Christmas Sailing in New Zealand: Summer on the Water

Christmas in New Zealand is summer. Properly, warmly, gloriously summer — long evenings, nor'west afternoons, and the kind of light that makes everything look like a postcard. For sailors, it's the best time of year to be on the water.

The Canterbury coast in December and January is a different place from the rest of the year. The southerlies ease. The nor'westers build in the afternoon and die at sunset. The days are long enough to make a proper passage and still be anchored in a sheltered bay before dark. The water is as warm as it gets in the South Island.

If you've been thinking about a sailing experience in New Zealand, this is the time to do it.

The Canterbury region has a reputation for weather — and it's earned. The nor'wester is a warm, dry, often powerful wind that funnels through the Southern Alps and accelerates across the Canterbury Plains. In winter, it can be brutal. In summer, it's a sailor's gift: consistent, predictable, and strong enough to make a 65ft yacht move properly.

The typical summer pattern on the Canterbury coast runs like this: calm mornings, building nor'wester through the afternoon, easing at sunset. If you time your passages to the wind, you can cover serious ground in the afternoons and anchor in calm conditions at night.

The Banks Peninsula provides the shelter. Akaroa Harbour, Pigeon Bay, Le Bons Bay, Peraki Bay — these are deep, steep-sided inlets carved into the volcanic rock of the peninsula, offering excellent holding and protection from the prevailing winds. In summer, they're warm, clear, and largely empty.

A typical summer passage from Lyttelton might run something like this.

Day one: Depart Lyttelton Marina mid-morning. Motor out through the heads into the outer harbour, sails up once clear of the breakwater. Nor'wester building by noon — the boat is moving well, heeled to 15 degrees, spray coming over the bow. Lunch underway. By mid-afternoon, round Godley Head and bear away south towards Akaroa. Anchor in the upper harbour as the wind dies. Dinner on board as the sun sets over the hills.

Day two: Early start. The harbour is glassy at 0600. Motor south towards the outer bays of Banks Peninsula — Le Bons Bay, Peraki, the remote anchorages that most people never reach. Swim off the boat in water that's genuinely warm. Explore the shoreline by tender. Sail back north in the afternoon nor'wester. Arrive Lyttelton as the light fades.

That's two days. You can do it in one long day if you push. You can stretch it to a week if you want to go further — south towards Timaru and the Waitaki, or north towards Kaikōura and the Marlborough Sounds.

There's something particular about spending Christmas Day at sea, or at anchor in a bay you've sailed to yourself.

We've done Christmas passages where the crew cooked a proper roast in the galley while the boat was anchored in Akaroa Harbour, with the hills green above and the water flat calm. We've done Christmas mornings at sea, halfway between Lyttelton and Kaikōura, with albatross circling the stern and the whole Southern Alps visible on the horizon.

Neither of those is a normal Christmas. Both of them are unforgettable.

If you're thinking about doing something different this Christmas — something that gets you off the couch and onto the water — a sailing passage from Lyttelton is worth serious consideration.

Our 2026/27 season runs from November through April. Over the Christmas and New Year period, we offer:

Day charters from Lyttelton
Half day (4 hours) or full day (8 hours). Up to 10 guests. Ideal for families, groups of friends, or corporate end-of-year events. Depart from Lyttelton Marina, 12km from central Christchurch.

Multi-day passages
Two to five day passages along the Canterbury coast and Banks Peninsula. Overnight at anchor in sheltered bays. Participatory sailing — you're part of the crew. Suitable for complete beginners through to experienced sailors wanting to build sea miles.

Extended summer expeditions
For those with more time, our summer expeditions run north to the Marlborough Sounds or south towards Stewart Island and Fiordland. These are serious offshore passages on a serious offshore yacht. They're also the best sailing in New Zealand.

Book early. The Christmas and New Year period is our busiest time of year. We typically have availability through November and into early December, but the week between Christmas and New Year fills quickly. If you're thinking about it, don't wait.

What to bring. Even in summer, the Canterbury coast requires layers. The nor'wester is warm, but the southerly that follows it is not. Bring a proper waterproof jacket, warm mid-layer, non-marking soft-soled shoes, sunscreen, and sunglasses. The UV index in Canterbury in summer is high.

Seasickness. The Canterbury Bight can have a proper swell running, even in summer. If you're prone to seasickness, let us know and we'll plan accordingly — there are routes and conditions that minimise the motion. Medication helps. Being on deck and looking at the horizon helps more.

Children. We welcome families with children on day charters. For multi-day passages, we ask that children are confident in the water and comfortable in an outdoor environment. We'll discuss the specifics when you enquire.

The Banks Peninsula is one of the most biodiverse marine environments in New Zealand. In summer, you can expect:

• Hector's dolphins — the world's smallest and rarest marine dolphin, endemic to New Zealand. They're common in the outer harbour and along the Banks Peninsula coast.
• Little blue penguins — nesting in the rocky shoreline of the peninsula. You'll often see them at dusk, returning to their burrows.
• Fur seals — hauled out on the rocks at Godley Head and around the outer bays.
• Seabirds — albatross, petrels, shearwaters, and gannets offshore. The birdlife on the Canterbury coast is extraordinary.
• Orca — occasional visitors, usually in late summer. When they're around, everything else stops.

The simplest way to start is to register your interest. Tell us when you're thinking of coming, how many people, and what kind of experience you're after. We'll come back to you with options and availability.

If you want to talk it through first, call Peter on +64 21 988 333 or email [email protected]. He's been sailing this coast for decades and can tell you exactly what to expect.

Christmas on the water. There's nothing quite like it.

Southern Passages Expeditions operates from Lyttelton Marina, 12km from central Christchurch. View our expeditions or register your interest for the 2026/27 season.