Aranui is a residential area between Wainoni and what used to be Bexley. It’s a staple suburb of eastern Christchurch, just a hop from New Brighton beach and a skip from the Avon Heathcote Estuary. There’s a whole lot of green space at hand, courtesy of Bexley Park and the Bexley red zone. There are some hidden gems here in the delicious takeaways stakes too, which you’d do well to be in the know about. You’ll often find the legendary C&C fried chicken and cornbread food truck parked up at a petrol station on Pages Road, with queues so long you know it’s gotta be good. And a humble fish ‘n’ chip shop and Chinese restaurant on Bower Avenue serves some truly excellent plain noodles. Activities nearby include golfing at Avondale Golf Club; blokarting and drift karting at Bexley Reserve; and all kinds of kit surfing, windsurfing and sailing on the estuary.

Bordered by the Ōtākaro Avon River on its north and west sides, this suburb was one of those hit hard by the 2011 earthquakes. Much of the residential area was redzoned and reincarnated as green space, which makes this a great area for a wide variety of outdoor activities. Dog walkers – and dogs, for that matter – will be in absolute heaven with a huge park-like area to run around in, and very few surrounding roads making it feel nice and safe. There’s also the Avondale Golf Club in the heart of the suburb, and for the less traditional option, a Frisbee golf course just over the river in neighbouring Burwood. This is a popular spot for water-faring craft: several rowing clubs are based just downriver at Kerrs Reach, which also makes it a great place to watch the action. Chisnallwood Intermediate is in Avondale, and other nearby schools include Aranui High School, Aranui Primary School, and Banks Avenue School.

This eastern suburb is bordered by the Ōtākaro Avon River and New Brighton to the east and Aranui to the west. It’s best known for its wetlands and green space; almost 90% of homes here were rendered uninhabitable after the earthquakes and subsequently demolished. What remains is a ton of wide-open recreational space perfect for letting dogs and kids run free, or just being alone with your thoughts. It’s removed enough from traffic and high-density areas that it’s very easy to find peace and quiet here. The houses that managed to stick around are mostly bungalows built post-1960, with enough backyard-by-proxy to give that massive lifestyle block feeling.

Stretching from Linwood Avenue to Breezes Road, Bromley covers a large area next door to the Avon-Heathcote Estuary. State Highway 74 is a main arterial running through this suburb, connecting Lyttelton to New Brighton, Burwood and all the way out to Belfast. Despite the visually appealing but olfactorily unappealing sewage treatment ponds, Bromley has a few assets worth travelling for, such as a LollyShop outlet and MoveX, an indoor trampoline and ice skating facility. There are several parks on the west side near Bromley School, and multiple sports and recreation facilities sit just on the suburb’s borders, including Cowles Stadium and the recently completed Te Pou Toetoe Linwood Pool.

Looking over Sumner Beach in the Port Hills, Clifton residents enjoy all of the benefits of hillside living on this side of town: sweeping views over the city, ocean and mountains, proximity to the beach, and tons of walking tracks at your doorstep.

If you’re a cyclist living in Clifton, you’ll no doubt have thighs of steel just from riding back and forth from your front door. The beautiful and moderately challenging Eastenders Track is a popular local hike, and Brownlee Reserve in the middle of the suburb has lovely views and some awesome playground equipment, including a tunnel slide, flying fox and rope swings. The suburb is perfectly placed for making the most of the Port Hills, with the extensive Greenwood Park and its grade 3 mountain biking tracks a little further up, and all the fabulous dining, cafés and shopping down the hill in Sumner.

Ferrymead is a small estuary-side area of east Christchurch, with only a few houses and multiple attractions within its borders. It sits snugly between industrial Woolston and hillside Mt Pleasant, reaping the benefits of proximity to The Tannery, the beach, and the semi-rural charms of Heathcote Valley.

Ferrymead Heritage Park is one of the biggest drawcards of this area. It’s a celebration of Christchurch’s early pioneers who transported their goods over from Lyttelton to Heathcote, and the first railway line in New Zealand, which opened in Ferrymead in 1863. These days, Ferrymead Heritage Park features a replica 1900s township and a vintage railway inspired by the original; an ideal weekend destination no matter who you are. There’s also a golf course and paintball right next door, and you’re a canter away from the Heathcote Valley Riding School. Several lovely walks start in Ferrymead, including Te Ara Ihutai Christchurch Coastal Pathway, weaving a scenic line around the estuary, Moncks Bay, and into Sumner.

This area has become a bit of a hub for small, boutique businesses, from gorgeous floral arrangements to health and wellbeing, bakeries, gifts, and clothing. You’ll find big stores like Mitre 10 and Countdown in the main shopping complex, as well as a handful of takeaway food outlets, and one of Christchurch’s long-standing cheap secondhand clothing stores is just across the road.

Linwood is a sprawling suburb, stretching its fingers from the edge of the central city at Fitzgerald Avenue to the border of Bromley heading east. It’s an eclectic area, with some beautiful old villas a common sight between Fitzgerald and Linwood Aves, and simpler bungalows with big back yards (and sometimes front yards) taking over as you head away from the city. The western side is easy walking distance to the central city, perfect for a night out where no one has to be designated driver.

It’s close to the riverside tranquillity of the Avon Loop area and its small cluster of cafés and shops, and if you’re riding your bike around the Linwood streets, you might encounter an iconic café in a historic villa hiding on an unassuming suburban street. Eastgate Mall is the retail destination of this area, home to several major national stores, as well as fast food establishments and a supermarket.

If you’re in the Eastgate area, you’re a stone’s throw away from Linwood’s newest asset. Te Pou Toetoe: Linwood Pool opened in October 2021 and delighted locals of all ages from the get-go. As well as the pools – which include a special deep-water “mānu” pool – the facility boasts basketball and tennis courts, a picnic area complete with barbecues, and a mini skate park. There’s also a tennis centre with indoor and outdoor courts at Wilding Park, and next door Woodham Park is a favourite for families, home to an aviary, paddling pool, and playground.

Get all the feeling of a seaside village packed into one small suburb, right here. Sandwiched between Redcliffs and Clifton, Moncks Bay is quieter and cuter than its neighbours, with most of its housing sitting on the flat, on peaceful streets within walking distance of the beach.

The area surrounding the Christchurch Yacht Club is a small but popular swimming spot in summer, with a convenient current meaning you can leap off the end of the floating dock and be swept right back around to the launch ramp with very minimal effort. The Moncks Bay section of Te Ara Ihutai Christchurch Coastal Pathway is still under construction, but even in progress it makes an easy and pleasant walk or bike around to Shag Rock (or Shag Pile) and on through to Sumner.

Ah, how very pleasant. The English name of Tauhinukorokio is, if anything, an understatement. If you’re lucky enough to live in this hillside coastal suburb , you’ll likely catch yourself making many dad jokes about how pleasant it is, while feeling pretty pleased with yourself at landing a spot in one of Christchurch’s most desirable suburbs.

Mount Pleasant is the highest elevation in the eastern Port Hills, and boasts fabulous views over the estuary, ocean and city. There are some great walking tracks nearby, including Mount Pleasant Track, which leads over the hills to historic gun emplacements and views of Lyttelton Harbour. The suburb reaches down to the water’s edge along Main Road, and sits right next to the Ferrymead shopping precinct. The Mount Pleasant Community Centre is a gathering place for all sorts of community-run events and festivals, as well as a community garden. This is also the spot to grab some kai on weekends – the Mt Pleasant Farmers’ Market pops up every Saturday morning, and if you rock up on Sundays between 4pm and 8pm, you’ll find the carpark filled with all manner of food trucks, perfect for an easy and delicious dinner to round off your week.

In the city’s definitive coastal neighbourhood, the waves are crashing, the dune grasses are swaying, and you’re likely to spot a few surfers no matter the weather. There’s a strong community vibe here, and you can spot the locals a mile away: catching up outside shops, sipping coffee at their favourite cafés, strolling along the beach. New Brighton is rich with character, less gentrified than most other beach suburbs around the country (or the world, for that matter), and all the more charming for it.

When the weather’s hot, crowds flock to the ocean, catching waves, soaking up the sun, flying kites and sampling ice creams. The happy shrieks of kids fill the air along the waterfront – the beachside playground with its waka and famous whale pool is always a drawcard. Further along, the New Brighton Basketball Art Court, painted by local artist Dr Suits, provides further outdoor entertainment.

New Brighton is scenic all year round, and the 300-metre pier is the perfect spot for gazing out at the Pegasus Bay coastline and the distant Kaikōura peninsula. Wear your puffer jacket to guard against the wind when it’s cold, and use the opportunity to gawk at the very-brave-or-very-stupid winter surfers. Other year-round attractions of this unique coastal suburb include its popping café scene, with plenty to offer the coffee and brunch lovers among us; a surprising treasure trove of chilled-out eateries, vintage stores and fun local shops in Brighton Mall; and the beautiful New Brighton Library, in a prime position overlooking the ocean.

Speaking of overlooking the ocean, you’d be remiss not to stop for a soak at He Puna Taimoana while you’re here. Booked in advance, it’s one of the best-value relaxing experiences in Christchurch, and with 5 hot salt water pools of varying temperatures to choose from, including one with views of the beach and pier, your two hours here will be time very well spent.

“Why would anyone ever want to live in Redcliffs?” said no one ever. This is one of Christchurch’s highly desirable hillside suburbs and it’s not hard to see why – stunning views, close to the beach, Port Hills adventure on your doorstep, and a charming village feel with several lovely shops worth making a journey for.

Redcliffs’ housing is divided between the hills and the flat, with benefits to both. Living on the hill gives you million-dollar views of the sea and city, but you do have a bit of puffing ahead of you if you fancy a walk down to the beach. Not so on the flat – this is easy-stroll-down-the-street territory, and there are some beautiful pathways, such as the one on Beachville Road, that trace right along the edge of the water. You can pick your pace when it comes to outdoor activities – if you’re the adventurous type, surfing and Port Hills cycling are both easily accessible. There’s nothing to stop you from enjoying the scenery in a more leisurely fashion either, and while you’re enjoying strolls along the waterfront and back home from Sumner, be sure to stop in at the beautiful shops nestled in at the bottom of the hill in Redcliffs Village.

Enjoying a lofty perch above Sumner is this small volcanic spur, the next bump over from Clifton Hill. Encompassing just a few small streets and surrounded by the open space and open skies of the Port Hills on all sides, this is a tiny but highly desirable suburb. All the benefits of hillside living are yours, from views to walks and often both at the same time, and you’re mere minutes from all the charm, bustle and eateries of Sumner below. Fun fact: according to the history books, this suburb – once a farm – was cutely named after the farm manager’s favourite song, ‘The Lass of Richmond Hill’.

This little protrusion at the far end of Sumner is a favourite gathering spot for families, attracted to the less swimmy end by the presence of a great park, playground, and paddling pool. The beach area is small enough to discourage crowds but plenty for a refreshing dip if you prefer to cool off in the actual ocean. The satisfyingly smooth Esplanade path terminates here, and cycling or walking the length of it is a beautiful weekend activity, especially when supplemented with a coffee, ice cream or bite from the nearby café.

This is also the connecting hill to popular surfing beach Taylors Mistake, and there are a few good walks in the area, including Scarborough Bluffs Track. Scarborough residents enjoy sweeping ocean and city views along with all these amenities, and there are several reserves and parks on the hill to take advantage of the natural sights, including the amusingly named Giants Nose Reserve.

To the south of Bridge Street, about where New Brighton’s buzz starts to become quieter and more residential, is South New Brighton, consisting mostly of small streets and family homes sandwiched between estuary, South New Brighton Park, and ocean. Like most of Brighton, you’re bound to come across evidence of surfers here, whether it’s surfboard-shaped letterboxes, car stickers in the vein of ‘I’d rather be surfing’, or wetsuit-clad wave riders of all ages.

Housing in this part of New Brighton varies between new builds, run-down bungalows and well-loved cottages with characterful gardens. The area feels very family-friendly, the kind where kids riding bikes or scooters around the streets is not an uncommon sight. South New Brighton School is a drawcard for families with primary-school-aged kids, and the myriad outdoor entertainment to be had at the beach and green spaces is reason enough to keep residents quite content.

Occupying the long, skinny end of New Brighton between the estuary and ocean, Southshore is a place for nature lovers. At the far end, Southshore Spit Reserve is a favourite spot for anglers, and there are also nice short walks and abundant birdlife in this area. The views across to Sumner and out towards the mountains are spectacular on a clear day.

The estuary is a great spot for beachcombing, with the constantly changing tides leaving a different landscape behind every day. You’ll find plenty of dog walkers meandering along coastal pathways and along the beach, kids exploring the dunes, and residents out tending to their gardens. Take note of the street names – many of them are named charmingly after birds.

This particular section of Christchurch’s desirable hillside suburbs – part of Mount Pleasant for all intents and purposes – is sitting pretty above the estuary, enjoying lovely views over the water and of the hills behind. Ferrymead, with its retail complex and sprawling heritage park, is practically your back yard, and there are some lovely waterfront spots to go for a meander or a paddle around Scott Park.

This sunny seaside suburb has a bit of everything, a meeting point for all flavours of Christchurch citizen where beach bums rub shoulders with Lycra-clad cycling fiends fresh from the Port Hills; sophisticated café-goers sip at outdoor tables while the skateboarding youth gather at the Nayland Street skate park; dogs run around like mad things down by Shag Pile, and at the opposite end, littlies play happily on the playground and in the paddling pool at Scarborough Park.

The reopened Sumner Lyttelton Corridor is a frankly stunning drive over from Lyttelton and is a popular route with cyclists, sending them whizzing down from the hills straight into the heart of Sumner’s restaurant hub. This little village comes alive at night; business frontages strung with fairy lights entice weather-worn beachgoers to conclude their day over a delicious meal and a well-deserved beer, wine, or cocktail. Eateries here range from the high-end to the casual and classic, and you’ve got a couple of different options if you’re hankering for fish ‘n’ chips or an ice cream on the beach.

There are a handful of boutique shops where you can pick up things like jewellery, gifts, local art, second hand fashion or a sexy new swimsuit. The Sumner library is a beautiful community space where you can bring the kids on a cold day or find your next great read. On Sunday mornings in the warmer months, the Sumner Market fills the Esplanade green with stalls selling fresh produce, fresh bread, crafts, plants, food and drink.

Sumner’s star attraction is, of course, the beach, and summer days find it packed with Christchurchians looking for a cool down. Launching from the Scarborough clock tower, paddleboards and kayaks are an ideal vehicle for exploring the coast on a calm day, or catching waves with the surfers when the swell is up. The north end of the beach, between Shag Pile (née Rock) and the surf club, is open to canines year-round, making it a favourite gathering spot for dog walkers from all over the city. Even when the weather is less than hospitable, the broad beachside boulevard is a popular destination for walkers, and Cave Rock, with its sweeping views from the top and magnificent cave beneath, is always a worthy attraction.

This remote suburb is a surfer’s destination – the only non-residential buildings are the Taylor’s Mistake Surf Lifesaving Club and the public changing rooms at the beach. With classic beach baches and modern hillside homes, this feels more like a holiday getaway than a suburb of Christchurch. Taylors Mistake is also the terminus of the Godley Head Track, a meandering cliff-top walk that takes you around to the defunct World War II defence batteries and Department of Conservation campsite at Godley Head.

At the far end of North New Brighton are the spacious, less populated sands of Waimairi Beach. This is a good spot for a day out, sitting right on the edge of Bottle Lake Forest and all its mountain biking and walking tracks, and a couple of great playgrounds at Ashton Reserve and near the surf club. This an ideal beach to swim or surf away from busier New Brighton, and as a bonus you also get glorious views all the way up the coast and to the mountains on a good day.

Waimairi Beach Golf Club is a links-style 18-hole course that welcomes non-members, just a couple of blocks away from the beach. There’s a popular café and wine bar on the corner just back from the surf club, and if you’re seeking adventure of a different sort, check out Christchurch’s first purpose-built mountainboarding park – a sport that combines skating, snowboarding and surfing into one.

On Christchurch’s east side between Avonside and Aranui, Wainoni is made up mostly of modest and state housing, with several sports parks, stadiums and rowing clubs in the area. The sports hub on Pages Road is a gathering spot for athletes of all kinds, HQ for Badminton Canterbury and Canterbury Softball as well as the multi-use courts at Cowles Stadium, used for everything from basketball and netball to volleyball and even roller derby. Over at Kerrs Reach, you can often see canoes, dragon boats and rowing boats in action, with at least four rowing clubs based out of Porritt Park.

An industrial, working-class corner of Christchurch’s southeast side has transformed its identity in recent years to become a destination for boutique retail, antique stores, live music and local craft brewing. Woolston Village is a bustling little hub where you’ll find locals walking dogs, riding bikes or rocking up for takeaways alongside bargain hunters scouring the op shops for hidden gems.

Ferry Road is the great divider here, 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 you past a plethora of ethnic eateries, burger joints and one-of-a kind secondhand boutiques. Woolston has become Christchurch’s unofficial secondhand and vintage destination, and you could easily spend a whole day wandering from one end of Ferry Road to the other, stopping in at some of the best op shops, preloved clothing stores, secondhand bookstores and vintage furniture spots in the city.

A short trip down 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 shopping centre 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 Victorian-chic, French-tiled corridors and along the exterior boardwalks is like finding yourself in one of Melbourne or Europe’s historic and beautiful arcades, and the atmosphere is just as humming.

Woolston’s outdoors is also well worth a thorough exploration. The Heathcote River winds through its heart, and bike and walking tracks along its banks are a gentle, peaceful way to head either into the city or out towards Ferrymead and Sumner. It’s the ideal suburb to explore on foot, and taking your time to wander will allow you to discover all the pockets of gold that lie slightly off the beaten trail.