Making the most of Timaru
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships berth on the water’s edge of town and is a short 5 minute shuttle bus ride or a 500 meter walk to the town center and i-SITE Visitor center.
Timaru is located in South Canterbury, located between Christchurch and Dunedin on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s South Island. From the peak of Aoraki Mount Cook to the sandy beaches of Caroline Bay, Timaru is unique in what it has to offer in the hinterland. Iconic trips like a visit to Mount Cook or Mesopotamia, the Victorian Oamaru experience and the rock art are definitely draw cards that set it apart from other ports. Of highlight would be the Te Ana Ngai Tahu Rock Art center which houses the world’s biggest collection of Maori Rock Art.
Getting around
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 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.
Nearby places
Geraldine, a beautiful village 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 towns’s museum and railway with its fully restored steam locomotives with the world’s only Ford Model T railcar.
Timaru’s Caroline Bay now has a new $3 million playground, believed to be the largest in the southern hemisphere. It has gained accolade after winning the national awarded Playspace of the Year award.
Food and shopping
Shopping Hours Mon-Fri: 9am to 5.30pm Weekends 10am to 4pm
Money
The New Zealand dollar is used in New Zealand. A few traders do accept foreign currency, particularly in tourist destinations. The;conversion from US dollars to NZ dollars is approximate US$1=NZD1.30.
Staying connected
Free Wi-Fi is provided at: 1.Stafford Street shopping area 2.The Speight’s Ale House 3.Coffee Culture Cafe 4.Timaru Public Library