Timaru

Take a break in Timaru and enjoy the beachside attractions of Caroline Bay. You’ll find a maze, mini golf, gardens, an aviary and wonderful walks.

The second largest city in Canterbury, Timaru sits about midway between Christchurch and Dunedin. It has everything you need for a pleasant stopover. Caroline Bay has a safe swimming beach, a maze, a landscaped piazza and walks. A collection of restaurants and cafés links the beach to the main shopping area. If you’re thirsty, consider a tour of the local brewery. The city’s excellent museum has moa-hunter artefacts and all kinds of whaling relics; the art gallery holds the third largest public art collection in the South Island. Timaru has many grand Victorian and Edwardian buildings, constructed in local volcanic bluestone.

Functional facts: Approx. population 42,900, i-SITE Visitor Centre, wide range of shops and services.