Cityscape reviews a few of Ōtautahi’s most unique and personality-heavy communities: Sumner, Woolston, Victoria Street and New Brighton.

Sumner

After a drive around the reopened and frankly stunning Sumner-Lyttelton Corridor we arrive in the sunny seaside suburb, where the hardcore winter surf bums rub up against the café culture of the flash hillside suburbs. Cyclists in coloured spandex whizz along Main Road from the city; skateboards, scooters and feet grace the broad beachside boulevard; and paddleboards and kayaks launch from the clock tower to explore the coast or catch waves with the surfers. The skate park on the corner of Nayland Street is a great gathering hub for the young, and just a skip away from some killer eateries. The north end of the beach is the spot for dog walkers from all over the city. Open to canines year-round, the sandy expanse next to Shag Pile is always populated with furry friends chasing driftwood and running around like mad things in the shallows, and that makes us happy.

See: The local art in LEstrange Gallery
Do: Take the little path to the top of Cave Rock for views down the beach, or get a surf lesson
Eat @: Fire and Slice, Coriander’s Sumner
Drink @: Beach Sumner, Clink, The Headless Mexican
Rating: 5 happy beach doggos out of 5

Woolston

Ah Ferry Road, the great divider – the slash separating Opawa and St Martins from Bromley and New Brighton; the conveyor that carries cars and bikes from the city centre to Ferrymead, the gateway to Mount Pleasant and Sumner. It’s a road that is somehow both straight and meandering, slowly carrying us past Christchurch eccentricities like the 24/7 Bakery, a plethora of ethnic eateries, takeaways, burger joints and one-of-a kind second-hand boutiques like the Ferry Antique Centre and Around Again Cycles. A trip to Garlands Road is where things get really interesting: The Tannery. With the distinctive brick-and-angled-roof aesthetic left over from its former life as an actual tannery, this trendy mall is home to the kinds of stores and eateries that you absolutely will not find in a chain mall. The attached pub is a post-trip hangout for Port Hills explorers, climbers, kiteboarders and the like – and out back is wicked indie live music venue Blue Smoke. A wander through the corridors and ancillary buildings will lead you to gems like eco-conscious fillery Food For Thought, Euro-inspired emporium Cosi Fan Tutte, holistic studio Grassroots Yoga & Health, legendary jeans and streetwear store EnCompass, and unbeatable fresh sushi eatery Nori Table.

See: Beer being brewed in front of your eyes while you enjoy a drop at Three Boys Brewery
Do: Bike or walk the Heathcote River Trail
Eat @: Nori Table
Drink @: The Brewery
Rating: 5 unique boutiques out of 5

Victoria Street

Even old Queen Vicky herself would stop and waggle her little finger excitedly at everything to be found on a trip down Victoria Street. It’s an oddly-angled deviation from the north-south-east-west grid of Christchurch’s central city, and at just 800 metres from start to finish and a generous splashing of watering holes along the way, it’s just the sort of street that’s begging for a pub crawl from the casino to the Carlton. Of course, being the sensible and responsible drinkers we are, we don’t condone this sort of behaviour. But we do condone dropping into some of these fantastic establishments to sample the creations of some of Christchurch’s most famous cocktail mixologists, chefs and offbeat establishments. We also spot the very cool fashion boutique Man About Town and the ever-fresh Court Florist.

See: The heritage registered Victoria Clock Tower, which stopped at 12.51pm on the day of the February 22 earthquake
Do: Stop by the Town Hall for a classical concert or contemporary gig
Eat @: King of Snake, The Dish, Spagalimis
Drink @: The Dirty Land, Boo Radley’s
Rating: 5 gourmet bar snacks out of 5

Read more of Cityscape's central city coverage here

New Brighton

We pull up to the city’s definitive coastal neighbourhood on a day when the waves are crashing and there’s a gentle breeze blowing along the beach. The sun’s out and there’s a group of people in puffer jackets and softshells gathered at the end of the pier, taking photos of the Pegasus Bay coastline and the distant Kaikōura peninsula, and gawking at the very-brave-or-very-stupid winter surfers. We opt for a stroll up the beach, followed by a two-hour soak at He Puna Taimoana for one of the best-value relaxing experiences in Christchurch (booked in advance). The New Brighton café scene offers plenty for the coffee and brunch lovers among us – Switch New Brighton is an eastern classic, and further exploration of the Brighton Mall area reveals chilled-out eateries like The Burger Joint and Level One. Returning to the waterfront area we check out the beachside playground, complete with waka and the famous whale pool, followed by an exploration of the beautiful New Brighton Library and a cocktail at Salt on the Pier.

See: The longest stretch of sand in town, from Southshore to the Waimakariri
Do: Get your best pier photos printed and framed at Frame ‘n’ Copy
Eat @: Switch New Brighton
Drink @: Beach Café and Wine Bar
Rating: 5 steaming hot salt water pools out of 5