We were lucky to have stayed at Nelson and Therese's lovely cottage at the start and end of our trip (we enjoyed our stay, so decided to book another night for when we flew out of Christchurch).
The accomodation has all necessary facilities, (kitchen, laundry) is incredibly cosy, clean and warm and located only a 7 min drive from the airport. City centre is roughly a 10 minute drive away.
Nelson provided us with a thorough check in and advised us on where best to find the shops and restaurants.
Highly recommend, especially if you're flying in or out of Christchurch.