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Rutherford Hotel Nelson

4.0 star property
Travelers refresh in the sauna before planning their day over breakfast at Oceano seafood restaurant, just steps from the historic Christ Church Cathedral

Choose dates to view prices

Overlooking the Nelson Provincial Museum, Rutherford Hotel Nelson offers an eco-friendly retreat with a coffee shop, dry cleaning services, and a bar. Unwind in the sauna or take advantage of free WiFi and explore nearby Christ Church Cathedral. Guests rave about the helpful staff.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Gym
  • Breakfast available
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About this property

Rutherford Hotel Nelson

  • Upscale hotel near Christ Church Cathedral
  • Located close to Nelson Provincial Museum and Nelson Market, Rutherford Hotel Nelson provides a coffee shop/cafe, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a bar. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna. The on-site seafood restaurant, Oceano, offers breakfast and dinner. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a 24-hour business center.
  • You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
    • A seasonal outdoor pool along with sun loungers and pool umbrellas
    • Full breakfast (surcharge), bike rentals, and valet parking (surcharge)
    • An electric car charging station, tour/ticket assistance, and a 24-hour front desk
    • A water dispenser, meeting rooms, and a front-desk safe
    • Guest reviews give top marks for the helpful staff
  • Room features
  • All 113 rooms include comforts such as 24-hour room service and pillow menus, in addition to perks like laptop-friendly workspaces and air conditioning.
  • Extra amenities include:
    • Childcare services and free infant beds
    • Free toiletries and hair dryers
    • 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels
    • Recycling, electric kettles, and heating

Awards and affiliations

  • Eco-Certified Property
  • This property participates in Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Award, a program that measures the property's impact on one or more of the following: environment, community, cultural-heritage, the local economy.

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Renovations and closures

The following facilities will be closed during October, May, June, July, August, and September:
  • Swimming pool

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
1 child, up to the age of 13 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Free cribs are available on request at the property

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately NZD 34.50 for adults and NZD 17.50 for children
  • Uncovered self parking fee: NZD 10.00 per night
  • Uncovered valet parking fee: NZD 10 per night (in/out privileges)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

The seasonal pool will be open from October 01 to March 31
Pool access available from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Parking height restrictions apply

National rating

Rating provided by Qualmark®, source of official star ratings for accommodation in New Zealand.

Frequently asked questions

Does Rutherford Hotel Nelson have a pool?

Yes, this property has a seasonal outdoor pool. Pool access is from 6:00 AM–9:30 PM.

How much does it cost to stay at Rutherford Hotel Nelson?

As of May 20, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Rutherford Hotel Nelson on May 22, 2026 start from $129, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Rutherford Hotel Nelson pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is available for NZD 10.00 per night. Valet parking is available for NZD 10 per night.

What time is check-in at Rutherford Hotel Nelson?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Rutherford Hotel Nelson?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Rutherford Hotel Nelson located?

Located in Nelson City Centre, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Christ Church Cathedral and Nelson Provincial Museum. Nelson Market and Trafalgar Park are also within 15 minutes.

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

9.2

Cleanliness

9.0

Location

9.0

Staff & service

8.4

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 332 out of 633 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 229 out of 633 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 60 out of 633 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 633 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 633 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Neil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Spotless rooms quietness and friendly helpful staff
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dawn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very professional staff. Beautiful hotel. Nice breakfast buffet. They stored our suitcases free of charge for four days while we tramped the trails. Would definitely go back!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dianna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
nice room
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jason

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Comfortable bed / good service
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Mr T

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Staff were very helpful and friendly. Nice big room. Great to have a bath and shower. Good for restaurants, cathedral and central Nelson, thsnkyou
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Jamie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great stay and very central to everything walking distance
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Graeme

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room was large, clean and comfortable. Great view and was quiet. Air con worked great, but also could open windows if needed. Lovely pool area for an inner city hotel. Also great location as close to everything
Looking towards water
Looking toward cathedral
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Louisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A lovely hotel and the staff were helpful and friendly. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jason

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Friendly team easy location
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Was Easey to walk to town and dining options close nice place to stay
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kousik

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent hotel, courteous staff and close to everything.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and comfortable stay
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debbie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location and comfy room
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cyrus

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay, good gym and sauna and a beautiful building. Great coffee in cafe downstairs would definitely stay here again
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Corralie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location & nice & quiet
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Gemma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Hotel is in a great location for exploring Nelson, we parked on the street outside the hotel which was free and was always able to find a space Rooms are quite dated but were clean and comfortable and a good size. We were really disappointed to find the pool closed for maintenance whilst we stayed as this was one of the reasons we chose the hotel. The coffee shop in the hotel was disappointing but there are lots of better options within walking distance.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very pleasant and comfortable stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Annaliese

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great room, bed and pillows very comfy, lovely foyer, great location, walkable to shops and eateries, friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Heather

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Well located, very easy walk to many restaurants and shops.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good location and comfortable room

Great location and friendly staff. The room was very comfortable and had good facilities.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debbie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A very central Hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Philip

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A nice hotel with staff who worked to make our needs were met. Rooms were clean and comfortable. Easy on-site parking.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Teresa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice rooms and staff
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

BONGAI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great stay. Highly recommend it for anyone staying in Nelson. One of thr better gym facilities that you will find at a hotel. An old lady that has continued to upgrade and move with the times. Will definitely be back
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Jason

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Easy location

Easy , food and parking on location
Stayed 1 night in May 2025