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The Observatory Hotel Christchurch

5.0 star property
Travelers can immerse themselves in local culture at this arts-focused hotel, where live music performances and a welcoming lobby create a perfect spot to unwind

Choose dates to view prices

The Observatory Hotel Christchurch blends art, culture, and comfort near Hagley Park. This eco-certified property has an on-site grocery store and hosts concerts. Guests enjoy in-room WiFi, convenient dry cleaning, and a genuinely welcoming staff.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Gym
  • Breakfast available
  • Parking available
  • Business services
The current price is AU$289
includes taxes & fees
29 Mar - 30 Mar

Room options

View all photos for Observatory Legacy room- Lower ground floor

Premium bedding, down duvets, minibar, in-room safe

Observatory Legacy room- Lower ground floor

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(17 reviews)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Pillow menu
Renovated in 2022
Separate bedroom
  • 25 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Observatory Deluxe Room

Observatory Deluxe Room

Observatory Deluxe Room

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(45 reviews)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Pillow menu
Renovated in 2022
Separate bedroom
  • 25 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Prestige Skylight Room

Prestige Skylight Room

Prestige Skylight Room

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Pillow menu
Renovated in 2022
  • 32 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Royal Skylight Room

Royal Skylight Room

Royal Skylight Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Pillow menu
Renovated in 2022
  • 52 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Prestige Room

Prestige Room

Prestige Room

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(11 reviews)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Pillow menu
Renovated in 2022
  • 30 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
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About the area

Located in Christchurch, The Observatory Hotel Christchurch is in the city centre. Riverside Market and Cashel Mall are worth exploring if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's popular attractions can visit The Arts Centre. Hagley Park and Christchurch Art Gallery are two other places to visit that come recommended. Visit our Christchurch travel guide
Map
9 Hereford Street Christchurch, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8013

What's nearby

  • Botanic Gardens in Christchurch City
    Hagley Park
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Riverside Market
    6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Te Pae Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre
    6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Christchurch Public Hospital
    7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Christchurch Casino
    8 min walk - 0.7 km

Getting around

  • Christchurch Railway Station
    11 min drive
  • Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
    19 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Craft Embassy
    7 min walk
  • The Little Fiddle
    7 min walk
  • Curators House
    3 min walk
  • Quad Eatery
    2 min walk
  • Lucky Ninja
    1 min walk

About this property

The Observatory Hotel Christchurch

Luxury hotel remodelled in 2022 and located near Hagley Park
Located close to The Arts Centre and Christchurch Art Gallery, The Observatory Hotel Christchurch provides a corner/local shop, concerts and live shows and an art gallery on-site. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with a library and dry cleaning/laundry services.
You'll also find perks such as:
  • Continental breakfast (surcharge), bike hire and self-parking (surcharge)
  • Smoke-free property, books and a water dispenser
  • Tour/ticket information, a front desk safe and a lift
  • Guest reviews give top marks for the helpful staff, first-rate property condition and location
Room features
All guest rooms are individually furnished, and feature comforts, such as premium bedding and pillow menus, in addition to perks, such as air conditioning and bathrobes.
Other amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with rainfall showers and free toiletries
  • 49-inch Smart TVs with Netflix, streaming services and digital channels
  • Wardrobes/cupboards, electric kettles and heating

Awards and affiliations

Eco-certified property
This property participates in Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Award – a program that measures the property's impact on one or more of the following: environment, community, cultural-heritage, the local economy.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Height restrictions apply for on-site parking
  • Onsite parking available only on request
  • Uncovered parking on site (NZD 30 per day)
  • Limited number of on-site self parking spaces per unit
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily continental breakfast available 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: NZD 30 for adults and NZD 30 for children
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Things to do

  • 24-hour gym
  • Art gallery
  • Bicycle rentals
  • Books
  • Concerts/live shows
  • Library

Family friendly

  • Grocery/convenience store

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Grocery/convenience store
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • 269 square feet of conference space
  • Meeting room

Spa

  • Couples treatment rooms

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Height-adjustable showerhead
  • Lift
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible gym
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to lift
  • Wheelchair-accessible public bathroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

More

  • 3 buildings
  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1896
  • Communal living room
  • Renovated entire property - May 2022
  • Smoke-free property
  • Victorian architecture

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Down comforter
  • Pillow menu
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Slippers
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 49-inch smart TV with digital channels
  • Netflix
  • Streaming services

Food and drink

  • Champagne service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Espresso maker
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

The property charges 2 per cent for credit card payments
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for continental breakfast: from approximately NZD 30 for adults and from NZD 30 for children
  • Uncovered self-parking fee: NZD 30 per day
  • A late check-out fee will be charged
  • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 2 per cent

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve on-site parking
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
This property reserves the right to pre-authorise the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit

We should mention

Parking height restrictions apply
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

National rating

Rating provided by Qualmark®, source of official star ratings for accommodation in New Zealand.

Property is also known as

The Observatory Christchurch
Observatory Hotel Christchurch
Observatorty Hotel Christchurch
The Observatory Hotel Christchurch Hotel
The Observatory Hotel Christchurch Christchurch
The Observatory Hotel Christchurch Hotel Christchurch

Frequently asked questions

Is The Observatory Hotel Christchurch pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Observatory Hotel Christchurch?

As of 13 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Observatory Hotel Christchurch on 29 Mar 2026 start from AU$289, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at The Observatory Hotel Christchurch?

Self-parking is available for NZD 30 per day. Limited spots are available.

What time is check-in at The Observatory Hotel Christchurch?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at The Observatory Hotel Christchurch?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM. Late checkout is available for a fee.

Where is The Observatory Hotel Christchurch located?

Located in Christchurch City Centre, this luxury hotel is steps away from The Arts Centre and Hagley Park. Christchurch Art Gallery and Riverside Market are also within 10 minutes.

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Reviews

The Observatory Hotel Christchurch Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

10

Cleanliness

9.4

Amenities

9.6

Staff & service

9.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 273 out of 312 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 26 out of 312 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 312 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 312 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 312 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Douglas

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Interesting historic building, clean and well-sized rooms, friendly and helpful staff.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Craig

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Gear location and the room was lovely. Check in was easy and the staff was very accommodating.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Raphael

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Place is located conveniently, a great renovation of an old college.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Nicole

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely staff, excellent amenities close to everything
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Tasi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved our stay here. Great location. Lovely rooms. Friendly staff. Will return again.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rosa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This hotel was a highlight, absolutely beautiful, interesting, central, super clean, loved it. The rooms and staff were amazing and certainly made a Christchurch stay worth it.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Park Hee

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean room and kind of staff
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Historical convenient location
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gregory

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Exceptional service. Fantastic location. Very clean room. No complaints.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Henry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Laid back atmosphere, also great lounge to relax in and have tea.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anne Paula

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was such a lovely hotel with lovely reception staff! The only thing I didn't like was that the cookie that was given to welcome you in the room was already old, it was hard and inedible. There was also an incident where the breakfast lady had a tiff with another set of guests so it left a slightly negative impression. Will stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Aditya

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Great location. Good property. Terrible service. Stay far away.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sue

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful hotel. Lots of attention to detail. Very warm and inviting. Close to central city with lots of restaurants close by. A gem!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Coffee, restaurants, tram, and park right at your doorstep.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful hotel very charming- close to restaurants
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
What a charming place to stay! Appreciated all the little amenities—coffee and hot chocolate in the room, the robes, and the cappuccino maker and cookies in the lobby. The art everywhere was a bonus— can recommend visiting the free gallery upstairs and wandering through the art galleries on the surrounding campus. The location couldn’t be better; you can easily walk to the botanical gardens , to Riverside Market (get a Paris Brest pastry when there), to the museums (the Quake Center is a must see), and to a multitude of restaurant and shops. On top of all this, the hotel staff were uniformly welcoming and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tamara

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
A beautiful hotel in a great location. A great coffee shop right in the former university complex, art, music, and across from the botanical gardens.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Yihong

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice room, kind staff, and a lovely lounge
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sofia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful location, amazing rooms, friendly and helpful staff, great breakfast.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great building to have as a hotel in a really good location.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marc

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is an excellent hotel with luxurious amenities within easy walking distance to dining, culture, and all that Christchurch has to offer. The staff is first rate, good communicators and thoughtful.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anita

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful place to stay, great location.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved this place. Right across from the Botanic Gardens and absolutely beautiful building and surroundings. Would stay here again!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nathan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Interesting hotel. Super walkable to evwrything. Great staff too.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

jeffrey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location and wonderful rooms.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024