is offered anywhere in our digital presence. All casino-inspired activities are face-to-face social entertainment at our brick-and-mortar location.
Stay With Us
Experience a quieter kind of luxury
Reserve your room and let our concierge shape the rest.