Dorset House Backpackers

Christchurch


Built in 1871, this tranquil wooden villa has a sunny deck, a large regal lounge with a pool table, and great kitchen facilities. Dorms feature beds instead of bunks, and private rooms are small but spotless. It’s a short stroll to Hagley Park and the Victoria St restaurant strip.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Christchurch attractions

1. Hagley Park

0.2 MILES

Wrapped around the Botanic Gardens, Hagley Park is Christchurch's biggest green space, stretching for 165 hectares. Riccarton Ave splits it in two, while…

2. Quake City

0.51 MILES

A must-visit for anyone interested in understanding the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes, this compact museum tells stories through photography, video…

3. Canterbury Museum

0.57 MILES

Yes, there's a mummy and dinosaur bones, but the highlights of this museum are more local and more recent. The Māori galleries contain some beautiful…

4. Christchurch Art Gallery

0.59 MILES

Damaged in the earthquakes, Christchurch's fantastic art gallery has reopened brighter and bolder, presenting a stimulating mix of local and international…

5. Rutherford's Den

0.6 MILES

Canterbury College's most famous alumnus was the father of nuclear physics, Lord Ernest Rutherford, the NZ physicist who first split the atom in 1917 …

6. Botanic Gardens

0.6 MILES

Strolling through these 30 blissful riverside hectares of arboreal and floral splendour is a consummate Christchurch experience. Gorgeous at any time of…

7. Arts Centre

0.62 MILES

Dating from 1877, this enclave of Gothic Revival buildings was originally Canterbury College, the forerunner of Canterbury University. The buildings are…

8. Central Art Gallery

0.62 MILES

Housed in the Arts Centre's beautifully restored 1916 Library building, the Central Art Gallery exhibits contemporary works by established and emerging NZ…