I just returned from Christchurch in October where I had a work conference at the hotel Chateau on the Park. While it's not exactly in the city center, it was just across from the Hagley Park which is about 20 min walk to the city center. The hotel was set beautifully in massive gardens and a small vineyard which made the place absolutely relaxing.

Therefore, it was very unfortunate that when I returned home, I realised I've lost the cash in my wallet. I can only blame myself for having carelessly left my wallet unattended in the room. But upon talking with a couple of other colleagues, I found that they too, had lost their personal belongings. One of them lost over $200 cash (AUD and NZD combined), and a more absurd one had his good golf shoes stolen! And btw, they didn't have a safe in the room (not that you'd think of putting shoes in the safe)!

So Chateau on the Park is a beautiful hotel and would come highly recommended but the thefts in the hotel left a really bad taste....