SURFCAMPSNZ
Locations · South Island chapter

Canterbury

Sumner base, city beaches, thick wetsuits and thicker grins. The South Island's home of learning to surf.

Lessons from $65 Sumner · New Brighton · Waikuku Surf Sistas runs here
Running in Canterbury

The South Island lineup

Group lesson celebrating waves in the shallows at Sumner

2hr Surf Lessons

Two coached hours at Sumner, ages 6 and up, boards and wetsuits included.

$69 youth · $79 adult · $65 each 4+

Surfer riding a clean wave on a private session in Christchurch

Private coaching

Your own coach, ages 4 and up. Extra surfers can be added at booking.

from $99 pp

Sista throwing a shaka mid ride on a coached session

Surf Sistas

The womens weekly crew, South Island chapter. Women 14 and up, all levels.

from $269 per block

Holiday program surfers heading out at a Christchurch beach

Holiday programs

Two coached sessions a day, 9am to 1pm, every school holidays. Ages 6 to 16.

2 days $199 · 4 days $379

Young surfer trimming a summer program wave in a full wetsuit

Kids Summer Surf Program

Three consecutive 90 minute mornings at Sumner, Boxing Day to late January.

$169 · $189 public holidays

Young surfer crouched into a wave at an after school session

After school surfing

One session a week for six weeks through the term, straight after the bell.

$199 per term block

The beaches

Three banks, one base

Sumner beach and Cave Rock in Christchurch

Sumner

The base. Gentle learner banks under the cliffs, cafes for afterwards, most sessions start here.

New Brighton pier stretching over the surf

New Brighton

The city's long open beach: consistent banks either side of the pier when Sumner sleeps.

Waikuku beach dunes north of Christchurch

Waikuku

North of the city, wide and mellow, the group-day favourite with space for everyone.

Camps are one flight away

South Islanders welcome north

Tours and camps include or offer Auckland Airport transfers, so Canterbury kids join the Northland camps as easily as locals do.