24 Hours in Timaru City
There’s so much to pack into just 24 hours in Timaru! From strolling along Caroline Bay to browsing quirky boutiques, sipping coffee in cosy cafes and soaking up the city’s unique character, every hour offers something new to discover.
Morning
Enjoy a coffee on Caroline Bay
Grab a coffee from one of the many Timaru CBD cafes and head to Caroline Bay for a relaxing and beautiful stroll on the beach enjoying the sunrise. Head to Sopheze Coffee Lounge, Mrs M’s, The Oxford or Coffee Culture for a good caffeine fix.
Discover New Zealand’s original art galleries on a tour with Te Ana Māori Rock Art.
The Timaru District has the highest number of known Māori rock art sites in the country, there are just over 700 sites nationwide, and we have over 400 of these in our district! Enjoy an interactive experience at the state of the art centre in the Timaru CBD, take a guided trip out to a real rock art site, or go on a self-guided drive to other rock art sites.
Afternoon
Explore the main street
The Exchange – Heart of Timaru CBD, is a great place to spend some time browsing shops, with a mix of beautiful independent boutiques alongside well known retail stores such as Farmers, Kathmandu and Ballantynes. A few favourite locally owned stores are Kidstuff, Preen, Tuesday, Timaru Booksellers and Soul & Co.
Uncover the CBD street art sites
We love the street art scene here in Timaru, and scattered throughout the CBD you’ll find a collection of vibrant and creative street art works. Download the Timaru Trails app and follow the trail to discover them all.
Evening
Taste our vibrant dining scene
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing somewhere to go for dinner. Head to The Oxford for delicious high end food, take a trip around the world at Street Food Kitchen, or experience Asian fusion at Saikou Teppenyaki & Whiskey Bar.
Meet some cute locals
As the sun starts to set, head down to Caroline Bay to see the Little Penguins/Kororā coming in. They are most active in the summer months (October to March) and the best place to view them is along the footpath on Marine Parade at the south end of Caroline Bay. Please be respectful of the area, do not climb on the rocks and please don’t use flash photography.