Wildlife, art, local produce, heritage and delicious eats – from Tīmaru to Geraldine and Waimate, you’ll find all this and more with these five fun things to do in South Canterbury.
1. Raptor Experience, Tīmaru
Did you know that you can get up close with native raptors in Tīmaru? The New Zealand Raptor Trust was established by avid wildlife photographer Ron Lindsay in 2016 to help rehabilitate injured birds of prey. Today, visitors to the Raptor Experience on the outskirts of Tīmaru can handle a hand-reared kahu or native harrier hawk. The erroneously-named Tom, short for Tom Thumb, is actually a female hawk that Ron has raised from a chick. Here you can indulge your falconry fantasies as the yellow-eyed, sharp-beaked hawk perches, unperturbed, on your gloved arm, then watch her take flight. The centre is also dedicated to education. You’ll learn about how raptors seek and catch their prey – spotting mice from heights of up to 30 metres – and what to do if you come across an injured bird by the road. If you’re lucky, you might also get to meet a resident Little Owl, only found on the east coast of the South Island.
2. Street Food Kitchen in the Landing Services Building, Tīmaru
Get a taste of the world at Tīmaru’s Street Food Kitchen. Set inside the historic Landing Services Building near the Tīmaru port, Street Food Kitchen’s menu spans continents and cultures. Try Chinese bao buns or dumplings, Mexican tacos, Thai noodles, French cheese, Moroccan kebabs, or Japanese fried chicken. As well as the great dining experience, the heritage building itself is fascinating. About 2.5 million years ago a volcano created the last lava flow in the South Island, forming reefs that provided shelter on the otherwise exposed Tīmaru coast. In the early 1870s, the solidified lava, or basalt, was used to craft the Landing Services Building on what was the old Tīmaru beach before the harbour was constructed. Today, it is the only such building still standing in the Southern Hemisphere. The Landing Services Building is also home to the Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre, which houses the most significant collection of Māori rock art in Aotearoa.
3. Aigantighe Art Gallery, Tīmaru
With regularly changing exhibitions, a sculpture-filled garden and a collection that includes Pacific, European, Asian and New Zealand works from the 16th Century onwards, Aigantighe Art Gallery is renowned as one of the best galleries in the South Island. The name ‘Aigantighe’ is Gaelic and pronounced ‘egg-an-tie.’ Stop in to admire the current exhibits, which could range from contemporary to classical, sculpture, ceramic and everything in between. Visitors are also welcome to pack a picnic to enjoy in the beautiful two-acre garden.
4. Waimate Wallabies
South Canterbury is not only home to raptors but also marsupials. The Bennett’s wallaby was originally introduced from Australia in 1874 in a misguided attempt to establish a fur trade. Today, their numbers have exploded and they do significant damage to the native environment. But they are incredibly cute! Wild wallabies are regularly spotted throughout the region, but if you want to get up close to hand-reared animals, head to EnkleDooVery Korna Wallaby Park. Gwen Dempster-Schouten raises orphaned joeys here, and her set up includes multiple enclosures that visitors are free to wander through to offer wallabies some special food pellets and a gentle scratch. Some of the well-fed residents are up to 18 years old, despite wallabies normally living just 10 to 12 years in the wild. While you’re there, make sure you check out the quirky trapper’s hut museum that Gwen has set up in the foyer of her home.
5. Preserves, gin and cheese, Geraldine
Geraldine is the foodie capital of South Canterbury. If you have a penchant for local produce or preserves, make sure you take a detour to this pretty little town. Home to the flagship Barker’s Food Store, locally-made cheese and fine gins, gastronomes will want to stock up here. The spacious Barker’s Food Store is an ideal spot for lunch, with a menu that features the famous chutneys, relishes, sauces and syrups. You can also purchase products to take home. Just up the street and tucked down an alley, you’ll find Humdinger Gin. An onsite distillery filled with multiple copper stills, Humdinger is run by husband and wife team Andrew and Saskia Lewis. Producing a small range of boutique gins – dry, citrus and pink – you can sample the wares and learn about the botanicals that go into each brew. Head across the road to find the Geraldine Cheese Company – another spot offering delectable samples. The shop sells an incredible range of cheeses, including unusual types made from sheep and even deer milk. The cheeses are made on site – you can watch the curds come together through the picture window – and the shop also stocks a selection of delicious deli products. Pack a chiller bag.
