What makes it 81% Kids-Friendly: Family rooms with bunk beds sleep parents and children, free cinema room and games space onsite, elevator and communal kitchen help; Margaret Mahy Playground 760 m away for outdoor fun.
Cathedral Square: 390m (5 min walk)
Historic city centre plaza with views of ChristChurch Cathedral.
Tip: Join a free walking tour from the i-SITE visitor centre nearby.
Riverside Market: 410m (5 min walk)
Indoor food hall featuring local vendors and street food.
Tip: Try a gourmet pie from Halal Guys or a craft coffee at Unknown Chapter.
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū: 760m (10 min walk)
Contemporary art museum with free admission to permanent collections.
Tip: Visit on Thursday evenings for free after-hours gallery talks.
Christchurch Botanic Gardens: 1.3 km (16 min walk)
21 hectares of themed gardens and riverbank paths.
Tip: Rent a punt at Antigua Boat Sheds for a guided ride on the Avon River.
Free Wi-Fi:
Complimentary wireless internet access throughout all public areas.
Shared Kitchen:
Full communal kitchen for guest use free of charge.
Cinema Room:
Daily film screenings in the on-site cinema room.
Yoga and Mindfulness Classes:
Complimentary scheduled sessions in the wellness studio.
Library:
Access to books and magazines in the quiet lounge.
24-Hour Fitness Centre:
Open day and night free to guests.
Rambler Restaurant & Bar:
On-site dining and bar with local menu; pay for food and drinks.
Vending Machines:
Snacks and drinks available 24/7 for purchase.
The main entrance is step-free and an elevator serves all floors.

Mackenzie R
The drifter has a great atmosphere and it made to make you feel good in a very cool spot. However, as a hotel, the passkey can be difficult to use, the shower and washing facilities is old fashioned; the air conditioner temperature is not changeable; the WiFi is slow sometimes. Overall, I would live there but not recommend the price as a hotel.
Remi Battaille
Lack of fysical key leave you stressed as you need a charged phone to just enter the building/roos. Very clean and good looking place. All services properly available (smaller kitchen but ok). Because of more "fancy" atmosphere, social environment changes totally in a negative way in my opinion. Not a hostel vibe unfortunately because of that.
Gillian Fernandes
Best hostel I’ve ever stayed at by far, worldwide! The beds are super comfy and there’s ample storage for your bags under the bed. The bathrooms are always clean with shampoo, body wash and conditioner. All the staff are super friendly and they have loads of social areas. Kitchen isn’t the biggest but they have a cinema room, library and free pool which I haven’t seen any hostel have! I felt super...
April Eden
This place is a proper buzz. I arrived and there was a fun party happening. The room was super clean and seemed really cosy and well cared for. Tuarae working the front desk made my stay so amazing. He was so kind and warm. He went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable and make my stay so great. Proper cool guy I am really impressed with his level of care and kindness. Would highly recomme...
Raihah Roslan
We stayed one night at Drifter and were pleasantly surprised by how modern, comfortable and well-designed the entire place was. We booked through Agoda for NZD $142 and it truly exceeded our expectations in every way. From check-in to check-out, everything was seamless and convenient — the hotel uses a smart app-based system to unlock doors at the lift lobby and inside the rooms, which made the wh...
Address: 96 Lichfield Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
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Take a taxi or rideshare from Christchurch International Airport (11.1 km, ~23-min drive) to 96 Lichfield Street.
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