Ilam is a suburb of northwest Christchurch, around 5 km from the city centre. It's bordered by Riccarton (south), Fendalton (east), Avonhead (west) and Burnside (north). The University of Canterbury main campus dominates the suburb.

Is the University of Canterbury in Ilam?

Yes. The University of Canterbury's main campus has been in Ilam since the 1960s, when it relocated from the central city. The 76-hectare campus includes Ilam Gardens, the College of Engineering, Erskine Building, Central Library and student accommodation halls.

What is Ilam Gardens?

Ilam Gardens is a 5-hectare formal English-style garden at the heart of the University of Canterbury campus, originally laid out in the 1950s. Category 1 listed for its landscape heritage, with public access during daylight hours.

How do I get from central Christchurch to Ilam?

By car, around 10 to 15 minutes via Riccarton Road and Ilam Road. Bus services include the Yellow Line and Number 17, running frequently from the central Bus Interchange to the university campus.

Is Ilam a good place to flat as a student?

Ilam is the standard student flatting suburb in Christchurch, with high availability of shared housing within walking or cycling distance of the University of Canterbury campus. Rents are typically more affordable than central Christchurch but rise during the academic year.

Which schools are in zone for Ilam?

Children living in Ilam are in zone for St Bede's College, Christchurch Adventist School, Burnside High School, Villa Maria College, St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christ The King School (Burnside), Middleton Grange School, Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College, Kahikatea Kirkwood Intermediate, Marian College, Westburn Te Kura O Hereora. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.

How do I check my school zone in Ilam?

Use the School Zone Checker on this page — enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Ilam, Canterbury | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Living in Ilam

Ilam is the University of Canterbury suburb. The 76-hectare main campus has been here since the 1960s when the university relocated from the central city, and it shapes the whole place. Term time, Ilam fills up with students, lecturers and the kind of cyclists who think a hi-vis vest is excessive. Summer, Ilam empties out to a much quieter version of itself.

The campus name (University of Canterbury, Ilam) and the suburb name (Ilam) are basically interchangeable in Christchurch. Ilam Gardens, the formal English-style gardens at the heart of campus, are a Category 1 listed historic landscape, open to the public daily, and one of the better free things to do in northwest Christchurch.

Outside the campus, Ilam is mostly residential: 1950s and 1960s brick-and-tile housing built up alongside the university expansion, with a heavy student rental component on certain streets. Ilam Road and Clyde Road handle the commercial strip - Domino's, Subway, the Ilam Toyota dealership (one of the most-searched local businesses), and a regular run of student-friendly takeaways.

Burnside High School handles the secondary catchment. The Avon River and Avonhead Park network thread Ilam into Christchurch's wider walking and cycling routes. Coffee runs are mostly bicycle-powered.

Is Ilam a good place to live?

Ilam is home to roughly 13,329 people across 19.2 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Ilam scores 58 out of 100, with a safety score of 55/100 and 14% green space.

Schools: Ilam has 63 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.

Housing: The estimated median value is around $1.02M, and weekly rent typically sits around $540.

Lifestyle: Ilam has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 6.6°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether Ilam is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.

Map

Livability Breakdown

Safety55
Amenities100
Schools86
Housing Affordability37
Green space45
Community33
Transport19

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $1.02M
Median Weekly Rent: $540/wk
Median HH Income: $96K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): +6.0%
Data Year: 2023

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.

Nearby Suburbs

Browse all suburbs in Christchurch City →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Ilam?: Ilam is a suburb of northwest Christchurch, around 5 km from the city centre. It's bordered by Riccarton (south), Fendalton (east), Avonhead (west) and Burnside (north). The University of Canterbury main campus dominates the suburb.
Is the University of Canterbury in Ilam?: Yes. The University of Canterbury's main campus has been in Ilam since the 1960s, when it relocated from the central city. The 76-hectare campus includes Ilam Gardens, the College of Engineering, Erskine Building, Central Library and student accommodation halls.
What is Ilam Gardens?: Ilam Gardens is a 5-hectare formal English-style garden at the heart of the University of Canterbury campus, originally laid out in the 1950s. Category 1 listed for its landscape heritage, with public access during daylight hours.
How do I get from central Christchurch to Ilam?: By car, around 10 to 15 minutes via Riccarton Road and Ilam Road. Bus services include the Yellow Line and Number 17, running frequently from the central Bus Interchange to the university campus.
Is Ilam a good place to flat as a student?: Ilam is the standard student flatting suburb in Christchurch, with high availability of shared housing within walking or cycling distance of the University of Canterbury campus. Rents are typically more affordable than central Christchurch but rise during the academic year.

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Ilam

Schools in zone for Ilam

Children living in Ilam have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.

St Bede's College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 811 · decile 9
Christchurch Adventist School
Composite · roll 285 · decile 6
Burnside High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2738 · decile 9
Villa Maria College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 835 · decile 9
St Thomas of Canterbury College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 708 · decile 8
Christ The King School (Burnside)
Full Primary · roll 309 · decile 8
Middleton Grange School
Composite · roll 1387 · decile 9
Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2123 · decile 3
Kahikatea Kirkwood Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 284 · decile 8
Marian College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 436 · decile 9
Westburn Te Kura O Hereora
Full Primary · roll 450 · decile 10

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Enter your address to check your school zone in Ilam. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.

Other nearby schools

Schools close to Ilam that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).

Tuia Burnside Primary School
Contributing · roll 313 · decile 8 · 0.6 km away
Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 675 · decile 8 · 0.9 km away
Ilam School
Contributing · roll 368 · decile 9 · 1.1 km away
Tūora Fendalton School
Contributing · roll 405 · decile 10 · 1.2 km away
Medbury Preparatory School
Full Primary · roll 372 · decile 10 · 1.2 km away
Merrin School Ngā Whetū Kohara
Full Primary · roll 441 · decile 9 · 1.5 km away
Avonhead School - Rakipaoa
Full Primary · roll 585 · decile 8 · 1.6 km away
Christchurch Boys' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1434 · decile 8 · 2.0 km away
St Teresa's School (Riccarton)
Full Primary · roll 168 · decile 6 · 2.0 km away
Te Kāpehu Riccarton School
Full Primary · roll 353 · decile 3 · 2.1 km away
Wairakei School (Christchurch)
Contributing · roll 201 · decile 10 · 2.1 km away
Riccarton High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1116 · decile 6 · 2.3 km away
St Patrick's School (Bryndwr)
Full Primary · roll 169 · decile 7 · 2.3 km away
Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School
Full Primary · roll 414 · decile 7 · 2.5 km away
Te Kura o Te Mātāpuna Isleworth School
Contributing · roll 225 · decile 5 · 2.6 km away
Our Lady of Victories
Full Primary · roll 251 · decile 6 · 2.6 km away
Te Ara Maurea Roydvale School
Contributing · roll 282 · decile 9 · 2.7 km away
Waimairi School
Contributing · roll 312 · decile 9 · 2.7 km away
Wharenui School
Full Primary · roll 393 · decile 3 · 2.8 km away
Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1302 · decile 9 · 2.9 km away
Christchurch North College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 53 · 3.0 km away
Breens Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 277 · decile 9 · 3.2 km away
Elmwood Normal School
Contributing · roll 527 · decile 10 · 3.2 km away
He Tīwai Mātauranga Heaton Normal Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 536 · decile 10 · 3.2 km away
St Andrew's College (Christchurch)
Composite · roll 1640 · 3.4 km away
Rangi Ruru Girls' School
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 705 · decile 10 · 3.4 km away
St Margaret's College
Composite · roll 866 · decile 10 · 3.7 km away
Bishopdale School Te Kura o Papakōhatu
Contributing · roll 165 · decile 3 · 3.7 km away
Ferndale Te Ahu
Specialist School · roll 141 · decile 9 · 3.7 km away
Papanui High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1444 · decile 7 · 3.8 km away
Selwyn House School
Full Primary · roll 288 · decile 10 · 3.8 km away
Cotswold Mātāhae School
Contributing · roll 537 · decile 8 · 3.9 km away
Paparoa Street School
Contributing · roll 324 · decile 10 · 4.0 km away
Emmanuel Christian School
Composite (Year 1-10) · roll 287 · decile 8 · 4.3 km away
Harewood School
Contributing · roll 156 · decile 9 · 4.3 km away
St Joseph's School (Papanui)
Full Primary · roll 427 · decile 9 · 4.3 km away
Christ's College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 708 · decile 10 · 4.4 km away
Southern Health School
Specialist School · roll 20 · decile 4 · 4.4 km away
Sacred Heart School (Christchurch)
Full Primary · roll 185 · decile 4 · 4.4 km away
St Albans Catholic School (Christchurch)
Contributing · roll 108 · decile 9 · 4.4 km away
The Cathedral Grammar School
Full Primary · roll 242 · decile 10 · 4.5 km away
Casebrook Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 441 · decile 6 · 4.5 km away
St Bernadette's School (Hornby)
Full Primary · roll 166 · decile 4 · 4.5 km away
Hornby High School
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1024 · decile 3 · 4.6 km away
Wigram Primary School - Te Piki Kāhu
Contributing · roll 469 · 4.6 km away
Papanui Primary School
Contributing · roll 225 · decile 6 · 4.7 km away
St Albans School
Contributing · roll 562 · decile 8 · 4.7 km away
Hillmorton High School
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1441 · decile 4 · 4.8 km away
Gilberthorpe School
Contributing · roll 225 · decile 2 · 4.8 km away
Addington Te Kura Taumatua
Contributing · roll 335 · decile 3 · 4.9 km away
Hornby Primary School
Contributing · roll 255 · decile 3 · 4.9 km away
Te Kura o Mōkihi Spreydon School
Contributing · roll 276 · decile 4 · 4.9 km away

Explore Ilam

Things to do(10)

The Booty Barn

Ilam Fields

Ray Blank Park

Riccarton Domain Tennis Club

Corfe Reserve

UC Netball Club

University of Canterbury Rugby Football Club

New Zealand Mugairyu iaido dojo

Recreation Centre

The Lawn

Parks & green spaces(4)

Ilam Fields

Ray Blank Park

Corfe Reserve

The Lawn

Healthcare(3)

Unichem

Fendalton Mall Pharmacy

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	21.97	13.41	1.42	11.92
☀️ Feb	21.97	13.01	2.29	10.28
🍂 Mar	19.15	9.84	2.09	9.24
🍂 Apr	17.44	8.87	1.74	8.35
🍂 May	14.24	5.45	1.9	6.19
❄️ Jun	12.14	5.09	1.85	5.46
❄️ Jul	11.28	3.1	2.73	6.5
❄️ Aug	12.29	3.07	1.6	7.8
🌸 Sep	15.21	5.78	2.41	8.92
🌸 Oct	16.89	6.99	2.32	10.37
🌸 Nov	18.01	9.25	1.77	11.48
☀️ Dec	21.1	12.07	2.2	10.86

Living in Ilam

Is Ilam a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Ilam

Schools in zone for Ilam

St Bede's College

Christchurch Adventist School

Burnside High School

Villa Maria College

St Thomas of Canterbury College

Christ The King School (Burnside)

Middleton Grange School

Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College

Kahikatea Kirkwood Intermediate

Marian College

Westburn Te Kura O Hereora

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Tuia Burnside Primary School

Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate

Ilam School

Tūora Fendalton School

Medbury Preparatory School

Merrin School Ngā Whetū Kohara

Avonhead School - Rakipaoa

Christchurch Boys' High School

St Teresa's School (Riccarton)

Te Kāpehu Riccarton School

Wairakei School (Christchurch)

Riccarton High School

St Patrick's School (Bryndwr)

Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Te Kura o Te Mātāpuna Isleworth School

Our Lady of Victories

Te Ara Maurea Roydvale School

Waimairi School

Wharenui School

Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora

Christchurch North College

Breens Intermediate

Elmwood Normal School

He Tīwai Mātauranga Heaton Normal Intermediate

St Andrew's College (Christchurch)

Rangi Ruru Girls' School

St Margaret's College

Bishopdale School Te Kura o Papakōhatu

Ferndale Te Ahu

Papanui High School

Selwyn House School

Cotswold Mātāhae School

Paparoa Street School

Emmanuel Christian School

Harewood School

St Joseph's School (Papanui)

Christ's College

Southern Health School

Sacred Heart School (Christchurch)

St Albans Catholic School (Christchurch)

The Cathedral Grammar School

Casebrook Intermediate

St Bernadette's School (Hornby)

Hornby High School

Wigram Primary School - Te Piki Kāhu

Papanui Primary School

St Albans School

Hillmorton High School

Gilberthorpe School

Addington Te Kura Taumatua

Hornby Primary School

Te Kura o Mōkihi Spreydon School

Explore Ilam

🎯Things to do(10)

The Booty Barn

Ilam Fields

Things to do(10)

Parks & green spaces(4)

Healthcare(3)

Places to eat & drink(35)

Tradies & services(18)