Chateau on the Park is a DoubleTree by Hilton at 189 Deans Avenue in Riccarton, on the western side of Hagley Park about a mile from the city centre. It carries a four-star class and a guest score of 9.2 out of 10 from about a thousand reviews, which places it among the better-liked hotels in the city. The setting is the main point: Hagley Park is a two-minute walk away, Mona Vale is three minutes and the Botanic Gardens are about fifteen minutes on foot, so the hotel suits visitors who want green space and quiet rather than a position in the middle of the shopping streets. The building has a terrace and garden, a lobby with a fireplace and an outdoor pool with loungers, which gives it more of a resort feel than the central business hotels. There are thirteen listed room types, from deluxe rooms with king or twin beds to junior and one-bedroom suites, so couples, families and small groups can all find a fit.
Location and getting around
Deans Avenue runs beside Hagley Park, so a morning run or a walk to the Botanic Gardens is easy, and the Riccarton Road shops and Westfield Riccarton mall are about a fifteen-minute walk away. The central city is roughly a mile away, which means a short taxi ride, a bus or a longer walk to reach Cathedral Square and the tram.
The Christchurch Railway Station is about eight minutes by car and Christchurch International Airport about twelve, which helps on arrival and departure days. The hotel runs a free area shuttle for trips of up to two kilometres, and it offers tour and ticket assistance and on-site car rental, which suits guests planning day trips to Akaroa or Kaikōura.
The rooms and facilities
The rooms range from standard king and twin rooms to deluxe rooms, some with balconies, and several suites, including a suite that looks over Hagley Park. Free Wi-Fi is provided with speeds of more than 100 Mbps in the rooms, and there is a gym, an outdoor pool open from 9 am to 9 pm, a business centre and meeting rooms.
Dining is at the Garden Court Brasserie, which serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with al fresco seating, and the buffet breakfast is a paid extra at about 38 New Zealand dollars per person. Free self-parking and wheelchair-accessible parking are available, and the property has an elevator and an accessible path of travel.
Who it suits and what to know: it suits couples, families and travellers who prefer a calm base beside a park and are happy to take a short ride into town. Children up to 12 stay free using existing beds, rollaway beds cost about 60 dollars a night and cribs are free on request. Check-in is from 3 pm, check-out is before 11 am, pets are not allowed and the hotel accepts cards only, with no cash.
Some rates allow free cancellation, so compare options when you book. The main drawback is the distance from the central sights, so decide whether the park setting and free parking outweigh a longer trip to the tram and the Cathedral Square area.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool with loungers
- ✓Gym
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Free self-parking
- ✓Free area shuttle
- ✓Garden Court Brasserie
- ✓Terrace and garden
- ✓Accessible rooms and parking
Good questions
Where is Chateau on the Park?+
It is at 189 Deans Avenue in Riccarton, a two-minute walk from Hagley Park and about a mile from the city centre.
Does it have parking and a pool?+
Yes, free self-parking is available and there is an outdoor pool with loungers, open from 9 am to 9 pm.
Is breakfast included?+
The buffet breakfast is a paid extra, at about 38 New Zealand dollars per person, so compare rates with and without it.
