Here at Dorset House we believe that staying connected while you travel is vital to most of our guests. We are pleased to offer free WiFi internet access to all guests, (or very cheap cable internet if you want to use our convenient desktop computers instead of your laptop). Just ask reception for an access voucher when you check-in (or we'll leave one for you if you are planning to arrive after hours).
When you're in a new country, the last thing you want to do is waste much time on 'where', 'how' and 'what' - where to go, how to get there, and what to do once you're there. Dorset House Backpackers offers a full travel desk and can help you with valuable information on tourist attractions, locations, transport and bookings. We can book your rental car, campervan or even suggest that out of the way gem that most travellers don't get to. Our staff are locals, and they know their stuff - ask your questions at reception for plenty of useful advice about making the most of your New Zealand vacation, and we will do the work for you.
Pick up your free Christchurch city map from reception when you arrive. Our staff will point out local attractions and help you find your way around. Activities available in the Christchurch area range from trips up the Christchurch Gondola, an 'old-time' experience on the restored Tramway, visits to busy weekend markets, museums and art galleries, skiing/snowboarding at Mount Hutt or Porter Heights, white water rafting down the Rangitata River, sky diving and paragliding, hot air balloon flights over Canterbury, horse trekking around Banks Peninsula, cultural evenings (complete with 'hangi' meal) at Tamaki Heritage Village, and many more!
Dorset House has six off street car parks located at the back of the building. These car parks are available on a "first come first served" basis. On street parking on Dorset Street is directly outside the hostel is restricted to 2 hours, however, on street parking on Dorset Street on the opposite side of the street to the hostel is unlimited.
Cable television enables you to catch up on global news by providing reports from both BBC and NBC. There are also various other entertainment channels such as Discovery, National Geographic and sports channels. You definitely will not be bored with the selection on offer.
There is a large screen TV in the backpacker lounge, with comfortable couches creating a very cosy TV viewing area. The TV has both a DVD player and Cable television.
If there happens to be a wet day or you have spent enough time walking around the tourist sights, why not relax at the hostel and watch a DVD? DVD’s are available for borrowing free of charge from reception. A great selection of movies are at your disposal including: “Dazed and Confused”, “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”, “Lord of the Rings”, "Ray", and “Finding Neverland” amongst others - or take some time out and watch the famous Kiwi classics "Once Were Warriors", "Smash Palace" or "Whale Rider". The DVD player is situated in the lounge with a wide screen TV and comfy couches for great movie watching!
Dorset House Backpackers Hostel has recently completed building a Lock-Up/Drying Room. If you are travelling New Zealand with your bike, skis or snowboard we now have the facilities to keep all your property safely stored in our secure Lock-Up Room. This is a free-of-charge service.
If you intend to take a trip for a few days and wish to leave behind some items that you may have no need for, you may store your luggage at Dorset House as long as you have booked to stay here on your return.
On your day of departure from Dorset House you are welcome to store your luggage with us during the day, while you explore Christchurch, and collect it later the same day (before 6pm) to meet your onward travel arrangements.
Dorset House will receive freight on your behalf and store until your arrival. Any packaging will have to be disposed of by you.
In total there are five full bathrooms (toilet and shower combined), three individual showers and two individual toilets at Dorset House. All of these are situated throughtout the house in close proximity to all rooms for your convenience. Hand towels and bath mats are provided, as is hand soap and toilet paper. The cleaning of these facilities is completed on a daily basis including changing the hand towels and bathmats. Towels and bathrobes are available for hire at reception.
The lounge otherwise known as the ‘Old Chapel’, is a large room with plenty of comfortable couches and is a great space for relaxing and socialing. Facilities included a pool table, various board games and jigsaws, internet, TV, DVD player (a selection of DVD’s are available for hire from reception), Cable TV, a variety of books for exchange and a stereo.
The kitchen at Dorset House is spacious and sunny. Facilities include: two large dining tables, four separate cooking units, one large oven, two small ovens, two microwaves, three fridges and plenty of food storage. There is always plenty of room available even when the house is full. All cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery are provided as well as free tea, coffee and sugar. The kitchen is cleaned and tea towels and dish cloths are changed on a daily basis. Adjacent the kitchen is a large balcony with plenty of seating and tables available. This is a great place to enjoy a relaxing breakfast and catch the warmth of the morning sun.
Dorset House offers you beautiful surroundings with a garden full of vibrant colours. Our gardener Helen makes the most of seasonal planting, and maintains a 100% organic garden. You can enjoy the evening relaxing at one of the many tables and chairs scattered around the garden. Or make the most of good weather in the peaceful, sheltered environment. The balcony upstairs catches the morning sun and allows you to sit back and enjoy city views over coffee and buttery toast.
Tired of lugging around books you have already devoured? In the Dorset House guest lounge there is a book case full of books, where you can offload your books and choose something else to nose through. Our book exchange is well stocked - swap those familiar books for something new and exciting!
The notice board located in the reception area is used mainly for messages from the hostel to guests including phone messages, lost property, local events and any other important issues.
The notice board located in the lounge is mainly for guest to guest communication. If you wish to buy or sell a car or would like to find a travel companion, then this notice board is the one for you. It’s free and anyone can display their adverts.
The pool table is available in the guest lounge free of charge and is a great way to have fun, meet other travellers, chat and share stories of your adventures. Grab a couple of drinks and set up a championship!
The lounge and kitchen both have a stereo for your use, whether you are cooking, having some drinks or shooting some pool, music is always a great companion. Both stereos in the lounge and kitchen have a CD player, tape deck and AM and FM radio.
You may use Dorset House as a temporary address and we will forward any mail for you to a specific address here in New Zealand or abroad. If there is a cost involved you will be notified and your credit card will be charged accordingly. We hold mail items for guests for a maximum of 1 month, after this time items will be returned to sender.
You will find the board games stacked in the lounge and there are plenty to choose from including sets of cards. Most of the games are group activities: Upwords, Backgammon, Scrabble and Yahtzee, and are all a great way for you to get to meet new people.
Writing letters and postcards is a great way of keeping friends and family up to date while travelling. The post box is located in reception and is cleared daily. You can also purchase stamps, postcards and envelopes from the shop if required.
If you expect to arrive at Dorset House after our reception has closed we can arrange an after hours check in for you. You will receive the door access code prior to your arrival. When you arrive, you will find an envelope with your room key and instructions to your room left on the reception counter for you.
The Lounge is heated by gas. All bedrooms are heated by electric heaters in winter and for those chilly nights hot water bottles, extra blankets and duvets are available from reception.
For more than 30 nights each winter, Christchurch sits under a blanket of smog. It creates major difficulties for thousands of people with respiratory problems and ruins the image of our clean, green city. The source of the problem isn't heavy industry or rush-hour traffic, eighty percent of the polluted air we breathe is estimated to come from solid fuel burning (log burners) for home heating. At Dorset House we want to protect our environment for the generations that follow us and help our neighbours. Consequently we do not light the log burners that have been installed at Dorset House in years gone by, and we encourage other accommodation suppliers to follow our lead.
