South New Brighton

The Avon River / Ōtākaro ( and ) flows through the centre of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, and out to an estuary, which it shares with the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River, the Avon Heathcote Estuary / Ihutai.

The Estuary of the Heathcote and Avon Rivers / Ihutai is the largest semi-enclosed shallow estuary in Canterbury and remains one of New Zealand’s most important coastal wetlands. It is well known as an internationally important habitat for migratory birds, and it is an important recreational playground and educational resource. It was once highly valued for mahinga kai (Māori for food gathering).

Southshore is an eastern suburb within Christchurch, New Zealand. It is rich in wildlife and forestry. Although it was called Southshore informally for some years previously, it was named formally in 1955. The area was damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and 198 properties were zoned red.

There have been two New Brighton Piers in New Brighton, New Zealand. The first pier, of wooden construction, opened on 18 January 1894 and was demolished on 12 October 1965. The current concrete pier was opened on 1 November 1997. It is one of the icons of Christchurch.

Clifton is a hillside suburb above Sumner in Christchurch, New Zealand. Clifton is a volcanic spur extending from Tauhinukorokio / Mount Pleasant. Most of Clifton was originally purchased by Dr Alfred Barker, who had applied for a 50 acres (20 ha) land grant from the Christchurch land office. Barker sold his land in 1872. The lower part of Clifton was undeveloped until 1903, when it was subdivided into 93 sections and put up for auction, as far up the hill as Tuawera Terrace, which was originally known as Victoria Terrace. The land further up the hill was subdivided in 1908. A lower side spur, originally known as Lower Clifton, was bought in 1901 by Samuel Hurst Seager. Seager landscaped and divided the section into 12 plots and it was sold under the name The Spur in 1914. It has been known as the Spur since. This area is the main residential hill area above Sumner.The ridge that Clifton lies upon, descends from Tauhinukorokio / Mount Pleasant to end in a coastal cliff at the western end of Sumner beach. The cliff overhangs the road between Sumner and Moncks Bay that has been built along the beach. This area by the beach is now known as Peacocks Gallop because John Thomas Peacock would gallop his horse when riding along this section of road on account of his fear of being hit by falling rocks. Earthquakes in 2011 and later in 2016 caused the cliff edge to collapse and recede so much that several clifftop houses were undermined and severely damaged, or left perched precariously on the cliff edge. Shipping containers were stacked two-high on the main road below to protect it from further rockfalls and these subsequently became an impromptu roadside art gallery.

New Brighton is a coastal suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) east of the city centre. It is one of eastern Christchurch's main entertainment and tourist centres, with its architecturally unique pier and scenic coastline. The 2011 Christchurch earthquakes caused significant damage in the area.

The suburb of Bexley is situated in East Christchurch on the west bank of the Avon River approximately one kilometre from the Avon Heathcote Estuary. It is enclosed within a bend in the Avon River and borders the suburb of Aranui.

The June 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a shallow magnitude 6.0 Mw earthquake that occurred on 13 June 2011 at 14:20 NZST (02:20 UTC). It was centred at a depth of 7 km (4.3 mi), about 5 km (3 mi) south-east of Christchurch, which had previously been devastated by a magnitude 6.2 MW earthquake in February 2011. The June quake was preceded by a magnitude 5.9 ML tremor that struck the region at a slightly deeper 8.9 km (5.5 mi). The United States Geological Survey reported a magnitude of 6.0 Mw and a depth of 9 km (5.6 mi). The earthquake produced severe shaking, registering at VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli scale in and around Christchurch. It destroyed several structures and caused additional damage to many others which had been affected by previous earthquakes. The damaged tower of the historic Lyttelton Timeball Station collapsed before dismantling work could be completed. The earthquake downed phone lines and cut off power to 54,000 households. Restoration costs in Christchurch following the February earthquake were estimated to increase by NZ$6 billion (US$4.8 billion) because of the additional damage from this event. Forty-six people suffered injuries, two of which critical, and one elderly man died after being knocked unconscious.

Redcliffs is an outer coastal suburb of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

St Andrews Hill is a hillside suburb in south-east Christchurch, New Zealand.

Moncks Cave is a cave located in Redcliffs, Christchurch. It is notable for the amount of wooden artefacts discovered there in 1889 by workmen while quarrying for road metal.

Shag Rock, also known as Rapanui, is a notable sea stack that marks the entrance of the Avon Heathcote Estuary near Christchurch, New Zealand. It is a prominent landmark for navigators at sea as well as travelers on the road to Sumner. The rock stands close to the southern shore just above the low tide level. In the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake it shattered and the remains, which are still easily seen from the road, have, with dark humour by some locals, been called "Shag Pile" (a pun referencing the style of carpet). Although no longer used by shipping, the estuary is accessible as far as Ferrymead using shallow draught vessels up to about 30 tons if the bar is crossed in favourable wind, sea and tidal conditions. The shipping channel into the estuary lies to the northern side of the rock.