Avon-Heathcote Estuary @ South Spit

Christchurch, New Zealand
Managed by Swim Guide NZ

Also known by its two native monikers of Te Karoro Karoro (chatter of seagulls) and Kaiaua (eat herring and mullet), the southern tip of the Brighton spit is a wilderness of high grass and sand dunes, populated by nesting birds. There is plenty of hiking to be enjoyed at the tip, though swimmers should be aware of potentially strong currents in the waters. Parking and amenities are a considerable walk away from the tip.

WATER QUALITY
  • Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on February 11th, 2019. Swim Guide NZ updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   
  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Avon-Heathcote Estuary @ South Spit is sampled weekly from November 1st to March 31st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Canterbury Regional Council monitors water quality at popular swimming spots throughout the Canterbury region during summer. Water samples are collected weekly from around 100 recreational swimming sites from mid-November to February/March. LAWA assigns each site a grade, which is based on the last three years of monitoring data from the site.

Coastal waters are tested for Enterococci levels.

The council issues an amber alert if a single sample level of Enterococci are greater than 280 units /100ml.

Pulse Energy updates Swim Guide for the latest water quality information daily, Monday - Friday during the swimming season. Data in Swim Guide is sourced from LAWA’s “Can I Swim Here” program.
Visit LAWA’s factsheet on recreational monitoring in NZ here. https://www.lawa.org.nz/learn/factsheets/what-do-the-swim-icons-mean/

A beach has a GREEN current status in Swim Guide when it has met the water quality standard of <280 enterococci/100 mL.

A beach has a RED current status in Swim Guide when samples exceed the water quality criteria of >280 enterococci/100 mL.

A beach is marked Grey in Swim Guide when there is no current or reliable monitoring information available.

Swimming is not recommended within 48 hours after a heavy rainfall or around storm water outfalls and at stream mouths.

Water quality updates are also available on the CRC’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/canterburyrecwater?v=wall

WATER QUALITY GRAPH

Avon-Heathcote Estuary @ South Spit

Christchurch, New Zealand
Managed by Swim Guide NZ
WATER QUALITY
  • Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on February 11th, 2019. Swim Guide NZ updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   

Also known by its two native monikers of Te Karoro Karoro (chatter of seagulls) and Kaiaua (eat herring and mullet), the southern tip of the Brighton spit is a wilderness of high grass and sand dunes, populated by nesting birds. There is plenty of hiking to be enjoyed at the tip, though swimmers should be aware of potentially strong currents in the waters. Parking and amenities are a considerable walk away from the tip.

  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Avon-Heathcote Estuary @ South Spit is sampled weekly from November 1st to March 31st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Canterbury Regional Council monitors water quality at popular swimming spots throughout the Canterbury region during summer. Water samples are collected weekly from around 100 recreational swimming sites from mid-November to February/March. LAWA assigns each site a grade, which is based on the last three years of monitoring data from the site.

Coastal waters are tested for Enterococci levels.

The council issues an amber alert if a single sample level of Enterococci are greater than 280 units /100ml.

Pulse Energy updates Swim Guide for the latest water quality information daily, Monday - Friday during the swimming season. Data in Swim Guide is sourced from LAWA’s “Can I Swim Here” program.
Visit LAWA’s factsheet on recreational monitoring in NZ here. https://www.lawa.org.nz/learn/factsheets/what-do-the-swim-icons-mean/

A beach has a GREEN current status in Swim Guide when it has met the water quality standard of <280 enterococci/100 mL.

A beach has a RED current status in Swim Guide when samples exceed the water quality criteria of >280 enterococci/100 mL.

A beach is marked Grey in Swim Guide when there is no current or reliable monitoring information available.

Swimming is not recommended within 48 hours after a heavy rainfall or around storm water outfalls and at stream mouths.

Water quality updates are also available on the CRC’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/canterburyrecwater?v=wall

WATER QUALITY GRAPH



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