20 reasons to get outside in Christchurch and Canterbury this summer
Slip, slop, slap, wrap and pack because it’s time to get out in the sun and fresh air. Whether you’re an avid adventure addict or more of an easygoing al fresco diner, Cityscape has the perfect outdoor activity to suit you.
1. Choose your own adventure at Christchurch Adventure Park
Just a short drive from the city centre is the ultimate outdoor playground for all ages, the Christchurch Adventure Park (CAP). If you’re after time out in nature, adrenaline-fuelled adventure, or the best views in Christchurch, CAP has got it all. Nestled in a pine forest in the Port Hills, the park feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Whip out your selfie stick when you take a ride on the 1.8-kilometre chairlift (the longest in the country) – you’re in for epic views across the city to the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Alps.
Having made the ride up, you’ll need to choose how to get back down. Option one is a heart-racing zipline tour that will see you flying over the forest and through the trees at speeds of up to 100km an hour. These four ziplines are New Zealand’s highest and longest, and nearly anyone can do them. Race your mates down the dual ziplines, or just lean back, relax and enjoy the ride.
Next option on the list is to get your blood pumping on one of the many mountain bike trails for an exhilarating trip back down to the Adventure Park village. There are flowy bike trails for beginners, sweeping intermediate trails, sick world-class jump tracks for those who crave air, and hand-built technical trails for the experts among us.
Group lessons, private coaching and bike hire means anyone can tackle the trails and enjoy one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. Or, you can choose relaxation and enjoy the scenic ride back down the chairlift while you watch the adventure unfold beneath you.
The park’s free walking trails cater to nature lovers who prefer to keep two feet on the ground. Keep your eyes and ears open for native birds on the 45-minute forest loop trail, or get a front-row view of the action going on all around you as you conquer the uphill hiking trail. Pro tip: you can ride the chairlift back down for free.
Younger adventure seekers might spot fairy doors hidden in the forest, or they can burn some energy on the free pump track, beginners’ bike loop, or trampolines.
2. Water fight for the planet
It’s one of the absolute necessities of a summer well-spent: an all-out water balloon war. But what about all the wasted rubber, you ask. What about the queueing up at the tap? The tricky tying up and the bitsy cleanup? We’ve got your solution: reusable water balloons!
EcoSplat's awesome reusable water balloons are a new, Kiwi-designed eco-friendly water toy born out of frustration at the lack of genuinely green options for family fun. Founded by two Christchurch women from award-winning businesses The Rubbish Whisperer and Remix Plastic, EcoSplat originated from a joint vision to put the concept of climate-friendly fun into practice.
This summer can be filled with endless water fights, keeping the kids – and the grown-ups – splashing and playing all afternoon. EcoSplat’s water balloons are an essential tool in your family’s arsenal– just dunk them in water, throw and repeat for infinite outdoor fun.
3. fauna-tastic family fun
Two words: Baby. Animals. See, pat and feed lambs, calves, pigs, ponies, alpacas and a range of other farm animals and birds at Arion Farm Education Park in McLeans Island Road. A five-star cuteness and learning experience for the whole family.
4. Have a cocktail in a garden bar
And why not? Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you have to be tramping up a hill. Sit back. Enjoy the sun. Get a platter with your friends. Dux Dine in Riccarton has just renovated its outside area and opened a gin garden, where the experts will be serving top-notch English and New Zealand gins as well as exotic tots from the likes of Italy, Japan and Spain. Drop by the spacious garden after work for happy hour with Malfy Gin deals, music and scene-setting lighting.
5. Hit the public art trail with SCAPE Season 2021
Every year, SCAPE Public Art puts on an outdoor exhibition featuring Kiwi and international artists. Season 2021 runs until January 14, and features a Public Art Walkway through Hagley Park, the Botanic Gardens and parts of the city, showing off this year’s temporary public art and some of Christchurch's permanent installations.
Get your own map, or join one of SCAPE's guided walks scheduled throughout the summer.
Pictured: Destination, 2018 by Naqubi. Image courtesy of SCAPE Public Art.
6. Take a cultural tour with Waka on Avon
Did you know waka were used in the early building of Christchurch? Māori and early European settlers transported goods and building materials on the Avon by waka, and now you can be transported too, on a unique historic and cultural tour of Ōtākaro. You’ll learn to paddle a hand-crafted waka, hear stories about early Ngāi Tahu and learn about the importance of waka in Māori culture.
7. Renovate your outdoor space
Whether your 1980s garden needs to abandon its agapanthus, you’re finally ready to lay down a hard patio for summer barbecues, or you’re starting from scratch with a new build, if you want a flawless look it’s just as important to get the experts involved in landscaping as it is for your house.
Canopy Landscape Architects can help you achieve the look you’re going for and design a garden that’s creative, functional and environmentally friendly. That just leaves you to head outside and grab a spade and a wheelbarrow.
8. Cruise on Lyttelton Harbour for free
Here’s a little-known fact: you can take a boat tour of Lyttelton Harbour for free on the monthly Port Tour with the Lyttelton Port Company. Book well in advance, because the tours fill up pretty quick, and you’re all set for a 90-minute cruise around the harbour with informative commentary to boot. You can also take the ferry from Lyttelton over to Diamond Harbour, which gives you a beautiful trip across the water and an idyllic day trip on top.
9. Sing in the sun at our big summer festivals
Sunglasses, wallet, vaccination certificate. Check, check, check. You’re ready to hit the summer festival scene and sing, dance, drink and dine your way through the best of Canterbury’s big events. This summer’s awesome outdoor celebrations include foodie extravaganza South Island Wine & Food Festival on February 5; the hoppingest gig in town The Great Kiwi Beer Festival on January 29; Ferrymead’s throwback day out Nostalgia Festival on February 12; and of course our biggest outdoor music fest Electric Avenue Festival on February 26.
Pictured: The Great Kiwi Beer Festival.
10. Reel in the big one with Kaikōura Fishing Charters
It’s worth a trip up the coast to New Zealand’s king of kai moana – Kaikōura. Jump on Kaikōura Fishing & Scenic Charters’ glorious yellow boat, head to the seas and spend the day catching crays and the freshest possible fish to take home (pre-filleted by skipper Ian) and eat with your co-fishers.
11. Take the whānau to the Margaret Mahy Family Playground
We don’t care how old you are, this is a wonderland, and easily one of the best playgrounds in the country. It’s mobility friendly, and there’s a coffee cart for the adults. The giant slide is wide enough for the whole family, there are two flying foxes for racing, and the massive suspended rope grid could hold a whole ship’s crew. There’s a separate toddlers’ area for the younger ones, and after sundown you’ll often find grown-ups here letting their inner children out to play.
Image courtesy of ChristchurchNZ.
12. Get your two-wheeled commute on with Bespoked Cycles
Saddle up and make the most of the good weather to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city on your way to work or study. Yes, you’ll get some fresh air and give your legs a gentle workout, but the main thing is that with a custom-built bike from Bespoked Cycles, you’ll look awesome as hell. These single-speed style machines are built in Christchurch and perfect for commuting in our urban environment.
13. Lace up for the Pegasus Bay Vine Run
January 30 is the annual run through Pegasus Bay’s picturesque hills, valleys and vineyards. Walk or jog with your friends, family and workmates on an absolutely beautiful 6km, 10km or 18km trail and rack up some good karma at the same time, with all proceeds going to the New Zealand Brain Research Institute. At the end you can enjoy music and wine at the winery, and all adult entrants get a trophy to take home (spoiler: it’s a bottle of excellent wine).
14. Fill the gaps in your day with Gap Filler activities
Play a giant arcade game with a giant joystick on a street corner, take a bumpy Detour on a custom-made skate-scoot-and-ride track, or have a boogie whenever the urge takes you on the coin-operated Dance-O-Mat. Gap Filler began by literally filling the gaps left behind by the earthquake with creative community projects, and it has continued to grow ever since with outdoor fun options you cannot experience anywhere else.
15. Gear up at FurtherFaster and go packrafting
Hike in and raft back out – it’s the ideal South Island adventure. Packrafts are inflatable rafts that – you guessed it – fit in your pack. Whether you’re up for a massive walk and a lazy float back to the car, or the river stint is the main point of the adventure, packrafting is a different way to engage with our stunning outdoors.
You’ll need a wetsuit, booties, gloves, floatation device, helmet, paddle, splash jacket, and of course a raft. Get top advice and hire or buy gear at FurtherFaster in Sydenham before experiencing this awesome take on hiking and rafting.
16. Take the Canterbury mountain climb challenge
With a bit of planning in 2022, you can knock off five of Canterbury’s highest hikes: take in the spectacular views from the peak of Mount Grey in Waimakariri; head off the beaten Little Mount Peel track and tackle the ‘big’ Mount Peel in South Canterbury; get a 360-degree panorama from the top of Mount Herbert on Banks Peninsula; stay in the back-country hut or leg it in and out at Mount Fyffe in Kaikōura; and get your fill of the Southern Alps hiking to the summit of Ben Ohau in Mackenzie District.
17. Surf the Ōtautahi trifecta
The surfable beach in the eastern suburbs spans from Waimairi right through New Brighton down to Southshore. The exposed break gets swell directly from the South Pacific with no rocky interference, which means it can be absolutely massive, or piddly ripples, depending on the wind conditions at sea.
Sumner Bar is a popular spot with a few more hazards and generally better-shaped waves as a reward, but when it’s packed it is packed. Taylor’s Mistake has wicked waves, too, and while it’s a small bay it’s a bit further from the city and you can often catch a great break without the crowds.
18. Get your paddle on
You’ve got your feet planted firmly on your board, you’re taking in the sights of the riverbank or seaside around you, you’ve got the balance of a mountain goat… OK, maybe don’t wear your Sunday best for this one. Maximise your waterside sightseeing with a paddleboarding tour and minimise your chances of falling in with a paddleboarding lesson – you can get both from Lyttelton Harbour, Corsair Bay, Cass Bay, Diamond Harbour, Sumner, Moncks Bay, and on the Ōtākaro Avon River.
19. Windsurf and kitesurf on the estuary
Let the wind propel you along the water at exhilarating speed while you hang on for dear life – we mean, chop-jump like a pro. Groundswell in Ferry Road can hook you up with windsurfing or kitesurfing gear as well as windsurfing lessons to have you out there getting some air with the best of them. If you already have your own gear and are looking for the best spot, the estuary off Humphreys Drive is a magnet for windsurfers when the tide and the wind align.
20. Rock climb the Port Hills crags
Send it! Ōtautahi’s climbing community is one of the hottest in the country, and with the Port Hills and Southern Alps on our doorstep it’s easy to see why. Some of the most popular crags include Britten, Jane Fonda, and Castle Rock. Hit up the YMCA and Uprising gyms for climbing buddies and good advice.
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