The best family hotels and motels in Christchurch
Written October 2026
Christchurch calls itself the Garden City: punts on the Avon, a heritage tram, Hagley Park in the middle of town and the botanic gardens next door. It's also where most South Island road trips begin and end.
The family format in Christchurch is the New Zealand motor lodge: a unit with a kitchen, parking at the door, a laundry and often a pool. The Margaret Mahy playground is by the river and the tram loops the center, so the center is easy on foot. The airport hotels are handy before a dawn flight home.
In the center
Fable Christchurch
Gloucester Street, central
A block from Cathedral Square, with heated mineral pools. The suites have fridges, and the Margaret Mahy playground is a ten-minute walk.
- Suites
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes
ibis Christchurch
Hereford Street, central
Plain, and well placed in the middle of the rebuilt center, a few minutes from the Avon and the Riverside market.
- Pool
- No
Country Glen Lodge
Bealey Avenue, north edge of the center
Bealey Avenue borders the center, so Hagley Park is a short walk and the city a fifteen-minute one. The motel units have full kitchens, and there's a barbecue area.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes
- Laundry
- Yes
Merivale, Papanui and Riccarton
The suburbs north and west of the park, ten minutes' drive from the center, with the motels and the malls.
Camelot Motor Lodge
Merivale
A kids' playground sits right beside the swimming pool. Merivale's cafés and the park are a walk, and the center is a five-minute drive.
- Suites
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes
Quality Hotel Elms
Papanui
On Papanui Road near Northlands mall, a short drive from the park, with a guest laundry and plenty of parking for a family driving through.
- Connecting rooms
- Yes
- Suites
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Pool
- No
- Laundry
- Yes
Tasman Holiday Parks Christchurch
Papanui
Motel units and cabins sit around a jumping pillow, with a heated pool and a playground. It's ten minutes' drive to the center, and the liveliest place on this list.
- Suites
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes, heated
- Laundry
- Yes
Lorenzo Motor Lodge
Riccarton
A motor lodge on Riccarton Road, west of Hagley Park and near Westfield Riccarton and the university. Parking is at the door, and it's ten minutes' drive from both the airport and the center.
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- No
Belle Bonne Motel
Sockburn, west
A simple motel on Yaldhurst Road between Riccarton and the airport, for the night before a flight or the first night off one.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Suites
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- No
- Laundry
- Yes
Garden City Motel
Redwood, north
On Main North Road, the way out toward Kaikoura and Hanmer Springs, handy for a family heading north first thing.
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- No
By the airport
For the dawn flight or the midnight arrival.
Commodore Airport Hotel
Burnside
It's family-owned and run that way, with suites and gardens a few minutes from the terminal. There's a heated indoor pool and spa, plus a tennis court and basketball hoops.
- Suites
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes, indoor, heated
Sudima Christchurch Airport
Harewood
Across the road from the terminal, with a self-service guest laundry and a restaurant.
- Pool
- Yes
- Laundry
- Yes
Airport Gateway Hotel
Burnside
The hotel shuttle runs around the clock, for a flight that lands at one in the morning. Some units have kitchenettes.
- Suites
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes
- Laundry
- Yes
Photo credits
New Regent Street, central Christchurch: Michal Klajban (CC BY-SA 4.0) · ibis Christchurch: ProtoKiwi (CC BY 4.0) · Victoria Street at Bealey Avenue, Christchurch: Michal Klajban (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Camelot Motor Lodge: IdiotSavant (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Papanui, Christchurch: Oldevl (CC BY-SA 3.0) · The heritage tram on Worcester Street, Christchurch: Krzysztof Golik (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Riccarton Bush, Christchurch: Schwede66 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Hagley Park, Christchurch: Michal Klajban (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Punting on the Avon, Christchurch: Daderot (CC0) · Commodore Airport Hotel: Turnagra (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Christchurch Airport: CHCBOY (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Inside Christchurch Airport: Daniel Elias (CC BY-SA 4.0)