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Aparthotels & serviced apartments in Christchurch

12 stays · 9 aparthotels and 3 serviced apartments

Aparthotels and serviced apartments work well in Christchurch because the city is a base as much as a destination. It is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, a gateway for Antarctic programmes and a service centre for the Canterbury region, so visitors include business travellers, researchers, families heading to the mountains and people staying a month or more. A kitchen and laundry make longer stays easier, and extra rooms help when a group is travelling together.

12 stays

Where to stay in Christchurch

Central City

  • first-time visitors
  • dining
  • business travel

The central city around Cathedral Square is the easiest base for first-time visitors. The Arts Centre, the Christchurch Art Gallery and the Botanic Gardens are all described by Wikivoyage as key attractions, and the Metro bus interchange is a central transport hub. Recovery and rebuilding projects have followed the 2011 earthquake, and the city board promotes street art and dining in the centre.

Stays in or near Central City

Hagley Park and Merivale

  • park walks
  • quieter stays
  • couples

Merivale lies north-west of the centre close to Hagley Park, which with the Botanic Gardens forms what Wikivoyage calls the second-largest inner-city park in the world. This is a calmer area for people who want green space on the doorstep and an easy walk or bus ride into the centre.

Stays in or near Hagley Park and Merivale

Riccarton

  • long stays
  • students
  • food

Riccarton is a suburb west of the centre, and the Asian district around Church Corner is found here according to Wikivoyage. It is a practical place for longer stays, away from the busiest central streets and close to the suburban malls.

Sumner

  • beach
  • surf
  • relaxed stays

Sumner is the city's seaside suburb on the Pacific coast, with Sumner Beach and neighbouring Scarborough Beach; the tourist board says surfing and paddleboarding are popular at Scarborough, with learn-to-surf schools on the esplanade. Wikivoyage lists Sumner as one of the beach areas served by the city's buses. It is a longer trip from the centre than the other areas here, so it suits those who want a coastal base and are happy to use a bus or car to reach the city.

Getting around Christchurch

Christchurch Airport is in Harewood, about 12 km north-west of the city centre according to Wikivoyage, and is the country's second-busiest airport. Wikivoyage lists public bus services from the airport as well as shuttle services. Trains are limited: the TranzAlpine runs to Greymouth and the Coastal Pacific to Picton, and InterCity coaches connect the city with the rest of the South Island, including Queenstown.

Metro, the Canterbury public transport service, runs the bus network from the central Bus Interchange. Metro says Metrocard and cash will no longer be accepted on its services from 23 November 2026, when the national Motu Move payment system takes over. Its site covers journey planning, real-time bus information apps and bikes on buses, and it publishes a Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour ferry timetable. Event Direct by Metro shuttles serve stadium events. Wikivoyage describes the heritage tram loop as more an attraction than practical transport, and notes cycling is popular with a 30 km/h limit across the central city. The city is relatively flat apart from the Port Hills, so walking and cycling are easy.

Living in Christchurch for longer

For a month or more, the suburbs offer practical choices. Wikivoyage mentions Riverside Market for fresh produce and food stalls and several suburban malls, and Riccarton's Asian district adds more places to shop and eat. A kitchen and laundry in your apartment save time.

Christchurch is a base for outdoor trips: the Port Hills have walking and hiking tracks, and the city sits beside Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury Plains. If you are relocating for work, our guide to serviced apartments for relocation covers what to check before you commit.

When to visit Christchurch

Christchurch has a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers, cool winters and moderate rainfall. Mean daily maximum temperatures are about 22.6 degrees Celsius in January and 10.9 degrees in July. Wikivoyage describes it as the driest of New Zealand's major cities. Summers are often moderated by a north-east sea breeze, though a hot föhn wind, the nor'wester, occasionally blows.

Winter nights regularly fall below freezing, and the city sees about 80 days of ground frost a year, so bring warm layers between June and August. Summer suits the beaches, which the tourist board says draw many swimmers on a hot day, and the Port Hills walking tracks.

The centre is relatively flat, with the Avon River / Ōtākaro winding through it beside a large urban park, and the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula close by. The city has a reputation for being English in character and is nicknamed the Garden City. If you are comparing options, our guides to what an aparthotel is and aparthotels versus hotels explain the differences.

Long-stay tips for Christchurch

Of the 12 properties here, 10 offer an in-apartment washing machine, 4 list a laptop-friendly workspace, 6 include some form of housekeeping and 2 have a 24-hour front desk. If you are staying more than a few nights, compare the facts box on each property page first.

12 properties list a full kitchen and 0 only a kitchenette, so check the room type if you plan to cook more than simple meals.

Where room sizes are published, the median apartment here is 42 m².

Moving for work? Our guide to serviced apartments for relocation explains what to look for.

Aparthotel brands in Christchurch

You will find these brands here: Quest (3).

Other cities in New Zealand

Travelling further? See aparthotels in Auckland, Queenstown, Wellington, Mount Maunganui, Paihia, Wanaka, Whitianga and Nelson.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to stay in Christchurch?

The central city is easiest for first-time visitors and has the bus interchange. Merivale and Riccarton suit calmer or longer stays, and Sumner is the seaside option.

How far is Christchurch Airport from the city centre?

Wikivoyage places the airport about 12 km north-west of the city centre, with public buses and shuttles linking it to the city.

How do I get around Christchurch without a car?

Metro buses run from the central Bus Interchange. Metrocard and cash stop being accepted from 23 November 2026, when Motu Move takes over, and the central city is flat and cycling is popular.

What is the weather like in Christchurch?

It is a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers and cool winters. Average daily highs are about 22.6 degrees Celsius in January and 10.9 degrees in July.

Can I take a scenic train from Christchurch?

Yes. The TranzAlpine runs to Greymouth and the Coastal Pacific to Picton, according to Wikivoyage.

How many aparthotels are there in Christchurch?

We currently list 12 aparthotel and serviced apartment properties in Christchurch.

Do aparthotels in Christchurch have kitchens?

12 of the 12 properties we list have a kitchen or kitchenette in at least one apartment type.

Which aparthotels in Christchurch have a washing machine?

10 properties list an in-apartment washing machine. Use the facts box on each property page to check.

Sources

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