Offering exquisite scenery, rare wildlife, and spectacular trails – discover why Timaru’s striking natural attractions should be on your hitlist.
From October to March each year Caroline Bay has an influx of rowdy summer-time visitors who like to make their presence known. In the evenings they emerge from the water to make a racket, hold up nearby traffic, and hog the footpaths. They are, of course, Little Blue Penguins(opens in new window), known as Kororā in Māori. Kororā are the world’s smallest penguin, weighing about as much as a bag of sugar. Please note that while the penguins are entitled to disturb the locals, you’re not entitled to disturb them. Please stick to the viewing platforms and don’t use flash photography. Visit Timaru Penguins for more guidelines.
Raptors (birds of prey) play a greater role in our lives than many people realise. Speakers of English use terms derived from falconry in everyday speech, such as ‘under the thumb’, ‘hoodwinked’, and ‘fed up’. The sound of a ruru (New Zealand little owl) at night is thought to be a sign of bad weather to come. And each time the New Zealand All Blacks perform the haka before a rugby match, they use gestures that mimic the large eyes of a ruru. On a Raptor Experience tour, you’ll not only learn more fascinating facts about these birds, but you will also meet some of them. Profits from these tours go towards raptor conservation.
Mesopotamia(opens in new window) is a beautiful high country region near the Southern Alps. Unlike its namesake, it is full of dark sinewy mountains and rivers of glacial meltwater. Harsh weather – which could be strong sun, snow, wind, or rain – is a given and helps keep the region off the beaten track, creating a wonderful sense of isolation. A portion of Mesopotamia has been incorporated into the Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park, which is packed has excellent walks and hikes, including section of the Te Araroa Trail. The rest remains as a large working farm called Mesopotamia Station that also offers unique accommodation, hunting, and sightseeing experiences.
Timaru offers plenty of excellent short walks and cycling trails that show off the region’s natural beauty. Highlights include Big Tree Walk in Peel Forest, where you’ll see a 1000-year-old Tōtara tree and sixty-eight species of native fern, and Jack’s Point Lighthouse walk, a stunning coastal walk to Jack’s Point. For more information, visit Venture Timaru(opens in new window).
Hike to the summit of Little Mt Peel / Huatekerekere track(opens in new window) for spectacular views to Mt Somers, Mt Hutt, and the Canterbury plains. The ten-kilometre track takes 6-8 hours to complete, depending on which route you take and your level of fitness.
Starting in Timaru, the Central South Cycling Trail(opens in new window) takes you to across the Timaru plains to the beautiful Mackenzie region. The trail is graded easy to intermediate and takes 3-4 days to complete, but you can do as much or as little of it as you like.
The free Timaru Trails app has loads of useful information, including where to find the region’s best hikes and cycling trails.
