Tourism statisticsState2026
Canterbury Tourism Statistics: 5.8M Nights in 2025
Canterbury recorded 5.8 million nights in 2025, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reports. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment counts nights, not visitors, at this level. AirROI estimates 166,836 Airbnb stays in Canterbury in the 12 months to October 2026, with Christchurch the most booked town. The busiest month was January.
Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 609,139
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 3.6 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- January
- From abroad, among guests who left a review
- 63%
Key facts
Canterbury Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment puts Canterbury at 5.8 million nights in 2025.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in Canterbury at 166,836 in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Canterbury added up to 609,139 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in Canterbury lasted 3.6 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 62 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks January the busiest Airbnb month in Canterbury in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by February and December, with June the quietest.
- AirROI estimates the six busiest Airbnb months in Canterbury ran unbroken from November to April in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Canterbury in February were booked furthest ahead, about 79 days, against 40 days for June, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates 63% of Canterbury Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 came from abroad, led by Australia at 17% and the United States at 12%.
- Among Canterbury Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, Auckland was the top origin city at 8%, ahead of Christchurch at 5.6%, AirROI estimates.
By place
- AirROI estimates Christchurch had the most Airbnb stays of the 7 towns it lists in Canterbury in the 12 months to October 2026, at 83,070, ahead of Lake Tekapo and Twizel.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit Canterbury?
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment counted 5.8 million nights in 2025.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.8 millionNights | Commercial accommodation guest nights | 2025 | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in Canterbury
Canterbury had 4,648 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 166,836 stays and 609,139 nights. A typical stay lasted 3.6 nights and was booked about 62 days ahead, shorter than the worldwide stay of 5.2 nights. AirROI's figures cover the 16 towns it tracks in Canterbury; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 4,648
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 166,836
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 609,139
- Typical stay
- 3.6 nights
- Booked ahead
- 62 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in Canterbury?
On Airbnb, January was the busiest month in Canterbury in the 12 months to October 2026, then February and December. June was the quietest. The six busiest months run unbroken from November to April.
January ranks first, June last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: January, February, December, March, November, April, October, September, August, July, May, June.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| January | 9.9% | 69 days |
| February | 9.8% | 79 days |
| December | 9.7% | 73 days |
| March | 9.7% | 65 days |
| November | 9.1% | 68 days |
| April | 8.4% | 63 days |
| October | 8.3% | 59 days |
| September | 7.4% | 54 days |
| August | 7.4% | 51 days |
| July | 7.2% | 55 days |
| May | 6.8% | 47 days |
| June | 6.2% | 40 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do Canterbury Airbnb Guests Come From?
Among Canterbury Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 63% came from abroad, led by Australia at 17% and the United States at 12%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, Auckland was the top origin city at 8%, ahead of Christchurch at 5.6%. The figures rest on 455,693 reviews, written over many years.
63% from abroad
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From abroad 63%
- From within New Zealand 37%
Top countries abroad
Among guests who left a review
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in Canterbury
Christchurch, Lake Tekapo and Twizel took 75% of Airbnb stays in Canterbury in the 12 months to October 2026. February is the busiest Airbnb month in 2 of the 7 towns, led by Christchurch, and January in 2, led by Hanmer Springs. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from 32% in Hanmer Springs to 88% in Lake Tekapo.
| Christchurch | 83,070 |
| Lake Tekapo | 27,540 |
| Twizel | 15,034 |
| Hanmer Springs | 9,756 |
| Kaikōura | 9,050 |
| Banks Peninsula Community | 7,951 |
| Methven | 3,012 |
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. Lists the 7 of Canterbury's 16 towns with 100 or more Airbnb homes. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in Canterbury
How many tourists visit Canterbury?
Canterbury had 5.8 million nights in 2025, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. That figure counts nights, not visitors. AirROI estimates 166,836 Airbnb stays in Canterbury in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.
When is high season in Canterbury?
The busiest Airbnb month in Canterbury in the 12 months to October 2026 was January, then February and December. The six busiest months run from November to April.
What is the quietest month in Canterbury?
June was the quietest Airbnb month in Canterbury in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and May ranked 11th. Stays in June were booked about 40 days ahead, against 79 days for February.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in Canterbury?
A typical Airbnb stay in Canterbury lasted 3.6 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 62 days ahead. That is shorter than the worldwide 5.2 nights. By month, stays ran from 3.0 nights in April to 4.4 nights in December.
Where do Airbnb guests in Canterbury come from?
Of Canterbury Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 63% came from abroad, AirROI estimates. The largest groups were Australia at 17% and the United States at 12%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was Auckland at 8%, ahead of Christchurch at 5.6%.
What is the most booked town in Canterbury on Airbnb?
Christchurch was the most booked town in Canterbury on Airbnb, with an estimated 83,070 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Lake Tekapo and Twizel.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment counts nights (5.8 million in 2025). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds, and a night is a night, not a person. AirROI's 166,836 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 16 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 455,693 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.