Timaru Day Trip

I had a day with no plans for Oamaru and the surrounding area so decided to take a day trip up to Timaru, a straight-forward 1 hour drive up the coast.

I was there on a Saturday, and I was able to catch the tail end of the Farmer’s Market held next to the Timaru Information Office. This is adjacent to the railway and docklands. There are plenty of places to eat and shop a short walk from here. At the very end of the main shopping street (Stafford Street) there is an overlook that looks down on to the Caroline Bay parklands and beach – a good swimming beach. To the right of Caroline Bay is the Port of Timaru and the docklands.

The parklands were the perfect place for a picnic lunch in the rose garden.

The Face of Peace – left-hand photo. From the rear – right-hand photo – I think it looks a bit like Dobby the House Elf from Harry Potter.

St Mary’s Church (Anglican) built in the Gothic Revival style from local Bluestone and Oamaru Stone with a Welsh Slate Roof, was built between 1880 – 1886 with the tower added in 1907-1908. The interior pillars are made from Aberdeen Granite that was used as ballast in ships travelling from Britain in the early days.

I’m not a church goer by any stretch of the imagination but I do enjoy visiting them to admire the architecture and the craftmanship that has gone into their creation. I also enjoy taking a seat to experience the peace and calm and to contemplate “stuff”.

I love the carving of the Last Supper behind the alter.

Riverstone Castle is to my mind an eccentric oddity and totally out of place in the Otago rural landscape. It is, however, a talking point and I’m sure an experience for those that wish to take a tour of the property.