Two racquets, a spare hour, and a drive across town. The court is public, so you're sorted, right?
Not always. Christchurch City Council lists public tennis courts across the city, but says some are used by local community clubs at certain times. A public listing tells you who can use a court. It does not tell you whether a particular court will be empty when you arrive.
Read the note beside the court
The council's tennis-court list has a comments column. It's worth reading before you pick a place to meet.
At Kirk Park in Diamond Harbour, the council lists two full courts at 48 Waipapa Avenue. Diamond Harbour Tennis Club starts play there on Thursdays at 6.30pm during daylight saving and Sundays at 9.30am. The council says the court is open to the public outside club hours, but those are start times, not a full timetable. It gives no end time. If you have a long drive, check before setting off.
Linwood Park is different: the council lists two courts and says court space is used for interclub competitions on Saturdays from October to March. It doesn't give a Saturday timetable in that entry. A sunny afternoon isn't an access guarantee.
Make one plan, then a backup
Send your hitting partner the same council listing. Agree on a court and a second nearby option before either of you leaves. If access matters for a long trip, check the current listing again rather than relying on an old screenshot. If you find a court locked during public hours, the council gives 03 941 8999. That number is for a locked-court problem, not a live availability check.
Finding a time together is hard enough without a wasted trip. Hitter is for arranging the hit with someone who's free when you are.
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