Travel and Accommodations
Hotel Give
12 Hereford Street
800m / 11min walk to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Centrally located next to the beautiful Botanic Gardens, Hotel Give provides a socially sustainable, affordable and comfortable stay.
Boasting a large range of accommodation options from self-contained apartments, and deluxe ensuite rooms to dorm rooms, comfort and affordability is guaranteed.
Facilities include a 24-hour reception, two communal, fully equipped guest kitchens, laundry facilities, lounge spaces and a fitness centre.
Six Bar & Bistro serves up a delicious array of freshly prepared food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Hotel Give is an important part of The Kind Foundations charitable success. Hotel Give is unique in that they direct profits back into programmes and services that help members of the community in need. Your decision to stay with them ultimately means they can deliver positive social outcomes for the communities of Christchurch.
Book via their website here and use the promo code ISSOTL25.
Hotel Elms
456 Papanui Road
4.5k / 10min drive to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
The hotel is set in a peaceful location amongst beautifully manicured rose gardens, fitting with its location in the “garden city” of Christchurch. This modern and stylish accommodation provides easy access to several restaurants and bars.
The rooms are spacious and contemporary and fitted with comforts including air conditioning, a minibar, a fridge and free WiFi.
The hotel offers a complimentary airport shuttle, room service, 24-hour reception and free parking.
A range of facilities are on-site including the popular Fig Restaurant and Bar which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a beer garden-style outdoor bar.
Your room rate includes a complimentary scheduled transfer to/from Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, more details will be made available closer to the time.
Book via their website here and use promo code ISSOTL25 to receive a 12% discount on the best available rate.
Select your dates, hit ‘book now’ on the room type and then enter the promo code.
Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square and Ibis Christchurch
Novotel:
52 Cathedral Square | 350m / 4min walk to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Ibis:
107 Hereford Street | 500m / 6min walk to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square positions you in the heart of the Ōtautahi Christchurch city centre. Within walking distance of Te Pae, Riverside Market & the Terrace, the prime location allows you to make your way around the city easily. In addition, the hotel is close to some of Christchurch’s best eateries, theatres and shopping destinations, and iconic attractions such as the Cathedral and the city tram. The hotel includes 154 well-appointed guest rooms with a choice of king or twin beds, complimentary internet and 24-hour reception.
Ibis Christchurch is immersed in the vibrancy of the refreshed city centre. Both the newly renovated lobby and Perch Dining + Bar showcase a variety of local artistry which highlights the rich history of the region and the vibrant street art Ōtautahi Christchurch is renowned for. The rebuilt city centre features state-of-the-art architecture and easy access to global cuisines, laneway shopping and rooftop bars, all within a few minutes’ walk of the hotel.
Book via this link to receive 10% off the best available rates.
Fable Christchurch
166 Gloucester Street
450m / 5min walk to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Located in the vibrant city centre, Fable Christchurch offers chic accommodation with city views, setting the new standard in luxury accommodation and dining. All rooms offer free WiFi, have contemporary furnishings and luxurious linen and are fitted with air conditioning, a work desk and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Serving fresh, locally sourced and undeniably delicious cuisine, the onsite restaurant boasts a tailored menu for you to enjoy in a relaxed bistro atmosphere while the Gin Bar features artisanal cocktails designed to enhance the menu offering and an extensive wine list – the perfect spot to unwind.
Click here to receive 10% off the best available rates.
Distinction Christchurch Hotel
14 Cathedral Square
300m / 5min walk to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
This luxury accommodation is perfectly positioned in the heart of the city only a few minutes’ walk from the Avon River, Botanic Gardens and Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.
Distinction Christchurch Hotel is an urban escape offering spacious, contemporary rooms outfitted with the latest technology including large, flatscreen Smart TVs. Facilities include free high-speed WiFi and complimentary access to the air-conditioned gym.
The stylish Gumption Restaurant & Bar is the perfect place to enjoy drinks and delicious cuisine with friends or colleagues and is open daily for breakfast, lunch, High Tea and dinner.
Click here to access exclusive rates for ISSOTL attendees. Promo code ISSOTL25.
Crowne Plaza Hotel Christchurch
764 Colombo Street
170m / 2min walk to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Just minutes from CBD dining, shopping and entertainment, Crowne Plaza Christchurch offers modern accommodation and dining options overlooking historic Victoria Square and the iconic Avon River. This central hotel features spacious and modern rooms, combined with the best, state of the art technology to keep you fully connected, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming high-definition televisions, bathroom speakers and controls and plenty of USB ports for your devices.
Enjoy quality, in-house dining at Market Place Restaurant and Bar and the more casual 1851 Social Bar and Lounge – perfect for connecting with colleagues and meeting clients or friends.
Book via their website here for discounted rates exclusive for ISSOTL attendees. Scroll down to select your dates and hit search (do not amend rate preference).
Breakfree on Cashel
165 Cashel Street
700m / 10min walk to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Breakfree on Cashel has a unique urban feel, modern design and a high level of integrated technology. The fun and funky rooms come in an array of formations and include unparalleled technology extras.
It’s all about the location at Breakfree on Cashel. This modern Christchurch hotel has cutting-edge facilities with an ultramodern twist and is located in the heart of the CBD. It is an easy walk to many of the City’s landmarks.
The hotel rooms are innovative, modern and stylish, with a unique urban feel throughout and offer an LCD smart TV and in-room movies, a refrigerator, individually controlled air conditioning/heating and an ensuite bathroom.
Book through this link for exclusive rates offered for ISSOTL attendees.
Haere mai! Welcome to ISSOTL25 in Aotearoa New Zealand
Aotearoa New Zealand is a country that embraces its bicultural heritage offering a unique approach to education and hospitality. You will discover diverse, cosmopolitan cities offering fine food and wine as well as vibrant art and culture. You are never far from exploring New Zealand’s stunning landscapes, from mountains to mud pools, golden beaches to glacial lakes. You can experience the adrenalin rush of New Zealand’s famed adventure activities, from bungy jumping to jet boating, mountain biking and trekking—or just soak up the view from a geothermal hot pool or rolling vineyard. You will also enjoy the manaakitanga | warm hospitality of the local people and engage with the indigenous Māori culture as part of the bicultural heritage of the nation. Aotearoa New Zealand offers unique experiences found nowhere else.
Depending on where in the world you are coming from, there are flights to New Zealand that arrive in Auckland (AKL) on the North Island or Christchurch (CHC) on the South Island. Christchurch receives direct flights from several international cities including Singapore, Guangzhou, and most Australian cities. As the gateway to the South Island, Christchurch Airport services 11 airlines, connecting to key domestic destinations and 10 international airports.
Want to experience more of Aotearoa New Zealand while you are here? Click here for some travel itinerary suggestions.
Pre- and Post-conference Tours
Delegates Discover New Zealand offer short-stay itineraries designed as a small group tour, guaranteed to depart with a minimum of 2 guests, enhancing your travel experience.
Browse destination itineraries by clicking below and book by clicking here.
Please use the Conference code CICHCISSOTL during the booking process.
Ōtautahi Christchurch
Ōtautahi Christchurch is a city of explorers, challenging the status quo, and trying new things. The city has undergone massive changes within the last decade to emerge as a vibrant urban centre, boldly exploring its status as the country’s second-largest city and premier South Island urban centre. It is known as both “New Zealand’s oldest and newest city.”
Modern architecture, public spaces, and an embrace of both the city’s Māori and settler history define this city, as has its underlying spirit of exploration. Christchurch is home to numerous new developments, event and entertainment venues, and exciting clusters of restaurants, cafés and bars. Be sure to wander the City Promenade, along the Ōtākaro Avon River, passing by The Terrace, Victoria Square, Margaret Mahy Playground, and New Regent St. Spend some time at Riverside Market, the seven-day-a-week farmers market showcasing a variety of local producers and world-class eateries.
Relax at one of the bars on The Terrace or cruise the river in a punting boat. Stroll through Hagley Park and the award-winning Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Meander around the Art Gallery to take in international and local contemporary and classic art.
Add a day for an excursion and head to the expansive Banks Peninsula, with French-settled Akaroa at its centre. Or, head inland to Hanmer Springs for relaxing hot pools and exhilarating water slides, downhill mountain biking or epic tramps. Kaikoura is within day-trip reach, boasting unrivalled kaimoana | seafood and access to abundant wildlife.
Ōtautahi Christchurch is home to two internationally recognised universities, and two polytechnics, including the largest in the South Island. Your host university is Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, a highly ranked research university guided by core values of manaakitanga | extending care and empowering others; whanaungatanga | valuing people and their differences; and tiakitanga | enhancing and nurturing our resources. The International Collaborative Writing Groups will meet on the University of Canterbury campus before the conference convening.
To find out more, check out christchurchnz.com
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
The conference will take place at the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, a state-of-the-art facility opened in December 2021 that sits in the heart of Christchurch’s city centre.
One of its most striking features is the 43,000 exterior tiles that reflect the Canterbury region’s braided rivers, a design element that extends throughout the building. It has views of the Avon River and of two of the city’s squares, making it a venue that also captures the essence of the city.
The venue meets high accessibility and sustainability standards.
Visa information
We enjoy welcoming visitors to New Zealand. To ensure you have an experience to remember, make sure you have done your homework and have everything sorted before you leave home.
Passport holders of some countries and territories do not have to apply for a visa before they travel to NZ but must hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). Click here for a list of visa waiver countries and territories. If you are not sure whether you need a NZeTA or a visa, visit the New Zealand Immigration website.
Before travelling to New Zealand, you need to make sure your passport is valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand. If you come from a country that needs a New Zealand visa to enter, please be sure to apply well in advance.
You do not need a visa to visit New Zealand if you are:
- A New Zealand or Australian citizen or resident, or
- A UK citizen and/or passport holder (you can stay up to six months), or
- A citizen of a country which has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand (you can stay up to three months). See visa waiver details below.
Non-visa Waiver Countries
If you are travelling from a non-visa waiver country you must apply for a visa. Please start this process as soon as possible. It is typical to apply for a visitor visa when attending a conference in Aotearoa New Zealand. The conference is not liable for declined visas or visas that are not processed in time so please read all of the Immigration New Zealand information carefully. Please ensure your visa application is submitted at least 6 weeks before the conference, but we recommend applying even earlier to be safe.
Details on how to request a visa invitation letter from the conference will be available in the coming months.
Visitor Levy
Some visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand have to pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) For more information, please click here.
