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Rutherford Hotel Nelson

4.0 star property

Photo gallery for Rutherford Hotel Nelson

Reception
Seasonal outdoor pool, open 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM, pool umbrellas
Exterior
Premium Triple Room, Multiple Beds | Living area
Terrace/patio

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Bar
  • Gym
  • Breakfast available
  • Room service

Explore the area

Map
Trafalgar Square, Nelson, 7010
  • Christ Church Cathedral
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Trafalgar Park
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Nelson Hospital
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Nelson (NSN)
    ‪12 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Premium Triple Room, Multiple Beds

Premium Triple Room, Multiple Beds | Bathroom

Premium Triple Room, Multiple Beds

  • 43 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Premium Quadruple Room, Multiple Beds

Premium Quadruple Room, Multiple Beds

Premium Quadruple Room, Multiple Beds

  • 37 sq m
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed and 3 Twin Beds

View all photos for Premium Double or Twin Room, Multiple Beds

Minibar, laptop workspace, iron/ironing board, free cots/infant beds

Premium Double or Twin Room, Multiple Beds

  • 27 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Premium Double Room, 1 King Bed

Premium Double Room, 1 King Bed

Premium Double Room, 1 King Bed

  • 27 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Premium Double or Twin Room, Multiple Beds, Accessible

Premium Double or Twin Room, Multiple Beds, Accessible

Premium Double or Twin Room, Multiple Beds, Accessible

  • 27 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Executive Apartment, Multiple Beds

Executive Apartment, Multiple Beds | Private kitchen

Executive Apartment, Multiple Beds

  • 115 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Deluxe Suite, 1 King Bed

Deluxe Suite, 1 King Bed | Living area

Deluxe Suite, 1 King Bed

  • 57 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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About the area

Nelson

Rutherford Hotel Nelson is in the heart of Nelson, within a 5-minute walk of Christ Church Cathedral and Nelson Provincial Museum. .This eco-certified hotel is 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Nelson Market and 0.8 mi (1.4 km) from Trafalgar Park.

What's nearby

  • Christ Church Cathedral - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Nelson Provincial Museum - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Nelson Market - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Trafalgar Park - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Nelson Hospital - 3 min drive - 1.7 km

Getting around

  • Nelson (NSN) - 12 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Coupland's Bakeries - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Tasty Tucker Bakery - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Penguino Ice Cream Cafe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Subway - ‬7 min walk

About this property

Rutherford Hotel Nelson

Eco-certified hotel with a fitness center and a sauna
Rutherford Hotel Nelson offers 113 accommodations with minibars and coffee/tea makers. A pillow menu is available. 42-inch flat-screen televisions come with cable channels. Bathrooms include bathrobes, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wired and wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include phones along with free local calls (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is provided daily.

Recreational amenities at the hotel include a sauna, a fitness center, and a seasonal outdoor pool.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Make yourself at home in one of the 113 guestrooms featuring minibars and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include coffee/tea makers and irons/ironing boards, as well as phones with free local calls.
Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities, including a sauna, a fitness center, and a seasonal outdoor pool. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access, concierge services, and gift shops/newsstands.
Grab dinner at Oceano, a restaurant that specializes in seafood. Dining is also available at the coffee shop/cafe, and 24-hour room service is provided. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Full breakfasts are served on weekdays from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM and on weekends from 5:00 AM to 10:30 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include complimentary wired internet access, a 24-hour business center, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Planning an event in Nelson? This hotel has 6297 square feet (585 square meters) of space consisting of a conference center and 6 meeting rooms. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
Full breakfasts are available for a surcharge on weekdays between 5:00 AM and 10:00 AM and on weekends between 5:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
Oceano - This restaurant specializes in seafood and serves breakfast and dinner.
Atom Cafe - This café serves breakfast and lunch. Open select days.
Port O' Call - This bar serves dinner and light fare. Open daily.
24-hour room service is available.

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.

Languages

Afrikaans, Dutch, English, Filipino, French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

  • 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
  • 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 tours
  • Gym
  • Sauna
  • Seasonal outdoor pool

Family friendly

  • Fenced pool
  • Free cot
  • In-room babysitting
  • 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.
  • 3 accessible parking spaces
  • Handrails in stairways (90 centimetre high)
  • Lift (100 centimetre wide door)
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible bathroom vanity (70 centimetre high)
  • Wheelchair-accessible business centre
  • Wheelchair-accessible concierge desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible gym
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to lift
  • Wheelchair-accessible public bathroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk (100 centimetre high)
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Free cot
  • Pillow menu

Bathroom

  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 42-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Meal delivery service
  • Minibar
  • Restaurant dining guides

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Free local calls
  • Heating (climate-controlled)
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop workspace
  • Phone
  • Recycling

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
At check-in, guests must provide a record of full COVID-19 vaccination

Renovations and closures

The following facilities will be closed during October, May, June, July, August, and September:
  • Swimming pool
The property will be renovating from June 10 2024 to December 31 2025 (completion date subject to change). The following areas are affected:
  • Dining venue(s)
  • Exterior
  • Fitness facilities
  • Front desk
  • Guestrooms
  • Lobby
  • Meeting facilities
  • Parking area
Renovation work will only be conducted during business hours on weekdays. Every effort will be made to minimize noise and disturbance.

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

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

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.

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

Rutherford Hotel Nelson Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 281 out of 552 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 208 out of 552 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 53 out of 552 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 552 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 552 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Troy

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great central place to stay in Nelson. Quality facilities.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Rose

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Great location for hotel in Nelson town. Hotel rooms are dated for the price.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Brian

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
All good except for the air conditioner which was hard to get right
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Did the job, lovely room, comfortable bed, and nice people work here
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Mark

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Ok
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

R

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Overall very good. Great location. Spacious room and generally in good condition. Only negative is shower over bath is cumbersome and dangerous. property is described on Hotels,com as having free parking. That is incorrect. There is no dedicated free parking. It is on the street and is taken early morning by businesses opposite the hotel in same street.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Glenda

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great windows and views. Easy walking to shops restuaents and gardens. Not far from the beach. I thought parking should be included.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gurpreet

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marisol, Gilbert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I love
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Once a grand hotel
This hotel is over 50 years old. When it was first built, it was probably the finest hotel in Nelson. Now it is showing its age. The location is convenient. My room was comfortable. It can use a modernisation.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean, spacious room. Beside church/park with mature gardens and trees. Easy walking to restaurants and shops. A landmark in Nelson that is clearly visible from a long distance.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Belinda

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Aimee

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We enjoyed an excellent experience of the room, staff and facilities during our stay at the Rutherford.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

Damian

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Maggi

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Good distance to town. Polite and friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Wai Hung

All good
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

David

Travelled with family
Apart from poor breakfast offering, the Rutherford is an excellent place to stay in central Nelson.
Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Tom

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The toilet wouldn't flush for us. The extraction in the bathroom didn't work.The guy from reception showed us how to activate the flusher by kicking the button, then gave us another room because of the extraction issue. The extraction in the new room didn't work either but we were fed up with complaining by then so we just put up with it.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

chun

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Te Whata

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Rutherford is consistently good. I've stayed at some of the motel properties around Nelson and they've been hit and miss. I will always stay at the Rutherford going forward as I don't have to worry about how the stay is going to go - I know it will be good.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Amani, Auckland

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Old hotel but tidy. Mix of staff mostly good but let down by a few.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

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

10/10 Excellent

Edward, Auckland

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel amenities were spot on just checkin took a bit longer than necessary with only 3 people there
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Hotel is dated
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024