Business South March 2021

12 | TOURISM Coronet Property - Steamer Wharf Busy precinct at heart of Queenstown Richard Loader Queenstown’s Steamer Wharf has repositioned into the leading food and beverage entertainment destination for visitors and locals alike. A magnificent meeting place for family and friends, nestled between Earnslaw Park on one side and Omer Park on the other, Queenstown’s Steamer Wharf sits right on Lake Wakatipu’s sparkling waterfront. Rich in a history dating back to the hustle and bustle of Otago’s gold rush days, sailing and steam ships and trade by water, Steamer Wharf offers a visitor experience like no other. For one thing, the historic Earnslaw berths right along side the wharf where passengers board and disembark full of the joys of their journey just like the days of old. But the Steamer Wharf precinct also offers an eclectic fusion of over sixteen comple- mentary bars, cafes, wonderful restaurants, shops, attractions and activities right on the waterfront. Early arrivers can watch the sunrise above the Remarkables while evening diners enjoy the sun cast its orange glow on the lake. While the foundations of Steamer Wharf stem back to the 1860s, it was redeveloped into a mainly retail collection of five buildings in 1992; quite innovative for its day. Purchased by Westwood Group in 2004, Steamer Wharf is a crown jewel that has repo- sitioned into the leading food and beverage entertainment destination for visitors and locals alike. As marketing manager for the Steamer Wharf, Amy Green is passionate about the precinct and what it has to offer saying she doesn’t think there is a facility anywhere else quite like it. “You can sit outside under the umbrellas with your early morning coffee, a delicious glass of Otago pinot noir or a craft beer and watch the Earnslaw come in. It’s just a wonder- ful place to sit and watch the world go by. “We have a real mix of food and beverage offerings from fine dining through to pub style meals. There are bars where you can sit and enjoy a cocktail till 3.00 in the morning. “We have the Ice Bar and one of our newest tenants is a virtual reality escape room. We have gift and souvenir shops and a casino upstairs.” Delivering a lovely rustic feel with its boat- house/warehouse style buildings, the precinct is effectively five separate buildings linked by a glass atrium laneway, enabling food to be enjoyed even when the sun is not shining. “Our vision is for the precinct to be a meeting place in Queenstown for family and friends to enjoy some food or a drink while deciding which of Queenstown’s many activ- ities to do. Then return in the evening for a meal — where you can eat at a different place every night if you want to.” Since owning Steamer Wharf, the Westwood Group has focused its energy on ensuring there is a complementary range of offerings so that there really is something for everyone to enjoy in the one stunning area. Owning several properties in Queenstown, Westwood Group has also ensured the up- keep of buildings is in line with the history of the wharf. While preservation of the precinct’s look and feel is vital, new developments in the wings include making more use of the atrium area to bring outside dining in and increasing the outside dining space as well. “There’s nothing like sitting outside and watching the sun go down,” says Amy. “We love Steamer Wharf — it’s beautiful and we want people to come and wander around, immerse themselves in the history and experience, come back every night and dine at a different eatery. People have favourite restaurants that they come to and bring their friends to. Queenstown’s premier lakeside eating, drinking and entertainment precinct. 15+ Destinations to eat, drink & play on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. 88 Beach Street, Queenstown #steamerwharfqueenstown