Best Beginner Surf Spots in Christchurch (2026 Guide)
Leithfield Beach had beginner-friendly surf 276 days last year. Whether you're staying in town or heading north, here's where to find the most consistent waves.
Are you a beginner surfer looking for waves in Christchurch? Christchurch surf can be a bit of a mixed bag—sometimes flat, sometimes firing, and usually requiring a bit of neoprene (yup, it gets fresh!). But, the good news is that there are plenty of opportunities to improve as a beginner.
As a beginner surfer, mellow, small to medium-size waves are best for practicing and improving. Today we’ll be ranking these Christchurch surf spots based on:
- How many days each spot had 3+ hours of “good” surf for beginners in 2025
- How many days each spot had 3+ hours of perfect surf (ideal wave size and winds) for beginners in 2025
These rankings are based on real data: an entire year of Swellify surf data from 29 breaks around Christchurch. We wanted to find the beaches that gave you the most genuine opportunities to practice and improve.
Let’s crack into it!
If You Need Lessons
If you're just starting out, you'll likely be sticking closer to town where the surf schools operate. While the city beaches aren't quite as consistent as the northern spots, they are super convenient.
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Waimairi 🥇 221 good days, 82 perfect days
Waimairi is a solid option for city-dwellers, offering decent consistency without leaving the city limits. New Brighton Surf runs lessons and is about an 10-minute drive away. They have a stellar ★5.0 rating (41 reviews). Give them a bell at 📞 028 410 0154.
Learn to Surf is also an option nearby (about 20 minute drive) with a ★4.9 rating (80 reviews). They are at 📞 0210 704 805.
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North Beach 🥈 221 good days, 81 perfect days
Identical consistency to Waimairi, just down the road. New Brighton Surf is slightly closer here, just a 10 minute drive. Stoked Surf School Sumner is another option about 20 minutes away with a ★5.0 rating. Call them at 📞 027 865 3324.
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South Shore 🥉 194 good days, 66 perfect days
A bit less consistent than its northern neighbours, but super close to the surf school. New Brighton Surf is only 5 minutes away by car.
If You Need Rentals (But Not Lessons)
Here is where the data gets interesting. If you can grab a board in town and drive north, you unlock way more surfable days.
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Leithfield Beach 🥇 276 good days, 106 perfect days
This is the heavy hitter. 276 good days is massive compared to the town beaches. The catch? You'll need to grab gear before you go. Snow and Surf in Christchurch is about a 40-minute drive from the beach, but they have a solid ★4.7 rating (71 reviews). Call them at 📞 03 366 7351.
Sadhana Surfboards is about 45 minutes away, rated ★4.6. Call 📞 03 389 5611.
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Amberley Beach 🥈 269 good days, 100 perfect days
Another northern gem with incredible stats. Pick up your rental from New Brighton Surf (about 45 minutes drive away) or the shops mentioned above before you head out.
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Waikuku 🥉 259 good days, 105 perfect days
Waikuku is a local favourite for a reason. 105 perfect days means you're scoring ideal learner conditions more than twice a week on average. Grab gear in town from Surf Locker (about a 45 minute drive), rated ★5.0. Call 📞 0210 704 805.
If You Have Your Own Gear
Got a board and a wetsuit? The North Canterbury coast is calling your name.
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Leithfield Beach — 276 good days, 106 perfect days
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Amberley Beach — 269 good days, 100 perfect days
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Waikuku — 259 good days, 105 perfect days
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Fields — 239 good days, 97 perfect days
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Waimairi — 221 good days, 82 perfect days
The data doesn't lie: Leithfield Beach is the consistency king of the region. While Waimairi and North Beach are convenient, driving north to Leithfield, Amberley, or Waikuku gives you significantly more surfable days—we're talking an extra 50+ days a year compared to the city spots. That's nearly two extra months of surfing opportunities just for driving a bit further!
The Bottom Line
Christchurch delivered 276 surfable days for beginners at Leithfield Beach last year. The only way you miss out is if you're not paying attention.
Need lessons? Stick to Waimairi or North Beach. They are super convenient, serviced by top-rated schools like New Brighton Surf, and offer plenty of rideable days.
Need rentals or have gear? If you have the time, head north. Leithfield Beach and Amberley Beach are statistically superior for finding consistent, beginner-friendly waves.
Christchurch surfing is all about opportunity. The city beaches are great for a quick dip after work, but the northern beaches are the real consistency machines. Remember, different spots suit different levels. If you want to stop guessing and start surfing more, that's literally what we built Swellify for. Thanks for reading! 🤙
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Worth the drive: Kaikoura to the north has mountains meeting the sea and 256 good days. South leads to Dunedin — colder water, but Campbells Bay delivered 288 good days, one of the highest counts in the country.
See all 20 regions in our Complete Beginner's Guide to Surfing in New Zealand.
Tobias is the Founder of Swellify, a surf forecasting app built in Wellington that helps surfers like you catch more waves with way less hassle. After "accidentally" moving to New Zealand in 2019 and falling in love with Aotearoa, he's spent years obsessively studying every beach, point break, and island to make sure Swellify's 420+ spots are dialed in. Got any feedback or a killer session to share? Flick him an email at tobias@swellify.app.