Get outdoors: Christchurch beaches
27 November 2024
Christchurch has easy access to a very long stretch of sandy coastline.
Spend the day at Christchurch's Sumner Beach
Kite-flying, dog-walking, swimming, or snoozing in the sunshine, Christchurch’s Sumner Beach offers everything you need for a summer’s day out.
Officially the first beach of the Banks Peninsula, Sumner Beach is a 400-metre stretch of clean white sand just 20 minutes from Christchurch City that’s ideal for summer beaching.
Kids will love exploring Cave Rock, a rugged chunk of lava, known as Tuawera to Māori, which bisects the beach and makes a great spot for practising rock climbing or having non-scary cave adventures.
Scarborough, at the east end of Sumner, is a popular spot for surfers, though not so good for swimming.
Lifeguards are on duty between November and March, but be careful of strong currents from Avon Heathcote Estuary.
For a Kiwi beach, Sumner is very civilised, with its seaside promenade featuring shops, cafés and ice cream parlours.
Sumner for summer!
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