This is possibly my favorite hotel. If you put eco-lodges and that sort of thing in another category, this might take the top spot. Definitely a top five.
The Observatory in Christchurch is modeled after Oxford. The whole city of Christchurch is named after a school in Oxford, so there’s a lot of school spirit going over there.
The location is about as good as it gets. It’s directly across the street from the city park and botanical garden, which is an excellent spot to spend hours outside. Walk ten minutes in the other direction and you’re at the river, right at the heart of the city, surrounded by all the good food.
The hotel only takes up the corner buildings of this section. The rest of the complex includes a wine bar, a pub, a paint-and-sip type place, a dance studio, and a full on cinema. You could spend a whole day just enjoying the site.
And inside the hotel, there’s a perfectly cozy drawing room where it feels like you’re supposed to do nothing but sip coffee and read.