Last updated October 2026
Purau (often styled Pūrau) is a small harbour settlement on the southern shore of Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour, on Banks Peninsula within Christchurch City. Nestled in a low-lying valley with a sand-and-gravel beach, stream outlet and mudflats, it offers a quiet coastal lifestyle close to the city yet distinctly rural in feel.
The name refers to a traditional mussel basket, reflecting long Māori occupation of the bay. Visitors and residents value the foreshore reserve, jetty, boat ramp, picnic spots and links to the Head to Head Walkway. It sits under the Banks Peninsula ward and Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board.
Official Locality Facts
- Land area
- 19.64 km²
- Location
- 17.0 km south-east of central Christchurch
- Council
- Christchurch City Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Port Levy, Diamond Harbour, Charteris Bay, Ataahua
- Ward or local board
- Banks Peninsula Ward; Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board
- Getting there
- By car via Dyers Pass Road over the Port Hills then around the southern bays (about 45 minutes from central Christchurch), or via Lyttelton and the harbour road; Diamond Harbour ferry from Lyttelton then short drive or Coastal Cliffs Walkway section to Purau
- Main shopping
- Limited local retail; main services and hospitality at nearby Diamond Harbour and Church Bay
- Schools
- Diamond Harbour School (Church Bay) serves the southern bays communities including Purau
- Nearby landmarks
- Purau Bay beach and foreshore reserve; Purau jetty and boat ramp; Coastal Cliffs / Head to Head Walkway; views toward Te Ahu Pātiki / Mount Herbert
About Purau
Purau occupies one of the southern bays of Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour on Banks Peninsula. The settlement sits in a valley where Purau Stream meets the harbour at the western end of a sand-and-gravel beach.
A narrow dune and public reserve separate the foreshore from Purau Avenue and residential properties. Mudflats at the head of the bay support shorebird habitat and wider ecological values.
The place has deep Māori history as one of the oldest settlement sites on Horomaka (Banks Peninsula). Moa-hunting ancestors left oven remains. Ngāti Māmoe occupied the area, with a fortified pā linked to Te Ahu Pātiki (Mount Herbert) above the valley.
Later Ngāi Tahu hapū, including connections to Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Te Rakiwhakaputa, held a pā on the western side of the bay. The name Purau refers to a traditional mussel basket. The bay holds many urupā (burial sites) and features in local tradition, including a taniwha called Tuna Tuoro and associations with Te Pōhue on the ridge above.
European farming began when the Greenwood brothers established a run in the early 1840s. They sold to the Rhodes brothers; Robert Heaton Rhodes later built the stone Purau Station Homestead. The bay was briefly known as Acheron Bay after the survey ship HMS Acheron.
Today Purau remains a small, low-key residential settlement focused on harbour access, walking and community life rather than commercial development. Council manages the recreation ground and foreshore, with ongoing landscape planning for facilities, parking and cultural sensitivity around archaeological and urupā areas. A Ngāti Wheke urupā on the reserve has been progressing toward return to hapū care.
The setting suits people seeking quiet harbour living with easy access to swimming, kayaking, paddle-boarding, boat launching and walks. Public toilets, picnic areas and the jetty support day visitors. Coastal hazard planning notes risks to the foreshore, reserve, roads and infrastructure from erosion, flooding and rising groundwater, reflecting the low-lying valley location.
Getting Around
Most residents and visitors arrive by private vehicle on Purau Avenue, Camp Bay Road and the Purau–Port Levy Road. These roads carry modest daily traffic but are vulnerable in places to coastal processes.
The Diamond Harbour ferry from Lyttelton provides a car-free option; from the wharf, walkers can follow the Coastal Cliffs Walkway section around Stoddart Point to emerge near Purau Bay. There is no dedicated high-frequency bus terminus in Purau itself; connections rely on the ferry plus local roads or the wider Banks Peninsula network.
Parking at the foreshore is being formalised under council landscape plans to protect grassed recreation areas while retaining boat access.
Getting Outdoors
Purau Bay’s shelly-sand beach, jetty and boat ramp are central to local recreation. The Coastal Cliffs Walkway (part of the longer Head to Head Walkway aspiration around the harbour) links Church Bay, Diamond Harbour and Purau with harbour views; the Diamond Harbour to Purau section takes roughly 90 minutes. Toilets are available at Purau Bay.
The recreation ground and foreshore offer picnic space. Mudflats and the stream mouth add interest for birdwatching. Higher ground and nearby valleys give access toward native bush pockets and views of Te Ahu Pātiki. Always check track conditions and dog rules, as requirements vary by season and wildlife sensitivity on harbour tracks.
History and Heritage
Long Māori occupation left urupā and archaeological features, including pits identified in geophysical surveys on the western foreshore that may relate to occupation or burial. European settlement history centres on early pastoral runs and the Category 1 listed Purau Station Homestead on Purau–Camp Bay Road.
Built in the 1850s of locally quarried reddish-brown sandstone with slate roof, it is noted as an early stone house in Canterbury, associated with the Greenwood, Rhodes and later Gardiner families.
The homestead is private with no public access. Chief Tiemi Nohomutu and other koiwi are associated with the urupā at 177 Purau Avenue. Council and community processes have supported returning that reserve land to Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke.
Near Purau
Just outside Purau, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Where to Learn More
Christchurch City Libraries – Ti Kōuka Whenua: Purau: Concise account of Māori settlement history, name meaning and traditional associations.
Christchurch City Council – Coastal Cliffs Walkway: Track description, times, toilets and links between Church Bay, Diamond Harbour and Purau Bay.
Heritage New Zealand – Purau Station Homestead: List entry for the Category 1 historic homestead and its pioneer associations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Purau in relation to Christchurch?
Purau is a small settlement on the southern side of Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour on Banks Peninsula, within Christchurch City, reached by road over the Port Hills or via Lyttelton and the Diamond Harbour ferry.
What does the name Purau mean?
The name refers to a traditional mussel basket, reflecting the bay’s long history of Māori occupation and use of harbour resources.
How do I get to Purau without a car?
Take the Diamond Harbour ferry from Lyttelton, then walk the Coastal Cliffs Walkway section around Stoddart Point to Purau Bay, or arrange local transport from Diamond Harbour.
Is there a beach and swimming at Purau?
Yes. Purau Bay has a wide shelly-sand and gravel beach with picnic areas, toilets, a jetty and boat ramp; it is used for swimming, kayaking and paddle-boarding, subject to normal harbour conditions and water-quality advice.
Are dogs allowed?
Dog rules on harbour walking tracks and reserves vary by location and season. Dogs must generally be leashed on formed paths, tracks, roads and car parks; check the current Christchurch City Council dog bylaw map before visiting.
What school serves Purau?
Diamond Harbour School at Church Bay serves the southern bays communities, including Purau.
Is Purau Station Homestead open to the public?
No. The Category 1 listed homestead is a private residence with no public access.
What walks start or finish near Purau?
The Coastal Cliffs Walkway (part of the Head to Head Walkway) runs between Church Bay, Diamond Harbour and Purau Bay, offering harbour views and ending at the Purau foreshore.
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Explore Christchurch only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Purau is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.