Recreation in New Brighton
New Zealand is well known as a sporty country, and New Brighton is no different. We’ve got several local teams who enjoy taking to the fields and courts, as well as some local golf courses, playgrounds and skateparks. There are some lovely walks around us, and the bikers are covered as well.
Local Teams
Nothing quite beats a good game between friends. We’ve got several local teams, including our rugby lads (who commonly are top contenders in the Canterbury competitions). You can look at their play timetable and head down to watch a match.
Surf Life Saving Competitions
New Zealand’s waters can be dangerous, and our surf life saving volunteers work incredibly hard to keep beach-goers safe. They’re also a competitive bunch, always pushing themselves to be better and faster. To highlight this, Aotearoa holds the Surf Life Saving Competitions each year. The New Brighton, North Beach, Waimari and South New Brighton Beach clubs are often near the top of the table.
Swim Safety
Like any sea or ocean, New Zealand’s waters can be dangerous, so it’s important to take precautions and stay safe while enjoying the water. Always swim between the flags when you’re at a beach. If there are no flags, that means there are no surf lifesavers on the beach. If so, you’ll need to keep an eye out for rips and other dangers. You can learn more about staying safe around water.
Golf Courses
Our Rawhiti Golf Course is a great way to spend a day (or ruin a good walk, according to Mark Twain). There are a few other courses also in the area, and we’ve even got some disc golf courses if you’re feeling a little adventurous.
Skateboarding
We’ve got skateboarders, roller skaters and inline bladers all covered when it comes to rails, half-pipes and ramps at our local skate park, Thompson Park.
Playgrounds
It’s important to keep the kids busy, and a playground will not only have them running around, but they can also meet new friends, catch up with existing mates and burn off some of that energy so they sleep at night. We’ve got a number of great play areas for the kids to enjoy, like our famous New Brighton Beachside Playground with its whale paddling pool, changing areas, and a great selection of slides, climbing rigs and tunnels (to name a few). It’ll keep the kids happy.
Walking
There’s a lot of green space around New Brighton, providing some excellent trails to explore.
Cycling and Mountain Biking
Biking is a great way to get around New Brighton, whether you’re on the road or looking to try out some of the local mountain biking tracks. If you want to cycle about, make sure you’re up-to-date with the cycling code. For the adrenaline junkies, we’ve also got Bexley Pump Track and its BMX club just next door.
