Charteris Bay

Charteris Bay
The boat shed at Charteris Bay recording its association with the Optimist Dinghy
Coordinates: 43°38′40″S 172°41′55″E / 43.64444°S 172.69861°E / -43.64444; 172.69861
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury Region
DistrictChristchurch City
WardBanks Peninsula
Area
  Total
1.52 km2 (0.59 sq mi)
Population
 (2018 Census)
  Total
147
  Density97/km2 (250/sq mi)

Charteris Bay is a small settlement on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand. The settlement is located on the south eastern side of Te Wharau / Charteris Bay, a large inlet of Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō. The settlement sit between Diamond Harbour to the east and Teddington to the west.

The community is notable for Orton Bradley Park and as the location of a quarry which produced a decorative sandstone used in many early buildings of Christchurch.

The community is spread out along the main road from Teddington to Diamond Harbour. It has a golf course adjacent to Orton Bradley park and a popular sailing club, which advertises itself as "home of the Optimist" – a reference to the Optimist sailing dinghy first sailed in New Zealand from Charteris Bay.

At low tide some extensive mud flats support a wide range of wading birds including Royal spoonbills.