SkyCity eyes big Queenstown growth. 18 Oct, 2013 10:55am. Another shareholder asked for a dress code in the Auckland casino, complaining about people wearing steel-capped boots, gumboots. The dress codes have always been there but security was told to be a little easy on the standards in the past. As for the lining up, there was a major shake up of security operations at SkyCity after a couple of incidents in the past. Casino laws and expectations tend to be different all over the world, and the venues in New Zealand do have some restrictions travelers should be aware of. Most notably, there is a minimum age requirement of 20 to enter these properties (all around the country). Additionally, it’s common to see dress codes for New Zealand casino facilities. The Skycity Queenstown Casino is found in the heart of Queenstown and has two casino offerings, in central Queenstown. The Skycity Queenstown Casino is open 12noon – 4am, everyday and offers gamers most popular casino games, a fantastic bar & kitchen. Entertainment complex & casino in the heart of Queenstown's CBD. SKY Tower Entry Tickets. Your Sky Tower ticket will give you access to our three viewing platforms; Sky Deck viewing platform at 220 metres, Main Observation Level at 186 metres and Sky Cafe at 182 metres.

Updated as at 8 October 2020. Updates will be made as we receive advice from the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

When will you be open?

At Alert Level 1, our Casino, the majority of our restaurants and our Sky Tower will all operate as usual. Please see below for restaurant opening dates. Please note, details below may change, refer to individual restaurant webpage or social media for the most up to date information.

What Health and safety measures do you have in place for restaurants?

Entry signage displaying conditions of entry, including a QR code to display controls, is in place site wide. The restaurants Duty manager or Host will monitor entry and allocate a physical distancing monitor if required, where guests are not physical distancing. Restaurant capacity has been restricted to no more than 100 people, with table spacing applied to ensure social distancing of 1 metre between chairs.

Will you be taking any walk-in bookings?

Yes, some walk-in bookings may be available, however we would prefer online bookings to ensure that you get a reservation (due table limitations with social distancing of 1 metre between chairs).

Can I still pay with cash?

Yes, however we are trying to encourage contactless payments when possible.

Will the full menu be available in-restaurant?

This will be on a restaurant by restaurant basis. Please visit the individual restaurants webpage for full menu offering.

Is the car park open?

The SkyCity main site car park will open in Alert Level 2.

All other enquiries?

Skycity Hotel And Casino

Please contact our customer contact centre from 9am-5pm (NZT) daily by email enquiries@skycity.co.nz or call on +64 9 363 6000.

When you travel to New Zealand, your primary focus is probably going to be on the outdoors. Most of the country’s most popular attractions consist of parks, hiking trails, coastal getaways, and natural phenomena, to the point that a trip there can feel like jumping from one postcard to the next.

As wonderful as all of this can be though, it’s important not to overlook the cities of New Zealand along the way. The dual-island nation may be best known for its natural appeal, but its cities can be a whole lot of fun as well.

One thing you’re likely to notice if you do spend time in places like Queenstown, Auckland, and other cities, is that there’s a fairly active casino industry you may not have heard much about. Most destinations around the world with high-profile urban casinos — places like Las Vegas, Singapore, and Macau — advertise those casinos as major tourist attractions. In New Zealand, there is no such hub full of extravagant resorts to promote. However, there are still high-end casinos in the big cities, and they do a great deal of business with locals and visitors alike.

You may well find that once you’re in a given city, one of these casinos offers some of the most alluring activity around. So, for anyone planning a trip to New Zealand, here are a few things worth knowing about these establishments, and the casino culture more broadly around the nation.

Most popular cities have at least one casino

As stated, New Zealand doesn’t have a single, preeminent gambling hub. However, most of the cities tourists tend to frequent have at least one such venue, which is why casinos can be more a part of new Zealand tourism than some might anticipate. Of the very most popular cities in New Zealand, Auckland, Hamilton, and Christchurch are known for their gaming facilities. Queenstown also has two terrific casino facilities, and Dunedin — a city slightly farther off the beaten path, but still popular among visitors — hosts casino activity as well.

SkyCity venues are the most extravagant

It may be a subjective matter, but few would disagree with the assertion that casino venues belonging to New Zealand’s SkyCity chain are the most extravagant ones in the country. You can find these properties in Auckland (SkyCity Auckland being the biggest casino in the country), Hamilton, and Queenstown. But don’t be fooled into thinking these are simply bland, commercial options. Unlike some of the more soulless chain casinos you might find in, say, parts of Western Europe, the SkyCity venues are quite nice. Each one is at least somewhat unique, and altogether they exude a sort of classy extravagance that’s unusual for major casino properties. That’s not to say they aren’t over the top in some ways, but there is a refreshing elegance to them.

Access can be restrictive

Casino laws and expectations tend to be different all over the world, and the venues in New Zealand do have some restrictions travelers should be aware of. Most notably, there is a minimum age requirement of 20 to enter these properties (all around the country). Additionally, it’s common to see dress codes for New Zealand casino facilities. That doesn’t mean you have to dress up formally, but you’ll want to have something besides your hiking clothes, and you’d do well to research in advance if a specific casino you’re visiting has a dress code — just to be safe.

There are online alternatives

Skycity Casino Auckland

If you’re visiting New Zealand in person and interested in the country’s casinos for some entertainment while you’re in the cities, odds are you’re looking for the real thing. That said, it’s worth pointing out that there are also online casinos available throughout New Zealand. For the most part these sites revolve around animated “pokies” (which means slot machines), which is actually a nice alternative to the table games you’ll find in many of the real venues. The main draw of the online sites is convenience, though pokie sites also feature deposit bonuses that can help gamers get more bang for their buck than they might in the real-life establishments. Typically, you can deposit a given amount on these sites and see that amount matched by the site, within reason. It’s something to keep in mind if, say, you have a rainy day and want to hang out in your hotel room, or if you simply catch the casino bug after you visit one of the real venues.

The top casinos offer entertainment beyond gaming

Skycity Casino Queenstown Dress Code 2019

If you’ve ever visited casinos elsewhere, this may not surprise you. If this whole concept is new to you though, and you’re interested in checking out one or two of New Zealand’s main facilities, you should know that the top casinos — such as the SkyCity properties — tend to offer entertainment beyond gaming. Broadly, this tends to mean bars and restaurants, occasional live shows, and shopping opportunities. SkyCity Auckland, however, functions more like a full resort, with high-end hotel facilities, a “SkyTower” attraction that functions somewhat like an amusement park, and various restaurants and bars that double as observation decks. This is all to say that even if you don’t get into the games themselves, some of the casino complexes in New Zealand’s casinos can still keep you entertained.