# The beaches and islands of Christchurch

Every named beach and island the open map records inside the city, 13 beaches and 8 islands, plus 37 more drawn without a name.

## The beaches

- [Akaroa Beach](https://www.chch.live/beach/akaroa-beach)
- [Cass Bay](https://www.chch.live/beach/cass-bay)
- [Corsair Bay](https://www.chch.live/beach/corsair-bay)
- [Magazine Bay](https://www.chch.live/beach/magazine-bay)
- [Matuku-takotako / Sumner Beach](https://www.chch.live/beach/matuku-takotako-sumner-beach), also “Matuku-takotako”
- [New Brighton Beach](https://www.chch.live/beach/new-brighton-beach)
- [Okains Bay](https://www.chch.live/beach/okains-bay)
- [Sandy Bay](https://www.chch.live/beach/sandy-bay)
- [Shelly Cove](https://www.chch.live/beach/shelly-cove)
- [Skiers Beach](https://www.chch.live/beach/skiers-beach)
- [Taylor's Mistake Beach](https://www.chch.live/beach/taylors-mistake-beach)
- [Walkers Beach](https://www.chch.live/beach/walkers-beach)
- [Whakamaru Beach](https://www.chch.live/beach/whakamaru-beach)

## The islands

- [Aua / King Billy Island](https://www.chch.live/beach/aua-king-billy-island), also “Aua”
- [Hampton Island](https://www.chch.live/beach/hampton-island)
- [Horomaka Island](https://www.chch.live/beach/horomaka-island), also “Horomaka”
- [Mill Island](https://www.chch.live/beach/mill-island)
- [Ōtamahua / Quail Island](https://www.chch.live/beach/otamahua-quail-island), also “Ōtamahua”
- [Pukerauaruhe Island](https://www.chch.live/beach/pukerauaruhe-island), also “Pukerauaruhe”
- [Rhododendron Island](https://www.chch.live/beach/rhododendron-island)
- [Ripapa Island](https://www.chch.live/beach/ripapa-island), also “Rīpapa”


## Questions, answered briefly

**How many named beaches does Christchurch have?**

13 named beaches and 8 named islands on the open map: plus 37 more drawn without a name: Sumner and New Brighton’s long sands, the harbour’s sheltered coves, and the islands out in it.

**Why do some carry two names?**

The dual names are the map’s own, the Māori name and the later English one recorded together. Sumner Beach is Matuku-takotako, Quail Island is Ōtamahua, each page lists every name the map knows.

**Where does the shore map come from?**

OpenStreetMap, every named beach and island inside the city boundary (ODbL). A pin is the mapper’s position for the feature, not a surveyed mark.

**Are the bays and headlands here too?**

They keep their own roll at [/coast](https://www.chch.live/coast), this one is the ground you can stand on: the beaches themselves, and the islands. The waterways inland are at [/river](https://www.chch.live/river).


---
Named beaches and islands on OpenStreetMap, inside the city boundary (ODbL). A pin is the mapper’s position for the feature, not a surveyed mark; the dual names are the map’s own.
The shore as data: https://www.chch.live/beach.geojson
The bays and headlands: https://www.chch.live/coast