Drifter Christchurch

Hotels
9.1 (2827 reviews)
96 Lichfield Street , Christchurch , nz

listing image 1
Show all photos
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Clean and comfortable rooms
Great location in city center
Friendly and helpful staff
Cons:
Small kitchen area
Lack of personal space in shared rooms

Categories

Cleanliness
8.79
Generally clean as mentioned in multiple reviews, but minor complaints about shared kitchen cleanliness.
Service
9.26
Friendly and helpful staff were highlighted positively in several reviews.
Location
9.8
Ideal location in the city center, very convenient for accessing amenities.
Room Quality
9.25
Rooms are clean and comfortable, though some noted a lack of personal space in shared situations.
Amenities
8.78
Amenities are good with shared spaces, but the kitchen is considered small for the number of guests.
Value for Money
9.24
Many guests mentioned good value given the location and condition of the hostel.
Food and Beverage
8.29
Review comments indicate that food prep areas can be crowded and not fully equipped.
Overall Experience
9.36
Overall a very positive experience with great atmosphere and facilities.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 19:07

Property Description

Convenient Location
Located in the heart of Christchurch, Drifter Christchurch offers easy access to popular attractions such as Christchurch Art Gallery and Canterbury Museum.

Comfortable Accommodation
Featuring air-conditioned rooms with modern amenities, guests can relax in a shared lounge or enjoy the terrace. The 24-hour front desk ensures a seamless stay experience.

Delicious Dining Options
Guests can indulge in a delightful à la carte or American breakfast at the on-site restaurant. Free WiFi and entertainment staff add to the overall experience.

Book your stay at Drifter Christchurch now for a memorable experience in Christchurch!

Important information:

Please note that there is a 2% charge when you pay with a (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) credit card.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

9.1
Based on 2827 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.79
Service: 9.26
Location: 9.8
Room Quality: 9.25
Amenities: 8.78
Value for Money: 9.24
Food and Beverage: 8.29
Overall Experience: 9.36
D
Daniel • solo_traveller • ch
8
Cons:

Check-out did not work early in the morning :-(

2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
L
Lena • solo_traveller • de
10
Awesome
Pros:

Das Drifter ist so ziemlich das schönste Hostel, in dem ich jemals war: tolle Aufenthaltsbereiche, geräumige Küche und Essensraum, eine eigene Bibliothek zum ruhigen lesen und ein eigener Space mit yogamatten und Blöcken ausgestattet! Die Zimmer sind modern, sauber und geräumig. Besonders das Personal und deren Bemühungen möchte ich hervorheben. Es gab einen Abend ein get together mit günstigem Essen, um neue Leute kennenzulernen und vor meiner Abreise hat man mir sogar noch schnell einen Cappuccino mitgegeben, weil ich recht gestresst aus dem Aufzug kam. Die Lage ist top für die Anreise mit dem Bus und fußläufig zu Stadt. Ich wünschte ich wäre länger geblieben!

2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
R
ross • extended_group • nz
10
2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
H
Hendra • solo_traveller • sg
10
2026-08-21 • via Nuitee
H
Hendra • solo_traveller • sg
10
2026-08-21 • via Nuitee
C
CHIUNG LIN • solo_traveller • tw
10
住宿地點方便位於市中心與車站附近
2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
M
Minoru • solo_traveller • jp
7
2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
W
Wang • solo_traveller • cn
10
Wonderful and perfect, make me feel in love this city already
Pros:

This hostel is perfect! The room is big and clean. I booked an 8-female-only room, and it has two bathrooms! Amazing! The facilities are excellent, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Definitely wanna live in this place again.

Cons:

N/A

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
B
Bonnie • extended_group • us
9
2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
J
Jason • solo_traveller • pw
7
Great value, fun spot.
Pros:

I had a really nice stay at Drifter Christchurch. Excellent location, and a clean new building. Check in & the electronic key went smoothly. My private room was clean and comfortable with a good bed. I didn’t use the kitchen, activities room, etc., but they all looked clean and well maintained. Great spot from which to go out and explore Christchurch and close to bus station for next leg of my journey.

Cons:

Walls a bit thin, could hear music from event downstairs and neighbors banging around as they got ready for bed, but no too bad.

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
H
Hannah • extended_group • nz
10
We had an awesome stay at the Drifter as a group of 9. Staff were super friendly and helpful.
Pros:

Awesome facilities, great rooms, friendly people.

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
S
Siobhán • extended_group • ie
10
2026-08-16 • via Nuitee
E
Ethan • solo_traveller • nz
9
2026-08-16 • via Nuitee
E
Elizabeth • solo_traveller • nz
9
I will return
Pros:

Great facilities and standard of room. Comfortable. Clean. Could entertain family in the evening! Loved it. Lovely break from Rambler downstairs. Friendly helpful staff.

Cons:

Too many emails. Plus the kitchen, especially the sinks, were grubby due to other residents who didn't bother to clean up after themselves. I'm not sure how this can be dealt with.

2026-08-16 • via Nuitee
Y
Y • solo_traveller • nz
10
Pros:

施設もおしゃれで綺麗で快適でした！スタッフも優しく、１泊でしたがもっと滞在したかったです。

2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
J
Johana • solo_traveller • cl
9
The only than you can improve, is a fan in the toilets and rooms.
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Is comfy for a short period
The staff is nice
The installation in the shared place are very nice

2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
J
James • solo_traveller • gb
10
Super friendly and convenient
Pros:

Great common area, clean comfy rooms and friendly staff. Shout out to the guy that checked me in who was super friendly and the lovely cleaning staff who were very helpful. Booked this last minute and turned up 15 minutes later to a smooth and easy experience

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
D
Dempers • solo_traveller • gb
9
Highly recommend for a stay in Christchurch
Pros:

This has been the best hostel I have stayed , it was clean and tidy the drom rooms are good size (8 bed dorm with 2 ensuits!) Excellent location for the city centre and public transpprt. And grrat value for money.
Would recommend this to anyone who is travelling to Christchurch

2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
X
xu • solo_traveller • cn
10
Pros:

很满意 地理位置很好 房间很干净 性价比很高这次我们一家三口过来的 我孩子很喜欢这里 我是不太喜欢评论的人 但这次真的给我们感受太好了 基督城住了两晚 另一家比这家贵 但无论地理位置还是其他 我们更喜欢这里 如果有机会再来 我们还会选择这里 所以给了10分

2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
T
Tina • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

An excellent hostel in a prime location, especially if you’re arriving by intercity bus or from the main bus station. It’s incredibly convenient, with several grocery stores within walking distance and the main street just nearby.

The facilities are new, modern, and very well maintained. I was pleasantly surprised by the room size — it was much more spacious than I expected. The kitchen was also a highlight; the staff cleaned it frequently, which kept the shared space consistently fresh and tidy.

I particularly liked the phone-based key card, which was very convenient and meant one less thing to keep track of.

Another great convenience is the luggage storage after checkout. If you need to leave your bags for a few extra hours, storage is available for just $1 per hour, which is very reasonable.

Overall, a clean, modern, spacious, and incredibly convenient hostel. Highly recommended, especially for travelers arriving by bus!

Cons:

One small thing to keep in mind: the hostel is located right above The Rambler, so if there’s an event happening downstairs, you may hear some music or activity— though for me, the excellent location and overall experience more than made up for it.

2026-08-13 • via Nuitee