Take a long walk along an equally long pier and enjoy the experience of having ocean below and around you. The pier also offers expansive views of the rugged Canterbury coastline all the way to the Kaikōura Peninsula.

Open hours

The New Brighton Pier is open 24 hours a day.

Fishing is permitted every day except on Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on the pier.

Safety

Diving or jumping off the pier is strictly prohibited. 

Nearby walks

The 300m pier is a pleasant little stroll in its own right but if you're keen for something a bit more challenging, try the Southern Pegasus Bay Track. It runs from Spencer Beach Surf Life Saving Club all the way past the pier and to Southshore Spit. 

Find more walks on the walking track map.

There is a ban on fishing off the Pier on Sundays between 10am and 5pm.

When fishing outside these hours, you must obey the following rules

  • No fishing in the marked no fishing zone - this is for visitors to enjoy the scenery.
  • Only one rod and one hand line per fisher is permitted.
  • No over-head casting is allowed.
  • No commercial crab pots are allowed, and only one line with light weight gear per fisher is permitted.
  • Wash your station down with the provided hoses after catching fish or cutting bait.
  • Single use plastic ties are not allowed on the pier. Please use rope to secure crab pots and help us protect our waters.
  • Take all rubbish home with you including tackle and lost line.

There are a variety of species to catch including crab, red cod, kahawai, dog fish and mullet. Catch limits apply. 

Read the fishing rules(external link)(external link) on the Ministry for Primary Industries website for further information.

The old pier

This pier is the second New Brighton Pier with the first opening on 18 January 1894. Lord Glasgow, Governor General at the time, oversaw the opening in the presence of a large crowd who had travelled there especially for the event on dedicated trams.

The original timber pier was 210m long and was planned to have an octagonal end and include a large building but these plans were never carried out. Nonetheless, it was a popular recreational destination for Christchurch residents in true British seaside amusement style. The pier boasted a penny arcade full of games, a nightclub called the Shoreline, and for many years was the only place you could shop on Saturdays.

Over time the pier decayed and it was demolished in the early morning hours of 12 October 1965. Though it took three years to build, it took just 4.5 hours to demolish with a bulldozer starting on high tide and following the tide out.

These historic photographs of New Brighton show the pier over the years(external link).

The new pier

A group of residents who had formed the Pier and Foreshore Society to try to save the old pier continued to campaign for a new pier. Thirty years of lobbying and fundraising in the community saw almost $2 million raised from the community which was matched by a further $2 million from the Christchurch City Council.

A new pier was approved with a new library, a café and a restaurant at the landward end. The pier was the setting for annual Guy Fawkes fireworks displays. From July 2021, it has been the venue for fireworks to celebrate Matariki(external link). 

In 2007, the underside of the pier was permanently lit up in red, green and blue lights which bathes the pillars in light and creates a dramatic display also reflected in the water.

Earthquake damage

The pier was damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Repairs were made to the support columns at seabed-level as well as to cosmetic damage on the deck and railings. Work began on 30 January 2017 and the pier was fully reopened Saturday 2 June 2018. 

Pier facts

  • Length: 300 metres.
  • Height: 7 metres above high tide.
  • Width: 6 metres.
  • Deck: 900mm thick pre-stressed concrete.
  • Piles: 17 piles, 1.4 metres diameter, 20 metres apart.