Banks Peninsula is the New Zealand peninsula on Canterbury’s east coast that includes the volcanic peaks of Banks Peninsula.
It is a hilly, largely volcanic landform extending into the Pacific Ocean east of Christchurch. The peninsula’s two main volcanic centres formed between about 11 and 8 million years ago, and later erosion created its distinctive bays, harbours and ridges. Lyttelton Harbour and Akaroa Harbour are among its best-known features.
The area was originally known by Māori names including Te Pataka o Rakaihautu. European settlement later brought French colonists to Akaroa in 1840, although British sovereignty had already been proclaimed. A common mix-up is to call the whole area an island: Banks Peninsula is joined to the South Island by a broad isthmus and is geographically a peninsula.