Tours for cruise passengers
These tours have been set up exclusively for cruise passengers.
All tours leave from the Timaru Information Centre. Departure times are general and will be tailored depending on the time your ship is in port.
Pre-bookings are recommended and can be made by contacting the operators directly. Contact details can be found on each listing.
All prices are quoted in New Zealand Dollars. Cash and credit card payment is accepted on the day. A deposit may be required.
GERALDINE FARM TOURS
Experience an authentic, intimate and up-close real working New Zealand farm set in the spectacular South Canterbury foothills.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Sheep shearing demonstration
- Working dog demonstration
- Feeding of pet lambs (bottle feeding when in season)
- Cattle yard work
- Tour of the beautiful gardens
- Morning tea - fresh homemade scones/baking with tea and plunger coffee and cold water
- Bus transport provided from Timaru to site with tour guide included
Departs: 8.30am from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your cruise arrives later than this).
Experience duration: 2hrs
Price: $200NZD per adult
PLEASE NOTE: A minimum number of 12 people is required for this tour to operate. Pre-bookings only. Not able to be booked on the day.
For bookings, please email info@geraldinefarmtours.com
OLD WHEELS TOUR
Calling all train, truck and machinery enthusiasts! Join this tour to visit two exceptional museums with a local guide sharing the region’s history, plus visit the memorial to racing legend Phar Lap. Your guide will also point interesting facts about South Canterbury’s farming history and current practices along the way.
EXPERIENCES INCLUDES:
At Pleasant Point Railway Museum, you’ll see:
- 1922 Ab 699 Steam Locomotive, fully operational
- 1878 D16 Steam Locomotive
- Ford Model T Railcar, used regularly and possibly one of the only ones left still going
- NZ’s only restored half birdcage carriage
- Fully restored old-time railway station
Kyle Park steam and transport museum features a large display of early trucks plus the extremely rare 1868 Hornsby stationary steam engine, still in working condition. Also view:
- 1912 Fowler traction Engine in working condition.
- Large collection of early farm tractors, early trucks and machinery used locally and that built our South Canterbury region
- Ford V8 truck chaff cutter still in use
Departs: 8.30am from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your cruise arrives later than this).
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Price: $100 per adult
PLEASE NOTE: A minimum of 5 people is required for this tour to operate.
For bookings, please email secretary@sctetm.co.nz
THE RAPTOR EXPERIENCE
This is an educational and hands-on encounter with two of New Zealand’s Raptors - The New Zealand Kahu or Harrier Hawk and the Little Owl. Learn about the lives of our native raptor birds, their ways of hunting, what they feed on, dangers to their safety and their cultural significance. This is a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent birds under the guidance of our experienced handler.
Learn about these meat-eating birds, how they hunt, dangers to the safety and their cultural significance. Meet and handle these special birds in a safe and controlled setting.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Return transport from Timaru Information Centre to NZ Raptor Trust site.
- Interesting and educational presentation about New Zealand's Raptor birds including their history, cultural significance, how they hunt and the work that the Raptor team does in the rescuing and rehabilitating injured birds.
- A tour of the rehabilitation centre.
- An opportunity to handle some of the birds including Harrier Hawks and Little Brown Owls.
Departs: 9am & 1pm from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your cruise arrives later than this).
Duration: 1.5hours
Price: $100 per adult
For bookings, please email meet@nzraptor.org
DISCOVER MOERAKI BOULDERS & OAMARU
Explore the famous Moeraki Boulders and Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct with guide, Linda.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Return transport from Timaru to Moeraki and Oamaru
- Time to explore the famous Moeraki Boulders
- Time to explore Oamaru's Victorian Precinct
- Lunch NOT included, however, you will have time to grab lunch in Oamaru
Departs: 9am from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your cruise arrives later than this).
Duration: 5 hours, 30 mins
Price: 1 person - $400pp, 2 people - $200pp, 3 people - $135pp, 4 people - $100pp
For bookings, please email discovertoursnz@gmail.com
EXPLORE MACKENZIE
Explore the famous Mackenzie District on a guided tour learning about the rich history of the area while taking in the beautiful sights.
Choose from two options exploring the stunning Mackenzie Region famous for it's blue waters, snow and glaciers, and of course, New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Return transport from Timaru to Lake Tekapo/Takapō/ Lake Pukaki Lookout
- Guided commentary
- Stops at points of interest
See more details for the each option here
Departs: 9am from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your cruise arrives later than this).
Duration: 5 hours
Price: 1 person - $800pp, 2 people - $400pp, 3 people - $270pp, 4 people - $200pp
For bookings please email timaru@drivingmissdaisy.co.nz
GERALDINE BOUTIQUE VILLAGE EXCURSION
Come for a cruise in a luxurious classic car and travel through traditional New Zealand sheep and dairy farmland with a scenic view of the Southern Alps along the way.
Once on the road, your excursion will be tailored to your interests with your choice of pit stops which may be the small town of Temuka, famous for its pottery and stock sale yards or a photo with the famous ‘Phar Lap’ race horse statue. The choice is yours.
The thriving village of Geraldine is the end destination, where you could take a leisurely stroll through the Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve, home of NZ native trees and the rare long tailed bat. These pathways will then lead you into a village adorned with boutique stores housing decadent quilting fabrics and yarns, possum and merino clothing, artisan jewellery and luxurious decor pieces.
There are visual feasts like McAtamney Gallery & Design Store, Geraldine Vintage Museum (this is Geraldine's #1 attraction on TripAdvisor) and the artisan Talbot Silver showroom.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Return transport from Timaru to Geraldine in your choice of classic car
- Entry to the Geraldine Vintage Museum is included in your ticket price
Departs: 9am from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your cruise arrives later than this).
Duration: 5 hours
Price: $150 per adult
For bookings, please email geraldinevintage@gmail.com
AUTOMOTIVE NOSTALGIA
Visit the South Canterbury Vintage Car Club clubrooms and view 20 classic and vintage cars and motorbikes. Meet the owners and interact with these prized possessions. To entertain the ladies, there will also be local art and craft producers on site to showcase their work, or a boutique design shop a 20 metre walk up the road.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Return transport from the Timaru Information Centre
- Morning or afternoon tea provided
Departs: 9am & 1pm from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your cruise arrives later than this).
Duration: 2 hours
Price: $100 per adult
For bookings please email colin.hawke@xtra.co.nz
GERALDINE'S VINTAGE MUSEUMS
Step into yesterday and explore two of Geraldine vintage machinery museums, Route 79 Museum and the Roger Mahan Heritage Centre.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Return transport from the Timaru to Geraldine
- 1 hour at the Route 79 Museum
- 1 hour at Roger Mahan Heritage Centre
- Free time in boutique village, Geraldine to have lunch and explore the shops and art galleries.
Departs: 9am from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your cruise varrives later than this).
Duration: 5 hours
Price: $125 per adult
For bookings please email route79museum@gmail.com
GO 2 GOLF
Experience the best of South Canterbury's scenic beauty, farm life and sporting pursuits on this fantastic day tour.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Transport from Timaru through the rich South Canterbury countryside to Maungati Golf Club
- 9 holes of golf at the scenic Maungati Golf Club
- Delicious grazing platter style lunch
- Tour of local farms and countryside
Departs: 10.30am from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your cruise arrives later than this).
Duration: 4 hours
Price: 1-2 people: $295 per person, 3-5 people: $250 per person, 6-10 people: $210 per person
For bookings please email go2golftimaru@gmail.com
E BIKE HIRE
Take in the sights around Timaru by jumping on an e-bike. Explore Timaru’s iconic coastal tracks or do a self-guided tour
around the CBD.
Hire for two hours minimum. Medium fitness required.
Price: $50 per bike for two hours.
For ideas on tracks and areas to explor, see here
TIMARU FIVE STOP TOUR
The tour takes visitors on a loop from the Information Centre to the Timaru Botanic Gardens, Sacred Heart Basilica, South Canterbury Museum/St Mary’s Church and the regional gallery, the Aigantighe Art Gallery and the Caroline Bay Piazza, returning to the Information Centre. Buses start from 10am.
PLEASE NOTE: The 5 stop tour is not wheel accessible.
See the full timetable here