The major urban areas are Rangiora and Kaiapoi, which are respectively about 30 and 20 minutes travelling time by car from the centre of Christchurch City.

The District occupies some 225,000 hectares, and extends from Pegasus Bay in the east to the Puketeraki Range in the west.

In pre-European times, there were several important Ngāi Tahu settlements in the area now occupied by the Waimakariri District.

The name Waimakariri translates from Te Reo Māori to 'cold water', referring to the snow melt source of the river in the Southern Alps.

Despite rapid growth, Waimakariri has retained its rural/small-town character and a high proportion of residents are involved in an extensive range of community and recreational organisations.

[8] A large portion of the Waimakariri District has fertile flat land, or highly productive rolling downs.

Much of the land to the east of Rangiora is reclaimed swamp, which is still subject to poor drainage and occasional flooding.

Historically, the District was dominated by extensive agricultural and pastoral farming activity, with few major industries.

More recently, many new small holdings have been created; some of these are used for full-time or part-time horticultural enterprises, including vegetable and flower growing.

The South Island Main Trunk Railway and State Highway 1 cross the eastern portion of the District.

The famous Waimakariri River provides opportunities to jet boat, kayak and fish, and sandy beaches are nearby.

The District also offers the opportunity to enjoy sailing on Pegasus Lake, horse riding, farm tours and weekly farmers' markets.

The foothills and mountains offer a variety of tramping experiences, which complement a growing range of walking trails and formal recreational areas throughout the District.