Timaru

Timaru is a city of 28,900 as of June 2023 on the South Island of New Zealand, on the east coast at Caroline Bay. It is a seaport and the second largest city in the Canterbury region, and is about halfway between Christchurch and Dunedin. Caroline Bay has a popular sheltered beach and recreation area.

Historic Timaru

Understand

• 1 Timaru Visitors Centre. (updated Dec 2018)

Get in

By plane

• 1 Richard Pearse Airport (Timaru Airport) (13 km north of CBD). 2 or 3 flights daily, Air New Zealand, direct from Wellington. Taxi or rental car (preferably pre-arranged) from airport. (updated Dec 2018)

By road

Timaru is on State Highway 1, 157 km, or a two-hour drive, south of Christchurch. Coach services operate from Picton, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Get around

Bus services connect the suburbs to the city centre. Taxi or rental car are other means of transport for tourists.

Oddly, SH 78 in Timaru, is the country's shortest state highway at just a mere 900 metres! Why it exists is still quite a mystery.

See

Seal at Caroline Bay

• Aigantighe Art Gallery. (updated Dec 2018)
• Te Ana Maori Rock Art, 2 George Street, Landing Services Building. Personalised and authentic Maori cultural experiences. (updated Nov 2016)
• 1 South Canterbury Museum, 4 Perth St, Timaru Central, ☏ +64 3-687 7212. Tu-F 10AM-4:30PM, Sa Su 1-4:30PM. donation. (updated Oct 2018)
• 2 Sacred Heart Basilica (Timaru Basilica). (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Washdyke Lagoon. Areas surrounding the lagoon are good spots for Birding (updated Dec 2018)
• 4 Timaru Botanic Gardens. (updated Dec 2018)
• 5 Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden. (updated Dec 2018)
• Artwork. The Ferocious "Face of Peace", and the "malconstructed tubular bunk of Joy" which reside below the Piazza, and in front of the earthquake-proof Council offices, respectively. (updated Dec 2018)
• 6 Timaru Shipwreck Memorial. (updated Dec 2018)

Do

• 1 Caroline Bay Beach. (updated Dec 2018)
• Caroline Bay Carnival. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Caroline Bay Soundshell. (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 CBay Aquatic Centre. (updated Dec 2018)
• 4 Centennial Park. (updated Dec 2018)
• Movie Max Digital Cinemas, cnr Sophia & Canon Sts, info@moviemaxdigital.co.nz. The town's movie theatre complex. 
• Mountain biking and cycling – The Timaru area has a number of trails and routes throughout the back country and city.
• Golf - There are a number of golf courses within the area.
• Otipua Wetland. (updated Dec 2018)
• 5 South Canterbury Rugby Football Union (Alpine Energy Stadium). (updated Dec 2018)
• 6 Theatre Royal. A Victorian theatre. Closed for redevelopment. May reopen in 2025. (updated Dec 2018)

Buy

Shops on Stafford Street

• 1 Ballantynes. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Northtown Shopping Centre. (updated Dec 2018)

Eat

• The Oxford, 152 Stafford Street. (updated Jul 2022)
• 1 Zest, 4a Elizabeth Place, ☏ +64 3 688 8313. (updated Jul 2022)
• 2 Speights Ale House, 2 George Street, ☏ +64 3 686 6030. Daily 11:30-late. (updated Jul 2022)
• 3 Bay Hill Brewery Bar (Monteiths Bay 54), 54 The Bay Hill, ☏ +64 3 688 4367. Daily 08:00-late. (updated Jul 2022)
• 4 Sukhothai Thai Restaurant & Bar, 303 Stafford Street, Timaru Central, ☏ +64 3 688-4843. (updated Dec 2018)
• Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant, 84 Evans Street, Waimataitai, ☏ +64 3 684 4180. 5pm-9pm. (updated Dec 2023)

Drink

• 1 The Sail & Anchor, 51 Sophia St, ☏ +64 3-688 8177. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Old Bank, 232 Stafford St, ☏ +64 3-684 4392. (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Saikou Teppanyaki & Whisky Bar. (updated Dec 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Avenue Motor Lodge, 31 Craigie Ave, Parkside, ☏ +64 3-684 8383. from $165. (updated Oct 2018)
• 2 ASURE Ashley Motor Lodge, 95/99 King St, Kensington, ☏ +64 3-688 9939. from $149. (updated Oct 2018)
• 3 Aspen on King, 51 King St, Parkside, ☏ +64 3 688 3054. A quiet motel. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, an iron and ironing board and cooking facilities. (updated Oct 2018)
• 4 Grosvenor Hotel, 26 Cains Terrace, Timaru Central, ☏ +64 3-687 9190. 44-room hotel from $90. (updated Oct 2018)
• 5 Bay Viaduct Motor Lodge, 10 Wai-Iti Rd, Maori Hill, ☏ +64 3-686 6338. from $145. (updated Oct 2018)
• 6 Glenmark Holiday Park, 30 Beaconsfield Rd, ☏ +64 3 684 3682. Campgrounds. (updated Dec 2018)

Connect

• 2 Timaru Library. (updated Dec 2018)

Go next

Port of Timaru

South to Waimate, Oamaru, Moeraki Boulders and Dunedin. Go inland to Geraldine, Fairlie, Mt Cook, the Southern Lakes (Tekapo, Pukaki, Wanaka and Wakatipu) then down to the adventure capital of the South Island, Queenstown. Head north to Christchurch.

Geraldine, a town on the inland scenic route with a thriving arts and culture community nestled at the foot of soft rolling hills and bisected by the tranquil Waihi River. The pretty main street with its venerable trees, gardens and historic buildings is always bustling with visitors and locals alike.

Peel Forest, a short distance from Geraldine is a small, sparsely inhabited settlement village that is an oasis of beauty and tranquility set amid the dense virgin native forest. A popular recreational area offering many outdoor activities.

Pleasant Point, an ideal place to explore Maori rock art, sample the tastes of the award winning Opihi vineyard, or experience the town’s museum and railway with its fully restored steam locomotives with the world’s only Ford Model T railcar.

Temuka is a small town blessed with several rivers, walkways and an extensive collection of trees creating a green and tranquil haven for campers, sportspeople, travelers and locals.

Routes through Timaru

Christchurch ←	N  S	→ Oamaru
Fairlie ← Pleasant Point ←	W  E	→ END