Northern Canterbury
5 of 5 beaches scored, 0 good now
6.4GoodAverage Beach ScoreBest: Tāhunatōrea, 6.9
- Water
- 13°C56°F
- Wind
- 14 km/h9 mph
- Waves
- 0.9 m3 ft
Kaitorete Spit, Christchurch CityCanterbury beaches
Which Canterbury beach is best right now? 31 beaches ranked by live weather, wind, waves and water temperature.
- Beaches31
- Good now16 of 31
- Water13 to 15°C56 to 59°F
- Best nowAkaroa Beach7.9Great
Updated 5:25 pm local timeScores from Open-Meteo forecasts, refreshed hourlyColors follow the lifeguard flags
Top 3 right now
Ranked by live Beach Score right now, then by the best stretch ahead.
17.9GreatAkaroa Beach
Christchurch City
Good stretch until sunset, 8:02 pm- Air
- 23°C74°F
- Water
- 14°C57°F
- Wind
- 9 km/h6 mph
- Waves
- 1.3 m4 ft
Tomorrow, hour by hourBest 7 pm, 8.3- 15°C58°Fwater nowNo photo yet. Add one27.8Great
Ninety Miles Beach
Canterbury
Good stretch until sunset, 8:07 pm- Air
- 23°C74°F
- Water
- 15°C58°F
- Wind
- 19 km/h12 mph
- Waves
- 0.9 m3 ft
Tomorrow, hour by hourBest 4 pm, 8.8 
37.4GreatCass Bay
Christchurch City
Good stretch until sunset, 8:02 pm- Air
- 18°C65°F
- Water
- 14°C58°F
- Wind
- 16 km/h10 mph
- Waves
- 0.4 m1 ft
Tomorrow, hour by hourBest 11 am, 8.8
Canterbury today
A mixed day for the beach across Canterbury: 16 of 31 scored beaches are good right now, best in Southern Canterbury, water is 13 to 15°C56 to 59°F, and wind averages 15 km/h9 mph (gentle breeze). Read at 5:25 pm; everything below is computed from that reading.
Southern Canterbury
26 of 26 beaches scored, 16 good now
7.0GreatAverage Beach ScoreBest: Akaroa Beach, 7.9
- Water
- 15°C58°F
- Wind
- 16 km/h10 mph
- Waves
- 0.6 m2 ft
Warmest water
15°C59°F
Magazine Bay
Christchurch City. 0.5°0.9° above the Canterbury average. Score 7.4 Great.
Calmest sea
0.4 m1 ft waves
Cass Bay
Christchurch City. Wind 16 km/h10 mph. Level with 7 other beaches.
Best hours
Canterbury averages 6.9 Good this hour. The best hour today is 4 pm (7.0); the weakest is 9 am (6.5).
The strongest stretch runs 7 am to 9 pm.
Canterbury tomorrow: the best hour is 11 am (7.7) and the weakest is 7 am (6.5).
The strongest stretch runs 8 am to 9 pm.
7 to 10, green flag4 to 7, yellowUnder 4, redAverage of the scored beaches, each hour
All Canterbury beaches
Filter by what you need, sort by what matters today, and hover a row to find it on the map.
7.9GreatAkaroa Beach
Christchurch City
1.3 m4 ft waves, light wind and 14°C57°F water.
- Water14°C57°F
- Air23°C74°F
- Wind9 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.3 m4 ft
- Free parking
- 15°C58°FNo photo yet7.8Great
Ninety Miles Beach
Canterbury
Small waves, gentle breeze and 15°C58°F water.
- Water15°C58°F
- Air23°C74°F
- Wind19 km/h12 mph
- Waves0.9 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 7.4Great
Cass Bay
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 14°C58°F water.
- Water14°C58°F
- Air18°C65°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 7.4Great
Corsair Bay
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 14°C58°F water.
- Water14°C58°F
- Air18°C65°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- Free parking
- 7.4Great
Magazine Bay
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air18°C64°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- Free parking
7.4GreatSandy Beach Reserve
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 14°C58°F water.
- Water14°C58°F
- Air18°C65°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 15°C59°FNo photo yet7.4Great
Shelly Cove
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air18°C64°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.4GreatSkiers Beach
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 14°C58°F water.
- Water14°C58°F
- Air18°C65°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.4GreatWalkers Beach
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 14°C58°F water.
- Water14°C58°F
- Air18°C65°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 7.4Great
Whakamaru Beach
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 14°C58°F water.
- Water14°C58°F
- Air18°C65°F
- Wind16 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.3GreatSandy Bay
Christchurch City
1.3 m4 ft waves, light wind and 14°C57°F water.
- Water14°C57°F
- Air20°C68°F
- Wind9 km/h6 mph
- Waves1.3 m4 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 15°C59°FNo photo yet7.0Great
Bottle Lake Beach Park
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.5 m2 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
7.0GreatNew Brighton Beach
Canterbury
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.5 m2 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 15°C59°FNo photo yet7.0Great
North Beach
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.5 m2 ft
- Free parking
- 15°C59°FNo photo yet7.0Great
Spencer Park Beach
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.5 m2 ft
- Free parking
- 15°C59°FNo photo yet7.0Great
Waimairi Beach Park
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.5 m2 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
6.9GoodTāhunatōrea
Canterbury
Small waves, light wind and 13°C56°F water.
- Water13°C56°F
- Air16°C61°F
- Wind11 km/h7 mph
- Waves0.9 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 14°C57°FNo photo yet6.8Good
Okains Bay
Christchurch City
Small waves, light wind and 14°C57°F water.
- Water14°C57°F
- Air16°C60°F
- Wind8 km/h5 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- Free parking
6.7GoodKaitorete Spit
Christchurch City
1.1 m4 ft waves, light wind and 14°C58°F water.
- Water14°C58°F
- Air16°C60°F
- Wind8 km/h5 mph
- Waves1.1 m4 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
6.6GoodGodley Beach Park
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air13°C55°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
6.6GoodMatuku-takotako
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air13°C55°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- Free parking
- 15°C59°FNo photo yet6.6Good
Scarborough Beach
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air13°C55°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- Free parking
6.6GoodSouth New Brighton Beach
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air13°C55°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- Timelapse
6.6GoodTaylors Mistake Beach
Christchurch City
Flat water, gentle breeze and 15°C59°F water.
- Water15°C59°F
- Air13°C55°F
- Wind17 km/h10 mph
- Waves0.4 m1 ft
- Free parking
- 15°C58°FNo photo yet6.5Good
Wakanui Beach
Ashburton District
1.0 m3 ft waves, breezy and 15°C58°F water.
- Water15°C58°F
- Air18°C64°F
- Wind20 km/h13 mph
- Waves1.0 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 13°C56°FNo photo yet6.5Good
Armers Beach
Kaikōura District
Small waves, light wind and 13°C56°F water.
- Water13°C56°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind12 km/h7 mph
- Waves0.9 m3 ft
- Free parking
6.5GoodKaikōura Beach
Canterbury
Small waves, light wind and 14°C56°F water.
- Water14°C56°F
- Air14°C57°F
- Wind12 km/h7 mph
- Waves0.8 m3 ft
- Free parking
- 14°C57°FNo photo yet6.2Good
Caroline Bay Beach
Timaru District
Small waves, gentle breeze and 14°C57°F water.
- Water14°C57°F
- Air15°C59°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves0.7 m2 ft
- Free parking
- 14°C58°FNo photo yet6.0Good
Ashworths Spit
Waimakariri District
Small waves, breezy and 14°C58°F water.
- Water14°C58°F
- Air14°C56°F
- Wind21 km/h13 mph
- Waves0.5 m2 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
6.0GoodGore Bay Beach
Canterbury
Small waves, breezy and 13°C56°F water.
- Water13°C56°F
- Air13°C56°F
- Wind21 km/h13 mph
- Waves0.9 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
- 13°C56°FNo photo yet5.9Good
Graveyard Surf
Kaikōura District
Small waves, gentle breeze and 13°C56°F water.
- Water13°C56°F
- Air14°C58°F
- Wind15 km/h9 mph
- Waves0.9 m3 ft
- No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
No beaches match these filters right now. Try removing one.
Coastlines: Natural Earth, public domain. Pins are live scores.
7 and up4 to 7Under 4No live score hereHover a beach to find it. Click a group to zoom in.
Canterbury by area
Every area we score, with its own read of today and its best beaches ranked. Filters above apply to the list, not to these.
Christchurch City
14 of 21 scored beaches in Christchurch City are good right now. Water is 14 to 15°C57 to 59°F. Cass Bay is the calmest, with 16 km/h10 mph of wind and 0.4 m1 ft waves.
14 of 21 beaches good now
Each square is one beach, colored by its live flag.
- 7.9Great
Akaroa Beach
Christchurch City
Light wind, 14°C57°F water
- 7.4Great
Cass Bay
Christchurch City
Gentle breeze, 14°C58°F water
7.4GreatCorsair Bay
Christchurch City
Gentle breeze, 14°C58°F water
- 7.4Great
Magazine Bay
Christchurch City
Gentle breeze, 15°C59°F water
7.4GreatSandy Beach Reserve
Christchurch City
Gentle breeze, 14°C58°F water
- 15°C59°Fwater nowNo photo yet. Add one7.4Great
Shelly Cove
Christchurch City
Gentle breeze, 15°C59°F water
7.4GreatSkiers Beach
Christchurch City
Gentle breeze, 14°C58°F water
7.4GreatWalkers Beach
Christchurch City
Gentle breeze, 14°C58°F water
Kaikōura District
0 of 2 scored beaches in Kaikōura District are good right now. Water is 13°C56°F. Armers Beach is the calmest, with 12 km/h7 mph of wind and 0.9 m3 ft waves.
0 of 2 beaches good now
Each square is one beach, colored by its live flag.
- 13°C56°Fwater nowNo photo yet. Add one6.5Good
Armers Beach
Kaikōura District
Light wind, 13°C56°F water
- 13°C56°Fwater nowNo photo yet. Add one5.9Good
Graveyard Surf
Kaikōura District
Gentle breeze, 13°C56°F water
Ashburton District
0 of 1 scored beach in Ashburton District are good right now. Water is 15°C58°F.
0 of 1 beach good now
Each square is one beach, colored by its live flag.
- 15°C58°Fwater nowNo photo yet. Add one6.5Good
Wakanui Beach
Ashburton District
Breezy, 15°C58°F water
Timaru District
0 of 1 scored beach in Timaru District are good right now. Water is 14°C57°F.
0 of 1 beach good now
Each square is one beach, colored by its live flag.
- 14°C57°Fwater nowNo photo yet. Add one6.2Good
Caroline Bay Beach
Timaru District
Gentle breeze, 14°C57°F water
Waimakariri District
0 of 1 scored beach in Waimakariri District are good right now. Water is 14°C58°F.
0 of 1 beach good now
Each square is one beach, colored by its live flag.
- 14°C58°Fwater nowNo photo yet. Add one6.0Good
Ashworths Spit
Waimakariri District
Breezy, 14°C58°F water
Sub-areas of Canterbury
Each square is one beach, colored by its live flag. Outlined squares are in the dark.
- 7.9Great
- 6.5Good
- 6.5Good
- 6.2Good
- 6.0Good
Stays near Canterbury’s best beaches today
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- 7.9 GreatAkaroa Beach now
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Canterbury beach questions
Answered from today’s data. Numbers change as the forecast does.
What is the best beach in Canterbury right now?
Akaroa Beach has the top Beach Score right now: 7.9 Great, with 9 km/h (6 mph) of wind. Scores are ranked from live forecasts, so the order changes through the day.
What is the water temperature in Canterbury today?
Sea water is 13 to 15°C (56 to 59°F) across the 31 scored beaches. The warmest is Magazine Bay, at 15°C (59°F).
Where is the sea calmest in Canterbury right now?
Cass Bay has the smallest waves, at 0.4 m (1 ft) with 16 km/h (10 mph) of wind. 7 other beaches are level with it.
Which Canterbury beaches have lifeguards?
None of the listed beaches carry a lifeguard tag on OpenStreetMap yet. That means we do not know, not that there are none. Follow posted flags and local advice.
What is the best time to go to the beach in Canterbury today?
Averaged across the scored beaches, the best hour today is 4 pm, at 7.0 Great, and the strongest stretch runs 7 am to 9 pm. Each beach page has its own hour-by-hour forecast.
Are there live beach cams in Canterbury?
No live cams are listed for Canterbury yet. If you run one, you can list it free.
How many beaches does Check the Beach cover in Canterbury?
All 31 beaches in our data for Canterbury are scored live on this page.
Sources: Open-Meteo weather and marine forecasts; facilities from OpenStreetMap. All sources.
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