The best hotels in Christchurch

The City Centre is the most practical base in Christchurch. You're on the flat, everything is within a 15-minute walk, and the restaurant and bar scene along Oxford Terrace and New Regent Street has fully recovered from the earthquake years.

Three of our picks are here. Ibis Christchurch is the reliable mid-range choice, Crowne Plaza suits business travellers needing meeting facilities, and Distinction Christchurch Hotel is the best-positioned of the three for walking access to Cathedral Square and the Arts Centre on Montreal Street.

The one thing to watch: weekend nights around Oxford Terrace can get noisy. If you're a light sleeper, ask for a room facing away from the river strip. It's worth the ask.

Park Terrace runs along the eastern boundary of Hagley Park, and it's one of the better streets to be on in Christchurch. The park itself covers 165 hectares, and the Botanic Gardens take up a large chunk of that. You're 8 minutes walk from Canterbury Museum on Rolleston Avenue.

The George is the only hotel we've listed here, and it's the top-rated property in our entire guide. It's the kind of place that gets the details right: proper room service, good wine list, and staff who know the city. The Victoria Lake view from certain rooms is worth the slight premium.

This area suits couples and anyone who wants calm without sacrificing access. There's less late-night noise here than on the Oxford Terrace side of the centre.

Latimer Square is on the eastern edge of the City Centre on Gloucester Street, about 10 minutes walk from the Cardboard Cathedral and 12 minutes from New Regent Street. Rydges Latimer sits right on the square and is the most popular hotel in our guide for good reason: solid mid-range product, decent location, and reliable service.

Addington is a few blocks further south on Lincoln Road and Antigua Street. Jailhouse Accommodation on Canterbury Street is the draw here. The conversion of the 1874 prison is done well, and the rooms in the old cells are genuinely memorable rather than gimmicky.

Both neighbourhoods are more affordable than the central strip. You'll save $20-50/night compared to Oxford Terrace hotels, and you're not giving up much in terms of access.

Merivale sits about 3km north of the City Centre along Papanui Road. It's a comfortable, well-heeled suburb with good cafes and restaurants on Merivale Lane and Papanui Road itself. Dorset House Backpackers is the best budget option here, and it attracts a slightly older crowd than typical hostels.

Riccarton is west of Hagley Park, centred around Riccarton Road. Chateau on the Park is the hotel to know here: proper grounds, family-sized rooms, and right on the edge of Hagley Park. You're 15 minutes walk from the Botanic Gardens western entrance.

Both suburbs are quieter than the City Centre at night. Good if you're travelling with kids or have early starts. Metro bus route 1 connects Merivale to the central bus exchange in about 20 minutes.

Oxford Terrace runs along the Avon River in the heart of the City Centre. Eichardt's Terrace Christchurch is positioned here, and the river setting does real work. You're 5 minutes walk from Punting on the Avon at the Cambridge Terrace landing, and the restaurant strip is right outside.

Canterbury Rural is a completely different proposition. Otahuna Lodge in Tai Tapu is 30 minutes south of Christchurch on State Highway 75, on a 30-acre property that dates to 1895. It's in a different category from anything else in this guide. The rates reflect that.

Choose based on what you're here for. Eichardt's is for a city stay with boutique polish at $320-480/night. Otahuna is for a full retreat, and at $850-1,200/night it's priced accordingly but delivers on every point.