Sumner, New Zealand

Sumner is Christchurch's favourite seaside village, a relaxed beach suburb tucked beneath the Port Hills about twelve kilometres east of the city centre. With a sandy surf beach, a compact strip of cafes and a landmark offshore rock, it offers an easy coastal escape from the city and a strong community, village atmosphere.

Cave Rock is the emblem. A weathered volcanic outcrop riddled with hollows and passages, Cave Rock stands at the eastern end of the beach and can be clambered over at low tide, a favourite with generations of local children. The beach itself gives reliable, if modest, surf and patrolled summer swimming, backed by an esplanade of eateries and a restored heritage theatre.

The setting is dramatic. The village sits between the Pacific and the steep Port Hills, and the neighbouring bays of Taylors Mistake and the cliff-top Scarborough Head reward walkers with sweeping coastal views. Sumner was heavily affected by the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, and its recovery, including rockfall protection below the cliffs, is part of the area's recent story.

Practical notes: Sumner is reached by bus or a short drive from central Christchurch, and the flat village and esplanade are largely step-free, though beach access is over sand and the hill walks are steep. Summer, from December to March, brings the warmest swimming and busiest beachfront, though the cafes and coastal walks are pleasant year-round. Bring layers, as the coast can be cooler and breezier than the city. It suits families, surfers and walkers wanting a coastal counterpoint to the flat city. The village's cafes, its restored Sumner theatre and the walking tracks over the Port Hills to Taylors Mistake and Godley Head give it a genuine sense of place, and its recovery since the earthquakes has become part of the community's identity.