Where to Stay in Christchurch
Five places to sleep in the South Island’s gateway, which suits which trip, and what each gives up
For a first visit of two or three nights, stay in the Central City, inside the Four Avenues. It is flat and walkable, the gardens and the river are on the doorstep, and it has the most places to eat.
If you are driving on around the South Island, the motels of Riccarton & Addington give you a kitchen and a parking space for less.
If you want something else from the stop:
- The TranzAlpine in the morning — Riccarton & Addington, the side of town the station is on.
- A quieter street, still walkable to the park — Merivale & Fendalton.
- The beach, with children and a car — Sumner & the eastern beaches.
- A small town with its own character — Lyttelton & the harbour.
- An early flight — see if you have an early flight, below.
Christchurch is where our South Island itinerary starts and ends, and our guide to Christchurch covers what to do while you are here, and where to eat in Christchurch covers the food.
How this page was madeWe have not stayed in Christchurch. This page is researched, from the official visitor site, the hotels’ own websites and our own sample of prices, and we name only places we could confirm are trading. When we stay, we will say so here.
Areas and places to stay reviewed 29 September 2026.
How the areas compare
| Area | First visit | Nightlife | Families | Transport | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Central City | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | $$$ |
| Merivale & Fendalton | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | $$ |
| Riccarton & Addington | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | $$ |
| Sumner & the eastern beaches | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | $$ |
| Lyttelton & the harbour | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | $$ |
The stars are a quick read across the qualities most travellers weigh up — more stars means a stronger fit for that quality, not “better” overall. Price is shown as a band rather than stars, since cheaper isn’t a virtue in itself. Transport here means how much you can do without a car.
Price positions are relative to the other areas in this table, not market rates. They come from our own sample of 32 places on one weekday night in mid-November 2026, two adults, read on 29 September 2026. Merivale and Riccarton came out about the same; the Central City’s hotels were roughly two and a half times higher. The Sumner and Lyttelton samples were small, two places and three, so treat those bands as a guide.
Where the areas are
The Central City is the grid in the middle, with Hagley Park on its western side. Merivale & Fendalton lie just north and north-west of the park, and Riccarton & Addington west and south-west of it, all on the flat and all within a short bus ride.
Sumner & the eastern beaches are on the coast to the east, about 20 minutes’ drive away. Lyttelton & the harbour are over the Port Hills to the south, through the road tunnel. The airport is out on the plain to the north-west.
A guide to each area
The Central City
$$$ · best all-roundWhy stay here?
For a first visit, stay here. Inside the Four Avenues you can walk to the Botanic Gardens, the Avon, Quake City and the Art Gallery, and the evenings are the liveliest in the city, along the Terrace, around Riverside Market and up Victoria Street. The Bus Interchange puts the airport bus and the rest of the city a short walk away. Most hotels here are new, built since the earthquakes, and they are the dearest in the city. Families will find hotel rooms smaller than a motel unit.
Good for
- A first visit without a car
- Walking to the gardens and river
- Dinner out every night
- Big nights at Te Kaha or Te Pae
Watch for
- The highest room prices
- Paid, limited parking
- Building sites between the new blocks
- Weekend noise near the bars
If you stay in the Central City, walk down to the Avon early, before the offices fill, and stand on the Bridge of Remembrance. The river is spring-fed, and it runs shallow and very clear over its gravel bed, so you can see the weed stream in the current and the ducks paddling to hold their place. Look along the banks: new buildings on one side, old trees on the other, and the memorial arch above you, built for those who crossed here on their way to the First World War. The city that fell down and the city that stayed are both in view at once.
Merivale & Fendalton
$$ · leafy and calmerWhy stay here?
The best choice if you want a quiet street and can still walk into town. Papanui Road, running north from Bealey Avenue, is lined with motels, and Merivale’s village has restaurants and bars for an evening out. Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens are 15 to 25 minutes’ walk away, and buses run often to the centre. Motel units with kitchens suit families. Fendalton, to the west, is handsome and residential, with little to book.
Good for
- A quieter night
- Motel units with kitchens
- Merivale’s restaurants
- Walking to Hagley Park
Watch for
- Traffic on Papanui Road
- Few hotels, mostly motels
- Little to book in Fendalton
- A longer walk to the river bars
Riccarton & Addington
$$ · motels and easy parkingWhy stay here?
The practical choice for a road trip. Riccarton Road is the city’s motel strip: a self-contained unit, a kitchen and a parking space by the door, with Westfield Riccarton for supplies and Riccarton Bush, a fragment of the forest that once covered the plains, a short walk away. Frequent buses run along the road to the centre, about 3 km east. Addington, to the south-east, has the railway station for the TranzAlpine. Evenings are quiet here: the mall and casual places to eat.
Good for
- Self-drive and parking
- Families who want a kitchen
- The TranzAlpine from Addington
- Value on a longer stay
Watch for
- A busy, noisy main road
- Little character after dark
- A bus or drive to the sights
- Mostly motels, few hotels
Sumner & the eastern beaches
$$ · by the seaWhy stay here?
Stay here to wake to the sound of the sea. Sumner is a seaside village at the foot of the Port Hills, with a sheltered beach, Cave Rock, cafés and walks up onto the hills. New Brighton, to the north, has the long surf beach, the pier and the He Puna Taimoana hot pools, with Redcliffs between the two on the estuary. Families with a car will love it. Both are about 20 minutes by car from the centre; buses run, but slowly, and evenings are quiet, with a few cafés and bars.
Good for
- Families and a beach holiday
- Walks on the Port Hills
- A slower, seaside stay
- The hot pools at New Brighton
Watch for
- A car is close to essential
- A long way from the sights
- Little choice of beds
- Quiet evenings
Lyttelton & the harbour
$$ · character over convenienceWhy stay here?
The choice for character. Over the Port Hills, through the road tunnel, Lyttelton climbs steeply above its working port, with small bars, a strong local music scene and a Saturday farmers’ market. Diamond Harbour, across the water, is a quiet village reached by a short ferry ride. The bus through the tunnel reaches the city in about 20 to 25 minutes, and the same route, the 8, runs on to the airport. But the streets are steep and many houses are reached by steps, which is hard work with small children or heavy bags.
Good for
- A town with its own character
- Harbour views
- Bars and live music
- The Saturday market
Watch for
- Steep streets and steps
- Few places to stay
- Through the tunnel to the city
- Little parking on the hill
Before you book
Book early for the busy times. The summer school holidays, from mid-December to late January, fill the city’s beds, and so do the big nights at Te Kaha, the new stadium, which holds up to 37,000 for a concert, and the larger conferences at Te Pae. If your dates are fixed, check the two venues’ calendars before you book.
Know what a New Zealand motel is. It is not a roadside room with a bed and a kettle: most are self-contained units with a kitchenette or kitchen, and your car parked outside the door.
For a family, or anyone staying more than a night or two, that is often better value than a hotel. Our guide to accommodation in New Zealand explains motels, holiday parks, baches and the other kinds of stay.
Tell them when you will arrive. Many motels keep office hours rather than a 24-hour desk, so if you will be late, let them know your time and ask how to collect the key.
Check the final price. Prices on New Zealand websites normally include GST, the 15% goods and services tax; some international booking sites add tax at the last step, so compare totals, not headline rates. Choose a flexible rate if your plans might change with the weather or the roads.
Parking decides a lot here. Central City hotels charge for it and spaces are limited, so ask when you book. Outside the centre, motels almost always include a space.
Ask for a quiet room in the centre. The rebuild is not finished, and new hotels still stand beside building sites and empty lots. A room facing away from the street, or on a higher floor, is worth asking for.
The route spends its first two nights in Christchurch, in the Central City, and suggests you collect the hire car on the morning you leave. So you need no parking for those nights: choose the centre, walk to the gardens and the river, and let the car wait. If you come back through Christchurch at the end, a motel in Riccarton with parking, or a hotel by the airport, makes the last evening simpler.
If you have an early flight
Christchurch Airport is about 12 km north-west of the centre, 20 to 30 minutes by taxi. The terminal opens at 3am and closes after the last flight, so you cannot sleep there.
For a very early departure, Novotel Christchurch Airport, at 30 Durey Road, is two minutes’ walk from the terminal (parking costs extra; checked 29 September 2026), and there are motels a few minutes’ drive away.
From the centre, buses 8 and 29 run to the airport; check the Metro timetable for the first bus of the day before you rely on one.
A final word on where to stay in Christchurch
Christchurch is an easy city to sleep in. Its areas are close together, most of them are flat, and even the far ones are only twenty minutes away. For a short first stay, choose the Central City and walk everywhere. For a road trip, choose a motel with a kitchen and a parking space. And if you have a car and a little time, give a night to Sumner or Lyttelton: they show a side of the city most visitors pass straight by.
Andrew + Margaret
- Christchurch Overview
- Christchurch nightlife Practical
- South Island itinerary Journeys
- New Zealand in two weeks Journeys
- Where to eat in Christchurch Practical
- Accommodation in New Zealand Practical
- Getting around New Zealand Practical
- Can I cycle in New Zealand? Practical
- Visiting New Zealand Overview
Do I need a car if I stay in the Central City?
Not in the city. You can walk to the main sights, and buses run from the Bus Interchange to the airport and the suburbs. You will want a car, or a tour, for Akaroa, the Port Hills and most day trips.
Where should a family stay in Christchurch?
A motel unit with a kitchen, in Merivale or Riccarton, gives the most space for the money, with parking at the door. With a car and a few days, Sumner puts the beach at the end of the street.