Where is the Manaia T1 Lounge Located?

The Manaia Lounge is the only international Lounge available at Queenstown Airport and is located airside after clearing security and immigration in the international departures area of the terminal. Once entering the small international departure gates you’ll find the entrance on the first floor just past the duty free shop close to Gate’s 8 and 9 and then you take the stairs up the reception desk.

Who Can Access the Manaia T1 Lounge and When is it Open?

The Manaia Lounge is accessible to a variety of passengers including those with Priority Pass, Lounge Key or DragonPass memberships. Alternatively, paid entry is available subject to availability whilst customers flying internationally with certain airlines also have access. The lounge is open daily between 10.10am through to 5.30pm and 6.20pm through to 9pm.

Paid Lounge access ($65NZD for maximum 3 hour stay)

Priority Pass Members

Lounge Key Members

DragonPass Members

Business Class Passengers of select airlines (Virgin Australia, Qantas)

Lounge Design and Seating

The Manaia Lounge which translates in Maori for Protector of Land, Sea and Sky is a compact rectangular style lounge that caters for just 150 passengers but with only a handful of international departures out of Queenstown each day it certainly doesn’t need to be any larger. Queenstown is still technically a town after all and with a thriving international airport this is a very impressive feat in itself!

Whilst it is a small lounge, it is nonetheless a comfortable one which communicated a premium feel. In the lounge you’ll find a good variety of different seating options including plush arm chairs along with more conventional seating. At the back of the lounge you’ll find a self service food and drink station whilst the seating is located up against the windows of the lounge. There are no direct views of the tarmac from this lounge however its windows look directly out over the international departure gates (which have great views of the tarmac and southern alps) below and thus you can still see plenty of tarmac action from the lounge itself through the windows of the terminal itself.

Food and Beverage

Self Service food and buffet

For our mid morning arrival at this lounge there was certainly plenty of options to snack on including a range of cold -cut meats, salads, soups, pastries such as sausage rolls, fruits and even deserts among others. Overall, it is certainly likely you’ll find something here to snack on although there didn’t seem to be much in the way of substantial hot food options. They may have however been brought out closer to lunchtime however.

Self-service drinks station

Overall the Manaia Lounge provides a reasonably satisfactory range of complimentary drinks which you don’t have any offical limits too unlike some other Priority Pass Lounges around the world. Whilst the range or quality of drinks is not what you would see in most airline branded business class or first class lounges you can nonetheless have access to a range of soft drinks, juices,teas, machine made coffee, several beers (including both NZ staple and craft beers) and several white and red wines, in addition to some standard spirits. Overall nothing mind-blowing in the drinks department but more than acceptable a range nonetheless.

Service and Staff

Due to the largely self service nature of the lounge don’t expect the same high staffing levels of some of the airline operated legacy lounges. Upon arrival however I was greeted by a very friendly and enthusiastic host who efficiently confirmed my eligibility to access the lounge and even gave me a brief tour of the lounge.

Whilst this is a largely self-service lounge in terms of food and drink I found the several staff members to be exceptionally customer service focused and keeping everyone up to date on flight departure times. Service staff did well to regularly replenish the food and drinks options whilst cleaning staff were spotted often sanitising and clearing tables and keeping the amenities in good condition. Good work to the folk at the Manaia Lounge here!

Lounge Amenities

Overall this lounge ticks most of the right boxes in terms of amenities provided although due to being such a small lounge catering to generally only a handful of short haul flights to Australia don’t expect the most comprehensive range of facilities either. Here you’ll find a small business centre with free wifi, televisions and the occasionally charging ports throughout. There are also dedicated bathrooms in the lounge but unfortunately no showers. Overall this lounge whilst not providing the most extensive range of amenities it should be nonetheless more than sufficient for the short haul flights that service it.

Summing-up

Overall the Manaia Lounge at Queenstown Airport is a really good lounge for what it is when you consider we are talking about an international airport servicing a town with a population of just 15,000 which in most cases you wouldn’t even expect to have a lounge yet international flights! Whilst it won’t win any awards for lavish food and beverage or extensive amenities, the staff couldn’t be faulted with there exceptional enthusiasm and customer service and the lounge itself proved a pleasant quiet retreat before my flight back to Australia. Overall its a great place to relax for a few hours ahead of your next flight back to Australia!