The Observatory Hotel

Christchurch, New Zealand

An elegant boutique hotel located in one of Christchurch's most treasured historic buildings.

The Observatory Hotel has pride of place in Christchurch’s Arts Centre, a stunning complex of gothic revival buildings dating from 1878. The 33 room boutique hotel shares the complex with galleries, cafes and restaurants, museums, and a weekend crafts market. Within a few blocks of the hotel you’ll find Hagley Park and the botanic gardens, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Art Gallery, Cathedral Square, The Terrace, and the Riverside Markets, making it a fantastic base from which to explore the city.

The historic nature of the building means the hotel’s 33 rooms come in varying shapes and sizes, but all enjoy modern electronics, ensuites, air conditioning, and bright and bold colour palettes. Some rooms overlook the interior quadrangle of the Arts Centre, while others face Hagley Park or the Port Hills.

The aptly named Cellar Door, also located within the Arts Centre, is the perfect place to sample a New Zealand wine flight, or branch out to cocktails, craft beers and spirits.

"Jacki worked close with us from beginning to end, was always relaxed and friendly and taking her time to understand us and what we would like and not like on our trip… and I have to say, just when I thought I couldn’t be more impressed, I was… Everything was personalized and top notch! If traveling to Australia, this team is a must!"

"we give you an A+++! .. let me be clear: if we know anyone who is planning a trip to New Zealand, we will tell them there is only one call to make: to Southern Crossings. From the selection of properties to the routing to the last-minute change for Susan’s dad’s funeral, you did an amazing job for us. We’re so glad we found you."

"We have traveled all over the world and we highly recommend Southern Crossing as your travel advisor for New Zealand. Their personal knowledge, attention to detail, and execution of our travel plans were exceptional…from selecting exceptional properties, even down to the specific suites. All drivers were very professional, as well as tour guides and heli pilots. Sarah and Gabrielle will ensure that every aspect of your trip will create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime."

"As a travel advisor dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences for my clients, I rely on trusted partners who can meet the highest standards of luxury and service. I am pleased to say that Southern Crossings has consistently exceeded my expectations in providing ultraluxe travel experiences for even my most discerning clients.

I know that I can count on them to deliver professionalism, attention to detail, and dedication to creating bespoke travel experiences. They have succeeded in crafting one-of-a-kind journeys that are tailored to each client’s unique preferences.

"We spent a glorious month in Australia to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, thanks to the impeccable planning and care of Stuart and Jacki’s team. They were able to incorporate all of our wish list destinations, no small feat in a country that size! ..From premier rooms, to chefs table seatings at restaurants, to champagne greetings and surprise turn-in treats,
we felt like we were VIPs the entire trip…It was truly a unique and unparalleled trip for us.

"My husband and I just returned from an amazing 3-week trip to New Zealand, thanks in large part to the tireless help of Sara and Sarah. They listened closely to the way we like to travel, our interests, and what we were hoping for on this special trip to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, and curated an itinerary that ended up exceeding all of our expectations. It is clear to us, as we reflect back on our trip, what a benefit it was to use a travel agency that was actually located in New Zealand. Sara and Sarah were very easy to work with, and always responsive to emails, questions, and changes. And it turns out they also keep track of how everything is going while you are on your trip, checking with drivers and accommodations to make sure everything is perfect."

"We just wanted to take a moment and say a HUGE thank you for all your advice and support as we planned our trip to AUS/NZ. For us, it was a trip of a lifetime and that would not have been possible without Southern Crossings. We were able to explore, laugh, eat yummy food, see amazing animals, kayak and meet so many nice people along the way. Our guides and drivers were excellent .. and took us off the beaten path to find truly unique experiences... We could see your local knowledge throughout the trip!!! .. it was a 11 out 10!!"

"I just wanted to let you know what an amazing time (my clients) had on their trip to Australia and New Zealand, and I wanted to thank you SO much for all of your incredible efforts to make it happen. You went above and beyond to arrange the adventure of a lifetime, and most importantly you gave Spencer the opportunity to do everything and anything that he could imagine. That is truly a gift!!"

"I have worked with several DMCs in the past and you are by far the best one I have ever worked with! ..I could write a list that would keep me here until tomorrow!
You are absolutely magnificent!"

"I just wanted to tell you that our Australia trip was probably The best trip we have Ever taken!!!!!! Not only has it been in our Bucket List forever, but because of all the planning and selected vendors you and Southern Crossing chose to make it all happen, it was incredible!!!!!! Based on all the moving parts of this trip that was almost a full month of events, there was not ONE mess up… A huge thank you for doing an Outstanding job in making everything work out, and making this trip, truly amazing and magical ..
many many many thanks!!!!!!"

"Thank you ALL for the most wonderful Australia/New Zealand adventure.
Planning a 7 week trip is daunting enough without the complications of COVID cancellations, rebookings, and closures. Yet every connection, every transportation detail, every accommodation, every meal, everything was flawless.

We can't thank Southern Crossings enough for making this trip all, and more, than we had imagined. You allowed us to see the best of your countries: the people, the beauty, the culture. Five stars, a blue ribbon, and a gold medal to everyone at Southern Crossings!"

"I had a call with (my client) last night and she was telling me all about their FABULOUS trip!! … They loved everything … I made a few notes to share with you as I always feel that compliments are very important… the same goes for constructive criticism, but they were thrilled with EVERYTHING! … Once again, I truly appreciate all your hard work and thank you for planning a trip that made my client SO HAPPY!!"

Just completed three weeks of travel in Australia and New Zealand with our 5 kids. Southern Crossing took great care of us by selecting properties that were worth visiting, finding local guides to help us see the sites, and recommending fine dining establishments that were superb. Well done. We would highly recommend their team.

If I could give Southern Crossings 10 stars I would! .. I found Southern Crossings through Town and Country Magazine and my hopes for a 5-star vacation became reality .. once we had our Zoom with Paul, we knew that we would be in good hands. .. Paul tailored EVERY SINGLE detail of what we were looking for in our trip to our needs. The itinerary was amazing, .. I expressed interest after hearing about a restaurant while in Sydney, and he helped push to get us off the extremely long waitlist. He made sure we had the BEST rooms at each hotel we stayed at .. they seriously are the best of the best.