Design Group doesn’t come from the conventional thinking of hotels. It was created to be all the things hotel’s so often aren’t. A place of connection, where atmosphere and design are prioritised over operational efficiency.
The company is a fusion of diverse minds, ideas and aspirations all united by a shared vision to create truly transformative guest experienc
At the heart of our ethos lies not just what we do, but why we do it. It's this ethos that we think breeds exceptional experiences. We're not motivated solely by the desire to achieve good things; it's the purpose behind our actions that fuels the magic. We believe that the "why" is the nucleus of remarkable experiences, businesses, and individuals alike. So, why focus on lodges? Why prioritize these distinctive culinary experiences? For us its about pursuing endeavors we can take pride in, endeavors that allow us to innovate, and to witness our creations captivate our new found friends.
Waimarino - Queenstown
Enveloped by the crystal clear blue waters and awe-inspiring mountains, Waimarino lodge sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown New Zealand. Encompassing 24 luxury villas and a stunning owners residence which is available to hire Waimarino sets a new benchmark in premium accommodation.
Surrounded by native bush the site connects you to nature whilst a short walk takes you to the edge of the lake. The venue has its own kitchen garden and micro orchard and has sustainability at its core.
Features include a yoga studio and spa and the Still Waters micro distillery.
Theodore - Wanaka
Theodore hotel sits in the very heart of Wanaka, New Zealand. This 57 room / suite venue includes a ground level cafe and roof top bar.
The centre piece of the property is its internal courtyard with pentague pit, pizza oven, barbecue and outdoor gardens. Guest have access to a beautiful guest lounge with open fire and all the luxuries of home.
Guests get to roll their own pizza’s using fresh produce from the garden.
Waiora - Queenstown
Waiora is a stunning home we are developing overlooking Lake Wakatipu.
Atawhai - Queenstown
A stunning contemporary home to be developed a short drive from Queenstown CBD whilst overlooking Cecil and Walter Peaks
Pārore - Queenstown
This private residence is located a short 8 minute drive from Queenstown’s CBD. Comprising of 6 large suite style bedrooms, this stunning home has expansive open plan living, dining and kitchen areas that flow seamlessly onto a huge deck that looks out over Lake Wakatipu, Cecil Peak and the Remarkable mountain ranges. The home has every imaginable feature from integrated solar power, Tesla Power wall, smart home technology and underfloor heating. The residence also includes an infrared sauna, infinity pool, large entertainer kitchen, wine cellar, Gym and treatment room.
Still Waters Distillery
Still Waters distillery originate from Queenstown, New Zealand. We source the water for our artisan spirits from nearby glacier fields. We use native New Zealand botanicals to infuse our gins whilst our vodka is 7 X distilled in our hand made small batch copper stills. We used organic growing and distilling methods. Grapes not suitable for wine from local vineyards are use to form our base spirit given a wonderful mouth feel.
Design Group didn't set out to be property developers but when we started looking for hotel and hospitality sites we either couldn’t find a suitable building or decided it was better to create a purpose built facility. We now build bespoke developments to house our operations.
In designing a building we collaborate with some of the best in the business, from architects to artists, interior designers to builders. It’s fair to say we are rather passionate about the spaces we create and get excited when we find talented people that share our passion. Our door is always open so if you like the look of what we are creating feel free to get in touch.
We are not in the business of building homes or commercial buildings. We only take on or get involved in buildings that house our operational businesses. The locations we select must be suited to our businesses and fit our target criteria (see below). We seek to add value to the property though our tenancies.
If you are a land-owner or a developer we do consider joint ventures where we take an interest in the property whilst providing long term innovative tenancies. We are always on the look out for new sites however they should fit the following criteria:
- Can house a minimum of 20+ hotel / lodge rooms – Our preference is over 40 but not more than 100.
- Are well suited to food and beverage operations
- Are located in or near major tourism locations with a minimum 500,000 annual guest nights.
- The property is zoned and permitted for travellers accommodation.
- Have a suitable site? Please feel free to get in touch.
Puku Cafe
The Puku Cafe can be found on the ground level of the Theodore Hotel which we are developing in Wanaka. Puku is a unique industrial home where artisan beer, fresh rustic food and some of the best local fresh ingredients meet up with you and your friends. The venue is like a cellar door / brewery in the urban environment where the artisan beer and great wine showcase the best local produce grown and raised by local farmers. Our menu draws on the flavours of the Mediterranean using local ingredients to create a dynamic and seasonally driven menu.
Rooftop
Aptly named the roof top sits a-top the Theodore Hotel that we are developing in central Wanaka and is the perfect place to end your day on the slopes or your summer adventure. We have what we believe is a pretty special wine list, some local Pinot Noir gems but also some other less common varietals we think you might just love. We take pride in our cocktails and local beers and match these with small shared plates that are a taste of the local delicacies like cheese, venison, blue cod and some stunning Cromwell produce.
The Juice
This is our small batch - extra small wine shop in Wanaka. We stock small batch mostly family owned wines. We don’t have a huge selection like the supermarkets, instead we focus on quality mostly organic wines that delight the taste buds.
Provenance
Provenance is farm where most of our cafe and restaurant produce comes from. We make a huge effort to understand our produce and grow and harvest it in a sustainable manner. We run Provenance days where you can visit the farm & orchard. These days are a celebration of the season. A paddock-to-plate cooking experience - The day includes foraging and harvesting in our gardens and orchards under the guidance of our chefs before learning cooking techniques and getting hands on with the day culminating with lunch on the farm including our own vineyard wines.
KA
Situated at Waimarino Lodge overlooking Bobs Cove this stunning location is a guest only restaurant. With a focus on cooking over fire and using only natural local ingredients our chefs can often be seen foraging in our on site vegetable garden and orchard. Specialising in smoked meats and seafood the ingredients are touched lightly letting their true flavours and freshness speak...
Still Waters Distillery
This boutique distillery is located Queenstown. Using glacier fed water we mixed aromatic herbs from our own garden for our take on Gin & Vodka. A venue is still be sort for Still Waters permanent home however we expect to announce this soon.
As a growing company we are always on the look out for talented people with great aptitude. We supply a nourishing dynamic work environment along with detailed training and scope for advancing your career. We post jobs on the site from time to time but feel free to register your details below along with a copy of your CV. This will allow you to be the first people notified about new roles within our businesses. Thanks for your interest.
He aha te mea nui o te ao - What is the most important thing in the world?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata - It is the people, it is the people, it is the people
Got a question? Like to know more about The Design Group? Feel free to get in touch.