Few places in New Zealand live by the seasons quite like Queenstown. Winter brings skiers to Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona. Summer brings hikers, cyclists, wedding parties and lake lovers. In between, the shoulder seasons can go very quiet, and every business in town feels it. fundU offers business loans in Queenstown from $20,000 to $1m, secured on property, structured around how your year actually runs.
We lend against property in Queenstown and right across the Queenstown Lakes district, from Glenorchy and Kingston to Arrowtown, Frankton, Jack's Point, Wānaka, Albert Town and Hāwea. Our central lending team works with Queenstown Lakes owners by phone and online, so you can talk to us between shifts, lift runs or site visits.
Why do Queenstown businesses need flexible funding?
The Queenstown Lakes economy is built on visitors, and visitor numbers rise and fall through the year. A restaurant on the waterfront, an adventure operator on the Shotover or a motel in Frankton can take a large share of its annual income in a few busy months. Costs don't follow that pattern. Rent, loan repayments, insurance, maintenance and tax bills come around regardless.
On top of that, the district has some of the highest living and property costs in the country. Staff are hard to find and harder to house. Wages have been rising, with the minimum wage reaching $23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026. For owners, that means more money going out before the season's income comes in.
Our loans can be interest-only, capitalised interest with no scheduled monthly repayments during the term, or principal and interest. Matching the repayment style to your season is often the key to making a loan work in Queenstown.
Our guide to seasonal business cash flow has more ideas for managing the peaks and troughs.
Which Queenstown Lakes businesses do we lend to?
- Tourism and adventure operators running jetboats, bungy, tours, cycle hire, guiding and ski-related services.
- Restaurants, cafés and bars in central Queenstown, Arrowtown, Frankton and Wānaka.
- Accommodation providers such as motels, lodges, holiday rentals and boutique hotels.
- Builders, trades and property service businesses working on high-end homes and the new subdivisions around Frankton, Jack's Point, Hanley's Farm, Shotover Country and Wānaka.
- Retailers in the town centres and at Five Mile and Remarkables Park.
- Event and wedding businesses that work around the busy summer calendar.
Our hospitality and tourism page goes deeper into the funding challenges these businesses face.
What property can be used as security in the Queenstown Lakes?
Property values across the district mean many owners have substantial equity, even with a bank mortgage in place. We consider:
- Homes in Queenstown, Frankton, Arrowtown, Lake Hayes Estate, Wānaka and surrounding suburbs
- Holiday homes and rental properties, including those held in a family trust
- Commercial and industrial property in Frankton, Glenda Drive and Wānaka's commercial areas
- Visitor accommodation properties, case by case
- Lifestyle blocks in the Wakatipu Basin and Upper Clutha, case by case
If your home already has a bank loan, a second mortgage lets you use its equity without changing your existing lending. That's often the fastest route when an opportunity or a bill won't wait.
What about builders and trades in the Queenstown Lakes?
Construction has been one of the district's biggest industries for years, with new subdivisions, high-end homes and commercial projects in Frankton, the Wakatipu Basin and around Wānaka. Builders and subcontractors here face the same pressures as anywhere else, only amplified: materials cost more to get over the hill, staff are expensive to house, and a big job can tie up cash for months before the payment claims come through.
Retentions, slow-paying clients and a quieter pipeline can all squeeze a good business. A property-secured loan can cover wages and materials while you wait for money you're owed. Our page on construction and trades funding goes into more detail.
What do Queenstown owners use business loans for?
| Queenstown situation | How fundU can help |
|---|---|
| Quiet shoulder season before winter | Cover wages, rent and maintenance until the ski season arrives |
| Fit-out or upgrade between seasons | Fund the works now, repaid from peak-season trade |
| Opening a second venue in Wānaka or Arrowtown | Expansion funding secured on your home or other property |
| Buying an established tourism or hospitality business | Acquisition funding for the purchase or working capital after settlement |
| GST or PAYE behind after a slow patch | Pay Inland Revenue out and reset before the busy months |
| Builder waiting on progress payments | Working capital for materials and wages until the claim is paid |
Planning to open another site? Our guide to funding a second site or expansion explains what to think through first.
Example scenario
The owners of a well-established restaurant in central Queenstown signed a lease on a second venue in Wānaka and wanted it open before the ski season. They needed funds for the fit-out, kitchen equipment, opening stock and a few weeks of wages. Their bank wanted a full year of trading history from the new site before lending against it. The owners had a home in Lake Hayes Estate with a bank mortgage and strong equity. We lent $320,000 by second mortgage on capitalised interest terms, so there were no monthly repayments while the new venue got going. The exit was a refinance with their bank after twelve months of trading from both sites.
How quickly can a Queenstown business be funded?
Timing matters in a seasonal town, and missing the start of the season can cost a year's opportunity. Because we make our own decisions, things can move quickly:
- Enquire online or call 09 875 4577. It takes a couple of minutes and doesn't affect your credit score.
- A lending specialist talks it through with you, covering the purpose, the property and the exit.
- Indicative terms are provided if it's a good fit.
- A registered valuer reports on the property and our credit team makes the decision.
- Your lawyer handles the documents and we settle. Once approved, funding can happen in as little as 24 hours in some cases.
What makes a strong Queenstown loan application?
The best applications tell a clear story. We want to know what the money is for, why now, and how the loan will be repaid, whether that's a strong season, a refinance, the sale of a property or a contract payment. Recent bank statements, forward bookings, a signed lease or a building contract can all help show the plan is realistic. You don't need financial statements or tax returns for the initial assessment.
If you're buying a business, our business acquisition finance page explains how property-secured funding can help you get the deal across the line.
From Arrowtown to Albert Town, good Queenstown Lakes businesses deserve a lender that understands the seasons. See if you qualify and we'll be in touch.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Queenstown business borrow in the shoulder season?
Yes. Many Queenstown operators need funds in the quieter months between the ski and summer seasons, for maintenance, fit-outs, staff or tax. We can structure a property-secured loan on interest-only or capitalised interest terms, so repayments don't add pressure before the busy season returns.
Do you lend in Wānaka and the wider Queenstown Lakes district?
Yes. We lend against property in Queenstown and right across the Queenstown Lakes district, including Frankton, Arrowtown, Kelvin Heights, Jack's Point, Glenorchy, Kingston, Wānaka, Albert Town, Hāwea and Luggate. Lifestyle property is considered case by case.
Can I use my Queenstown home as security for my business?
Yes. Many Queenstown Lakes owners have built significant equity in their homes. We can lend by second mortgage behind your existing bank loan, so the bank loan stays in place, or by first mortgage if the property is unencumbered or you'd like to refinance the current lender.
Can fundU help me buy a tourism or hospitality business in Queenstown?
Yes, property-secured funding can be used to buy a business, fund the deposit or cover the working capital needed after settlement. We look at the property offered as security, the business you're buying and how you plan to repay, such as a refinance once the business has a trading history with you.
A practical next step
Ready to see what's possible?
Tell us what the business needs, when you need it and what property is available. A fundU lending specialist will call you back to talk it through — enquiring is free and won't affect your credit score.