Nestled at the foot of the steep volcanic crags that form the northern edge of the hills, some 8 kilometres (5 mi) southeast of the city centre the Heathcote Valley is dominated by the approaches to the Lyttelton road tunnel, a major arterial that passes through the Port Hills. The road is part of the State Highway 74 network. The Main South Railway line also passes through the suburb, before entering the Lyttelton rail tunnel that connects with the port of Lyttelton.

Heathcote Valley is the lower terminus of the Christchurch Gondola, which goes up to Mount Cavendish on the Port Hills,^[5] and also for the Bridle Path walking track over the northern rim of the Lyttelton volcano to the port of Lyttelton.

In the past the Heathcote Valley was known for its orchards, brickworks and maltworks. The distinctive towers of the Canterbury Malting Company's maltworks dominated the skyline until 2012 - when along with the rest of the remaining buildings were demolished to make way for residential developments.^[6]

Despite its name, Heathcote Valley is situated some two kilometres south of the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River, which does not flow through the suburb. Rather, the river flows east across a wide plain to the north.

Heathcote Valley covers 4.20 km² (1.62 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 2,310 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 550 people per km².

Heathcote Valley had a population of 2,229 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 111 people (5.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 57 people (2.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 873 households, comprising 1,083 males and 1,146 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 44.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 411 people (18.4%) aged under 15 years, 330 (14.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,080 (48.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 405 (18.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.1% European/Pākehā, 6.9% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 2.3% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 20.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.1% had no religion, 30.1% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 0.1% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 459 (25.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 294 (16.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 393 people (21.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 927 (51.0%) people were employed full-time, 315 (17.3%) were part-time, and 36 (2.0%) were unemployed.^[7]

Heathcote Valley School (Māori: Te Kura o Te Tihi o Kahukura) is a full primary school catering for years 1 to 8.^[8] It had a roll of 183 as of February 2024.^[9] The school started in a private house in 1860 and the first classroom opened in 1861.^[10]

• Wally Argus – New Zealand rugby international who bought a market garden in Heathcote Valley in 1949
• Bob Parker – former mayor of Christchurch was brought up here^[11]

• In The Shadow Of The Rock, 150 Years of Heathcote Valley, 2010, Paul Corliss ISBN 9780473169220

• Christchurch City Libraries: Gimblett Collection historic photographs of Heathcote Valley
• Official site of the Christchurch Gondola