Style: August 05, 2022
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54 <strong>Style</strong> | Travel<br />
STYLE STAYS<br />
Chateau on the Park, Christchurch<br />
From stained-glass foxes in The Den Bar and ducks in the moat to<br />
warm cookies, celebrated 70s architecture and super comfy rooms,<br />
this unique South Island institution is ready to welcome guests once again.<br />
Words Josie Steenhart<br />
THE LOCATION<br />
Right across the street from the huge and lovely Hagley Park<br />
(home to Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Canterbury<br />
Museum) and just 3km from the city centre. For those sans<br />
car or if the weather’s not up to walking, there’s a free<br />
scheduled local shuttle.<br />
THE LOWDOWN<br />
With its distinctive turrets, internal moat (you heard me),<br />
park-like setting and unique design features by pre-eminent<br />
architect Peter Beaven, Chateau on the Park has been<br />
something of a local institution since it opened its<br />
castle-esque wooden doors in 1975.<br />
In 2016, the 192-room hotel got an $8 million<br />
refurbishment and rebranded to a DoubleTree by Hilton,<br />
somewhere early in Covid-times it was converted to an<br />
MIQ facility (one of the more sought-after I would imagine),<br />
and just last month was refreshed and reopened to the<br />
general public.<br />
THE EXPERIENCE<br />
Peter Beavan passed away a decade ago in 2012, and the<br />
neo Gothic-inspired/70s-influenced hotel remains one of his<br />
last standing buildings after several were sadly destroyed in<br />
the Christchurch earthquakes, so being able to have a solid<br />
nosey around is worth the stay on its own.<br />
But turns out it’s also a highly comfy experience,<br />
with elegant rooms overlooking the garden and warm,<br />
welcoming staff. You also get a piping hot cookie on arrival,<br />
which I very much appreciated with a cup of tea on the dark<br />
and chilly winter afternoon I checked in.<br />
Garden lovers will be in heaven whether admiring the roses<br />
from the comfort of their room, taking a stroll in the sunny<br />
gardens after breakfast or checking out the impressively large<br />
weeping willow sweeping across the internal yard.<br />
There’s also a heated outdoor pool and a fitness room<br />
should either urge take you.<br />
EAT/DRINK<br />
I can’t stress enough not to miss out on having a drink at<br />
The Den Bar, not least for the amazing decor (think<br />
Art Deco meets olde English pub meets late 70s meets<br />
something pretty unique), while the Garden Court Brasserie<br />
(or GCB as it’s apparently fondly known) has been offering<br />
relaxed al fresco dining since way back (another local<br />
institution I’m told).<br />
The buffet breakfast is also highly worth a visit in the<br />
morning, with a plethora of options to suit a variety of foodie<br />
foibles and preferences.<br />
THE NITTY-GRITTY<br />
Rooms start at $170 per night. hilton.com