Local Beaches in Mid-Winter

Christchurch boasts some pretty spectacular beaches, which we’re getting to know gradually, and Mike did quite a lot of beach walking while I was away in the UK for the Summer. So this is a collection of images taken in June and July, mid-Winter in the Southern hemisphere.

 

16 June. A very grey damp day on New Brighton Beach, taken from the end of the pier. New Brighton is about 5 miles due east of Christchurch, the nearest beach. I stayed in the café while Mike got wet and windswept
 

23 June. Waikuku Beach at the northern end where the Ashley River meets the sea. These beaches are all in the large curve of Pegasus Bay. Christchurch and the Banks Peninsular are at the southern end of the Bay

23 June. We were just on our way back to the car when we saw a large group of people going swimming up ahead of us. By the time we caught up with them they were mostly out of the water. We realised it was mid-Winter w/e and this was the kiwi equivalent of an annual Christmas swim. There must have been about 40 people, the water certainly warmer than it is in the UK at Christmas




14 July. The coast road leading to Sumner was one of the areas worst hit by the earthquake and much of the cliff crumbled down onto the coast road. These houses are now teetering on the edge of the cliff, many were lost.



14 July. The road below the cliff was cleared and these shipping containers were placed  all along under the cliff to prevent further falls onto the road. They are mostly still there.



14 July. Waimairi Beach south of New Brighton the way to Sumner