Five adventures around New Brighton

Spend the day exploring New Brighton.

Lots of people enjoying a walk on New Brighton Pier.

Five fun family activities in New Brighton

Between city and sea, New Brighton ticks a lot of boxes for a day out and about.

From hot pools and hip cafes, to forests, wetlands and kilometres of coastline, this special seaside suburb offers visitors a delightful day out in Christchurch for the whole family.

If you are searching for your next family outing, we have you covered. Gaze out across the Pacific from the iconic New Brighton Pier and frolic around this beach ‘burb, enjoying the unique flavour only found in New Brighton.

Children playing on splash pad at New Brighton playground

Family fun at New Brighton playground

With waves splashing in the distance and a 600kg whale to hang out with, the New Brighton Playground and Splash Park is always worth a visit with little ones.

The beachside playground has a mixture of wet and dry play areas and unique play equipment, including a large rope climbing frame, water cannons, musical toys, and a large waka that children can climb and play inside.

With views of the iconic pier and the sound of the waves crashing in the background, this is the perfect spot to park up with a coffee in hand as the kids burn off some energy.

New Brighton Seaside Market

A leisurely Saturday morning strolling around market stalls is always a good idea, and even better when by the sea. The lively New Brighton Seaside Market is a staple community event held every Saturday from 10am to 2pm and a must-visit when in the area.

As the weekend kicks off, the New Brighton pedestrian mall fills with stalls and market goers, creating a warm and colourful environment filled with creativity and energy.

There’s something for everyone with a variety of stalls selling produce, homemade arts and crafts, and great food on offer too. Just don’t be startled if you see a pirate or two kicking around!

New Brighton Seaside Market and clock tower

New Brighton’s natural wonders

From Waimairi to Southshore, there are so many options for beautiful nature walks around the New Brighton beaches.

Enjoy views of the never-ending ocean or the tranquillity of the forest on trails stretching from Spencer Park, Bottle Lake Forest, Waimairi Beach, North Brighton to Southshore down the coast.

Perfect for getting the family out into the fresh air, on foot or bike, and discovering beautiful new pockets of this diverse part of Christchurch.

Tuck in at The Burger Joint

After exploring New Brighton’s natural world, hungry bellies will lead you straight to The Burger Joint.

From humble beginnings flipping burgers in a caravan, this popular spot is now a firm local favourite. Choose from the extensive menu of burger combinations, each with a hand-made angus beef patty, or a delicious veggie alternative. Loaded fries on the side are a must, as well as a classic thick shake to complete your delectable Burger Joint experience.

There’s no doubt this will become a regular family favourite after just one delicious visit!

Kite flying in the sand dunes

New Brighton beach is a hot spot for kite flyers — it's even home to the annual summer Kite Day, where kites of magnificent shapes and sizes come to fly amongst the hundreds.

On a regular day, you might spy a few flying above the waves — it really is the perfect weekend activity for the whole family. After exploring New Brighton and grabbing a bite to eat, settle in on the beach as the kids run wild with their kite.

They will have a ball watching their flyer swoop and dive in the breeze, and burn plenty of that endless energy off too!