If the surge of powerful surf, wind in your hair, pebbles underfoot, and a forever space of blue and grey excites you, then this beach not too far from Christchurch NZ is for you.

It has been used as a launch site for sounding rockets. The University of Canterbury has a meteorological research station based here. Hector's dolphins live along the beach in notable numbers, and whales, fur seals, much rarer whales and elephant seals are known to appear to cavort and rest.

Birdlings Flat is named for the Birdling family, who were the first European Settlers to farm the area.