Timaru Travel Guide

  Timaru from Caroline Bay
by DSwede
 
  • Timaru from Caroline Bay
      Timaru from Caroline Bay
    by DSwede
  •   Timaru
    by allikat
  • Christmas decoration in the main street.
      Christmas decoration in the main street.
    by Kakapo2
  •   Timaru
    by balhannah
  • Timaru by the sea with snowy mountains
      Timaru by the sea with snowy mountains
    by kiwi
 

Pro

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  Small enough to explore in less than a day but enough to do on a longer stay 


Con

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  COLD! Winter temps as low as -5 degrees C. 


In a nutshell

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  famous NZ Legends where born in Timaru. 

 

Explore Timaru

Things to Do  

Visit the Aigantighe Art Gallery

Visit the Aigantighe Art Gallery, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  For a start you would surely be interested to know how to pronounce Aigantighe, am I right?Well, it is: “Egg and Tie”.The word is Scottish Gaelic and means: at home.The Scottish name of this Edwardian house refers to the first owners who were born in Scotland and made Timaru... 

The Aviary

The Aviary, Timaru

 DSwede Says:  Down in the park area, adjacent to the botanical gardens is the Timaru Aviary.It is a small domed enclosure with many exotic birds. There may be some local New Zealand birds, but most are imported. There are parrots, wood birds, ducks, egrets, etc.The fenced enclosure has... 

Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden, Timaru's Pride

Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden, Timaru's Pride, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  This is Timaru’s biggest pride, located at the foot of the Timaru Piazza, just a stonethrow from the shores of Caroline Bay. From the Piazza on Bay Hill you have a great aerial view of the garden which has been architecturally designed by Sir Miles Warren, and has strictly... 

You can Dine at the Old Customs House

You can Dine at the Old Customs House, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  The Old Customs House is quite a spectacular building, some steps from the main road where you would not necessarily walk to. Its Corinthian style architecture and its striking white colour with light blue pillars and columns make it a standout landmark.From the Visitor... 

The new Phar Lap Memorial at the Raceway

The new Phar Lap Memorial at the Raceway, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  On 25 and 26 November 2009 Timaru celebrated a Phar Lap Festival, honouring New Zealand’s (and Australia’s) most famous racehorse ever. The highlight was the unveiling of a life-sized bronze statue at Phar Lap Raceway north of the township.The statue was created by Auckland... 

TIMARU VISTOR CENTRE & CAPTAIN CAIN

TIMARU VISTOR CENTRE & CAPTAIN CAIN, Timaru

 balhannah Says:  As usual, we found the Information centre before heading out and having a look at Timaru.The Tourist Information Centre is the restored stone Service Landing Building, which has a small maritime museum inside. The staff helped us out, sold us some souvenirs, and then we had... 

TREVOR GRIFFITH'S ROSE GARDEN

TREVOR GRIFFITH'S ROSE GARDEN, Timaru

 balhannah Says:  I love gardening, and I love my Roses, and here at Timaru, there is the beautiful Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden on Caroline Bay. Located by Timaru Piazza, this Rose garden has 1,200 roses set out in a well designed garden. The gardens are said to have a representative plant... 

Stroll through the Botanic Gardens

Stroll through the Botanic Gardens, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  I felt a bit like in Little Christchurch when walking through Timaru’s Botanic Gardens. Little Christchurch, because so many features reminded me of the Gardens of the big city, the nice lawns to stroll around, duck ponds, a beautiful rose garden, large mature trees, a herb... 

“Bronze”

“Bronze”, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  This rather new scultpure stands in a small grassy patch at the corner of Stafford Street & The Terrace/Port Loop Road, just off the Piazza.It was unveiled on 26 November 2008.The artist was Debbie Templeton Page, a Tasmanian-born artist who has been living in Timaru for... 

Hotels  

Ashley Motor Lodge

 21 Opinions

Restaurants  

Blue Bay Café: South Canterbury's Best Café 2008

Blue Bay Café: South Canterbury's Best Café 2008, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  We often stop at the Blue Bay Café in Timaru, mostly just for coffee, a cake or savoury snack from the cabinet, or a soup – and you do not get a lot more, as the menu is rather small. The quality of the coffees and food is good – but the main reason for loving this place is... 

Speights Ale House: Best dining in Timaru - bar none

Speights Ale House: Best dining in Timaru - bar none, Timaru

 kiwikid Says:  Great food at reasonable prices in a stunning character building. The menu has something for everyone, and includes a selection of vegetarian dishes. The staff are friendly and helpful and the servings are generous.It's warm and cosy in the colder months. In summer the... 

Transportation  

the Southerner

the Southerner, Timaru

 pepples46 Says:  unfortunatly, the Southerner does not run anymore, in Febr. 2002 it had its last journey from Picton to Invercargill....have a look at the intro map...that long beautiful stretch, mostly along the South Island coast, is fallen to coast cuttings by Trainsrail...these days... 

Your own two feet.

Your own two feet., Timaru

 tinkabel Says:  As Timaru is not all that big, you can probably get around on your own two feet in the central city. A car would be very usefull if you intend to see a bit more of the region. There are four bus routes that travel from the main street area out to the suburbs, there are... 

Local Customs  

Timaru Festival of Roses in November

Timaru Festival of Roses in November, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  The Festival of Roses is one of the big annual events in town. It takes place on eight days each November. The dates for 2009 are 20 to 29 November. The theme for the 2009 is: The Four Corners of the Earth.It is held to celebrate the arrival of summer and the city’s special... 

Off The Beaten Path  

What the Phark is this?

What the Phark is this?, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  You might wonder what the phark is this? Even this word (phark) I write and you have never heard before.No, no, this is not correct. You HAVE heard it before. You have only not read it this way.Read it out loud – with a long a and neglecting the r - and you will know.I... 

Phar Lap Memorial for the greatest Race Horse

Phar Lap Memorial for the greatest Race Horse, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  You will not just drive past this memorial even if you visit Timaru. I did not even seen the sign that leads to it for several years – if the sign has always been there… ;-)It is located 5 km east of SH 1. You have to turn off the highway at the northern end of Timaru into... 

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo, Timaru

 balhannah Says:  Our drive to the Lake started off very good, but by the time we reached Lake Tekapo, the weather was not the best. The wind had come up in this area, and was blowing our Camper Van around, and the Lake, well, it wasn't like any of the lovely photo's I had seen. It was like... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Aorangi park

Aorangi park, Timaru

 fishandchips Says:  Aorangi (North Island Moari for Mout Cook) park is the centrepiece for sport in Timaru. The location has a combo cricket (summer) & soccer (winter) filed with a bank going all the way around it for good spectator seating. I've played both sports here over the year travelling... 

Favorites  

Visitor Information

Visitor Information, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  -The Visitor Information Centre (i-site) in Timaru deserves a special mention. Not only because it is located in a beautiful historic building - the Landing Services Building - which you should visit anyway. Also the staff are incredibly helpful and friendly.Surely it helps... 

The Talking Cockatoo

The Talking Cockatoo, Timaru

 Kakapo2 Says:  As you might know by now, I am a bird lover. Although I prefer them to live in the wild, I also feel attracted by birds in aviaries – and if only I stand there and express my regrets that they have to live behind bars…It makes me sad when they climb up the meshfences. But as... 

The Place

Plan a Timaru vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Timaru locals

Experience Timaru
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The People

13 Members Live Here
 
Advice from the Locals
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 Timaru and surronding areas - Tiimaru is a worthwhile stop for a quick break or rage while travling NZ. Things to see like Dolphin tours, Air plane tours from the local airport club. Nightlife is a must, ranges from rugby games to... 

13 members live in Timaru

 

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Top Timaru Writers

1

Roses, Beaches, Heritage and Carnival

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 This page already gives a nice overview about things to do in Timaru but it is not finished yet. Timaru - about halfway between Christchurch and Dunedin on the South Island's east coast - is a... 

2

MY HOME TOWN!

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 This is my home town, even though I'm not living here at the moment I'm still proud that this is where I grew up! Timaru is a small city on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. With a...... 

3

Where "The legendary PHAR LAP" WAS BORN

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 A easy 2 hours drive from Christchurch and you are at Timaru. Its located on Caroline Bay, which is very popular with New Zealanders because of its sandy, safe beach. The Information Centre is... 

4

Timaru

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 This sea-side town is the main town of the province of South Canterbury which includes Mount Cook (Aoraki) as one of its key features. Many places including the local polytechnic use the name Aoraki... 

5

Timaru

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 Timaru is about 2 hours drive south of Christchurch and about an hour south of Ashburton, and an hour north of Oamaru. Its hills mark the beginning or end of the Canterbury Plains (depending on what... 

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