Travelers refresh in the sauna before planning their day over breakfast at Oceano seafood restaurant, just steps from the historic Christ Church Cathedral
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.
Located in Nelson City Centre, a neighbourhood in Nelson, Rutherford Hotel Nelson is in a shopping district and near a boardwalk. Nelson Market and Richmond Mall are worth visiting if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Nelson Provincial Museum and Tahunanui Beach Reserve. Looking to enjoy an event or a match while in town? See what's going on at Trafalgar Park. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails nearby. Visit our Nelson travel guide
Trafalgar Square, Nelson, 7010
What's nearby
Christ Church Cathedral
2 min walk - 0.2 km
Nelson Provincial Museum
3 min walk - 0.3 km
Nelson Market
5 min walk - 0.5 km
Queens Gardens
10 min walk - 0.9 km
Trafalgar Park
13 min walk - 1.2 km
Getting around
Nelson (NSN)
12 min drive
Restaurants
Tern Coffee House
3 min walk
Coupland's Bakeries
6 min walk
Hawker House
3 min walk
ChokDee
4 min walk
Pita Pit Nelson
4 min walk
About this property
Rutherford Hotel Nelson
Upscale hotel near Tahunanui Beach Reserve
Located close to Christ Church Cathedral and Nelson Provincial Museum, 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 centre.
You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
A seasonal outdoor pool, along with sunloungers and pool umbrellas
Full breakfast (surcharge), bike hire and valet parking (surcharge)
An electric car charging station, a computer station and bike tour information
Tour/ticket information, a gift shop and meeting rooms
Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff
Room features
All 113 rooms include comforts, such as 24-hour room service and pillow menus, in addition to perks, such as laptop-friendly workspaces and air conditioning.
More amenities include:
Childcare services and free infant beds
Free toiletries and hairdryers
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.
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi and wired internet
Parking and transport
Electric car charging station on site
Height restrictions apply for on-site parking
Secured, uncovered parking on site (NZD 10 per night)
Secured, uncovered valet parking on site (NZD 10 per night; includes in/out privileges)
RV/bus/lorry parking (surcharge) on site
Limited on-site valet and self parking
Wheelchair-accessible parking available
Food and drink
Full breakfast available for a fee 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM on weekdays and 5:00 AM to 10:30 AM on weekends; NZD 34.50 for adults and NZD 17.50 for children
A bar/lounge
A coffee shop/cafe
A restaurant
Restaurants on site
Atom Cafe
Oceano
Port O' Call
Things to do
Bicycle rentals
Bicycle tours
Gym
Sauna
Seasonal outdoor pool
Family friendly
Fenced pool
In-room babysitting
In-room cot
Laundry facilities
Seasonal outdoor pool
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Gift shop/newsstand
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Safe at front desk
Water dispenser
Guest services
Concierge services
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Housekeeping (daily)
Multilingual staff
Tour and ticket assistance
Wedding services
Business services
24-hour business centre
6 meeting rooms
Computer station
Conference centre (6,297 square foot of space)
Outdoors
In a nature reserve
Pool loungers
Pool umbrellas
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
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
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 cots are available on request at the property
Payment types at the property
Important information
Optional extras
Fee for full breakfast: from approximately NZD 34.50 for adults and from NZD 17.50 for children
Uncovered self-parking fee: NZD 10.00 per night
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-authorise 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 01 October to 31 March
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.
Property is also known as
Rutherford Hotel Heritage Hotel
Rutherford Hotel Nelson Heritage Hotel
Rutherford Nelson
Rutherford Nelson Heritage
Rutherford Hotel Nelson
Rutherford Hotel
Nelson Rutherford Hotel
Rutherford Hotel Nelson Hotel
Rutherford Hotel Nelson Nelson
Rutherford Hotel Nelson Hotel Nelson
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 to 9:30 PM.
How much does it cost to stay at Rutherford Hotel Nelson?
As of 7 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Rutherford Hotel Nelson on 1 Apr 2026 start from RM484, excluding 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 at Rutherford Hotel Nelson?
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?
Checkout 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 selected 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
Rutherford Hotel Nelson Reviews
8.8
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
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
Did not have breakfast
Clean room
Staff lovely
Air conditioning good
TV terrible could not get most of the channels
When phoned downstairs they said they thought they were upgrading some of the TV - not at all helpful.
This was a great place to stay for Christmas. The Christmas dinner buffet was a great experience since we were from out of town. The staff were great and kind.
Andrea
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
10/10 Excellent
Debbie
1 Feb 2024
Fantastic location, so close to town. The place was clean and tidy and room was a great size, we would definitely stay here again