Rawhiti Backpackers

Christchurch & Canterbury


On a hillside on the edge of town, this former maternity hospital is now a sunny and spacious hostel with well-maintained communal areas, bright rooms with colourful bed linen, a lemon tree and three cute cats. The guests' kitchen is spacious and modern, and the hosts have plenty of ideas for exploring the region.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Christchurch & Canterbury attractions

1. Geraldine Historical Museum

0.36 MILES

Occupying the photogenic Town Board Office building (1885), this cute little museum tells the town's story with an eclectic mix of exhibits, including an…

3. Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve

0.74 MILES

On the town’s northwestern fringe, Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve is a good place for a peaceful wander. Leafy delights include lofty kahikatea (white pines…

4. St Stephen's Church

12.69 MILES

Sitting in a pretty glade right next to the general store, this gorgeous little Anglican church (1885) has a warm wooden interior and some interesting…

5. Caroline Bay Park

20.4 MILES

Fronting the town, this expansive park ranges over an Edwardian-style garden under the Bay Hill cliff, then across broad lawns to low sand dunes and the…

6. Aigantighe Art Gallery

20.45 MILES

One of the South Island’s largest public galleries, this 1908 mansion houses a notable collection of NZ and European art across various eras, alongside…

7. Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden

20.56 MILES

Rose aficionados should visit the Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden, where almost 1200 romantic blooms are set around arbours and water features. The finest…

8. Fairlie Heritage Museum

20.6 MILES

A somewhat dusty window on to rural NZ of old, this museum endears with its farm machinery, model aeroplanes, dodgy dioramas and eclectic ephemera…