Magnificent Shorelines
Canterbury
Banks Peninsula, Akaroa, Lyttelton & More.
Canterbury is on the eastern South Island — the long arc of Pegasus Bay, the harbours of Lyttelton and Akaroa on Banks Peninsula, and Christchurch sitting between the sea and the Southern Alps.
We list selectively above Akaroa and Lyttelton harbours, along the bays of Banks Peninsula, and on the dune-edged shoreline north of the city.
Frequently asked
About Canterbury
- Where is Canterbury in New Zealand?
- Canterbury is on the eastern South Island, facing the Pacific Ocean. Its coastline runs from the Conway River in the north through Pegasus Bay and Christchurch, around the volcanic harbours of Lyttelton and Akaroa on Banks Peninsula, and out to the braided rivers and river mouths of the Canterbury Plains.
- What kind of waterfront properties does Exclusive Waterfront Properties list in Canterbury?
- We list sparingly above Akaroa and Lyttelton harbours, along the sheltered bays of Banks Peninsula, and on the dune-edged Pegasus Bay shoreline north of Christchurch — from historic harbourside villas and clifftop homes with deep-water views to coastal land holdings with private bay frontage.
- Why is Canterbury significant?
- Canterbury sits between the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Alps, giving its coastline a rare backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Banks Peninsula — the eroded remains of two ancient volcanoes — forms one of the South Island’s most distinctive harbour landscapes, and Akaroa retains a strong French heritage from its early settlement.
- How accessible is Canterbury?
- Christchurch International Airport is the South Island’s main gateway, with direct flights to Australia, Singapore and destinations across New Zealand. Lyttelton is about fifteen minutes from the city via the tunnel, and Akaroa is roughly a ninety-minute drive over the hill road across Banks Peninsula.
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