Canterbury picks up a lot of southern swell that comes up from the deep south. These swells have to wrap around the bottom of the South Island, so are generally slightly smaller on the town beaches such as New Brighton, but can be pumping on the south facing beaches of the Peninsula or further North. Canterbury also gets its share of northern swells coming down the coast which line up perfectly with Sumner and Taylors Mistake, which on their day can produce some epic barreling conditions.

In Canterbury, the water takes awhile to warm up and is generally warmest between January and March. During the summer months, you will generally need a 3x2 steamer, spring wetsuit or board shorts if you are brave. The water gets cold in winter, so be prepared with a 4x3 steamer or thicker, with booties and hood recommended.

There are a number of attractions, events and shopping in this region when it's flat, especially in Christchurch City. Canterbury is also home to a number of epic ski fields in the winter.