Please note there is a 2-day minimum stay policy in place over Christmas and New Years. Guests wishing to stay the 25th of December must also book the 24th. Guests wishing to stay the 31st of December must also book the night of the 1st January. The Dorset Apartments office is closed on 25 December. Book early for Christmas 2010 - 2011!
Yes. When you make a reservation, you will be issued with a code number. This give you access to your key regardless of your arrival time. There is a replacement charge for lost or missing keys. Full directions will be provided for key access at your apartment location when you book your stay.
We strongly suggest that you book in advance. Particularly during the summer months, apartments are often full in advance. However it is possible however that apartments may be available on short notice, including on the day of your arrival, so please do enquire and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Your apartment is your home away from home – our kitchens have everything you might need to host your friends for a fabulous dinner, or a few quiet DVDs. If your friends wish to stay overnight, please enquire as additional per-person charges apply.
Each apartment has one carpark available. All carparks are numbered - please park in your correct carpark only. Some of the carparks are in garages at the end of the Dorset Apartments City property, some are directly in front of the apartment building (off-street). Please note these are standard carparks and will not fit large size campervans or high vehicles. Please advise our staff if your vehicle is high in height, or if you are bringing a campervan and we will advise parking options.
If staying at the Dorset Apartments St Albans property, there is one garage per apartment. Please park only in the numbered garage matching the number of your apartment.
Regretfully there is no space for large campervans at Dorset Apartments City. While each apartment has a carpark, these will fit standard cars only and oversized campervans must be parked on the street. Guests may not take up more than one carpark in order to park a campervan, as this then means other guests have nowhere to park their cars.
Dorset Apartments St Albans can accommodate larger vehicles at the end of the property, or on the street in front of the building. Please park these alongside the fence opposite the garages - they won't fit inside the garages. Please do not block any other guest's parking space.
Central Christchurch is easily accessible from Christchurch International Airport. There are 24-hour shuttle services available to and from the airport. This will cost approximately $17 for one person, $21 for two, each way. Your arrival shuttle does not need to be pre-booked as there are always shuttles available outside the airport (24-hours).
We can arrange your pre-booked return shuttle for you upon request. To arrange this, we will need your flight time, date, number of people and whether the flight is international or domestic. We will leave your return shuttle travel voucher with your key to be collected upon your arrival. The cost will be charged to your credit card. Just email or phone our staff to arrange this service.
Alternatively you can catch a taxi directly from the airport for a cost of around $35-40. Please see the location section of the website for self-driving instructions.
There are both upstairs and downstairs apartments available at Dorset Apartments, (at both properties). Some of the upstairs apartments are accessed by external staircases only. Please be aware of this when placing your booking – if you require a downstairs apartment, our staff will be happy to advise you of availability. Otherwise your booking will be allocated to an available apartment by our staff.
Due to the style in which the Dorset Apartments building was built, we regret that wheelchair access is not available.
Yes, the flats can be fitted with cots and high chairs, upon request. A small rental charge applies. Please be aware that external stair access is required to reach upstairs accommodation. Families with younger children may be more suited to the ground floor apartments – please enquire when reserving your stay.
Christchurch has a wide variety of local attractions. Dorset Apartments is in the central city, and is located close to the Arts Centre, Museum, Cathedral Square, Botanic Gardens, New Regent St, central city shopping, Christchurch Tramway, Art Gallery and Victoria Square, or spend an afternoon messing about on in Avon River in a kayak or rowboat from Antigua Boatsheds.
Within wider Christchurch, you might choose to visit the Christchurch Gondola, the port and harbour of Lyttelton, Sumner or, Brighton Beaches, Wigram Airforce Museum, the Antarctic Centre or day trips further afield, such as Akaroa or Hanmer Springs.
As a guest of Dorset Apartments, the Dorset House Travel Desk is available to you for advice and reservations. Please see the What's On section for more information about current activities and festivals.
Yes, Dorset Apartments City are located within 5 minutes walk from the Town Hall and James Hay Theatre, where frequent live music, theatre, dance and show events take place. We are also close to a wide range of central city live music and entertainment venues, such as the Court Theatre, Theatre Royal, Dux de Lux, The Reperatory and others. There are also several cinemas in central Christchurch, ranging from block-buster popcorn movie theatres, to small boutique cinemas with just a few seats and regular film-festival offerings. Please see www.bethere.co.nz for further detailed listings on what's on in Christchurch when you're here.
There are several good restaurants and cafes on Colombo St, within 5 minutes walk of Dorset Apartments, and many more within 5-10 minutes walk. See the restaurant menu folder in your apartment for some great dining-out options - everything from great value family meals, to fine dining using local produce and New Zealand tastes.
The City Bus Exchange is 10 minutes walk from Dorset Apartments, with local buses heading all over the city. Buses cost $2.90 per trip, with a two-hour period in which you can make one free transfer with your ticket. You can reach every major Christchurch attraction via public transport. If you are interested in going further afield, day trips such as Akaroa, Hanmer Springs, or Kaikoura are easily organised via public bus services - just enquire at Dorset House.
There are two large (Pak n’ Save, Countdown) and one smaller supermarket (New World) in central Christchurch. They are on Moorhouse Avenue, on the southern end of the central city. This is approximately 20 minutes walk from Dorset Apartments City, 10 minutes drive from Dorset Apartments St Albans (or catch the free shopper’s shuttle service that runs all day throughout the central city).
Yes. Our reception staff at Dorset House backpackers (1 Dorset Street) can advise and book you onto all local and national activities, tours and transportation. This is a free service offered to Dorset Apartments and Dorset House guests.
Yes. Luggage storage is available at Dorset House Backpackers, 1 Dorset Street. All Dorset Apartment guests are welcome to leave excess luggage in storage here for the day while waiting for their flights. The Dorset House reception hours are 8.00am – 6.00pm and therefore any stored luggage will need to be collected before 6.00pm.
Dorset Apartments City (Peterborough St) are housed in a large 1920’s character weatherboard home. Each apartment is fitted with furniture and kitchen equipment. The building is separated into five apartments of varying sizes, each with their own door access. Some apartments are accessed by stairs. There is a shared driveway, with car parking at the back and the front of the house.
Dorset Apartments St Albans is located in an apartment block of six units. While not in a character building, the apartments are spacious and comfortable. There is a shared driveway, six garages and large open parking space at the back of the building. Some apartments are accessed by stairs. There is a shared laundry room available for guest use.
Please phone (03 366 8268) or email us at stay@dorsetapartments.co.nz and our staff will be more than happy to answer your questions.
