Last Updated on June 24, 2024 by Jon Algie
Geraldine certainly isn’t the most iconic tourist town in New Zealand, and if you’re a traveller from overseas you’ll likely pass right through it on your way through the mountain regions of the central South Island. It’s a popular weekend spot for Cantabrians though, being a short drive from Timaru (and not too far from Christchurch). Are there fun things to do in Geraldine though? You’re about to find out…
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Things to Do in Geraldine: The Town
Most of the best things to do in Geraldine are slightly outside of town, including Peel Forest and Little Mount Peel. There are a few things to keep you busy in town too though.
Barker’s
Barkers is an iconic South Canterbury brand – I remember drinking their blackcurrant cordial when I was a kid living in Timaru. They have a store / café in downtown Geraldine and seemingly everyone who visits the town pops in for a look.
Barkers has an awesome range of cordials, relishes, sauces and other similar products – you can even try them before you buy. I wasn’t paid in any way for this – we just consume a lot of Barkers products and they’re really good (mango chutney / grapefruit and lemon cordial are our favourites).
The café is good too – we had a nice pork belly pie there recently. The garden setting makes it an ideal spot on a sunny summer’s afternoon (this is really starting to sound like an ad!!).
READ MORE: 9 of the Best Things to Do in Timaru
Stroll the Streets
One of the best things to do in Geraldine is wander the streets. There are plenty of cute shops, galleries and museums as well as some cool cafes, a community garden, a cheese factory and a movie theatre. The downtown area is small, so it won’t take you long to explore.
I see Geraldine as mostly a place for a romantic getaway from Timaru or Christchurch, and people on those kinds of trips tend to like wandering around small towns and popping into nice cafes or galleries. The Vintage Car Museum seems popular, although we’ve never been interested enough to pay the entrance fee!
Walk by the River
There’s a river running adjacent to the main drag of Geraldine – it’s a nice place for a stroll, don’t expect anything too scenic though.
Talbot Reserve
Talbot Reserve is a popular walking spot for locals – there isn’t too much to see there but if you want to stretch your legs without leaving the confines of town then it’s a good option.
Things to Do Near Geraldine
If you’re spending a few days in Geraldine you’ll want to explore Peel Forest, and maybe climb a mountain if you have the energy. As well as the activities listed below, you could also do some rafting at Rangitata Gorge or do the long drive to Mesopotamia Station.
Peel Forest
If you’re an active kind of traveller then it’s likely one of the reasons you’re considering a trip to Geraldine is because of it’s proximity to Peel Forest. It takes around 25-minutes to drive there from town and there are lots of tracks to choose from. If you’re up for a short walk I’d go for the Big Tree Walk (a forest track leading to one of the biggest trees in the forest).
A longer track, with a few uphill sections, takes you to Emily Falls. There are some other waterfalls as well (Rata Falls is currently closed) and other bush tracks – we haven’t done them all yet but I reckon the two I recommended are good places to start.
Little Mount Peel
We hiked up Little Mount Peel recently, on a very hot day in January, and it was harder than we expected. The views are well worth it though.
You’ll see farmland stretching towards the Pacific Ocean, as well as the foothills of the Southern Alps, the braided Rangitata River and the almost out of place Peel Forest from above. It took us around 5 hours to hike to the top and back – not easy but it’s the best thing to do in Geraldine in terms of views. You can also extend your walk to Middle Mount Peel and Big Mount Peel if you’ve got the stamina.
Pleasant Point
Pleasant Point is only 20 minutes away from Geraldine. There you’ll find an historic train station — and an old steam train if you time your visit right. I did take more photos in Pleasant Point but this is the only one I can find!
Orari Gorge
There are some hiking trails at Orari Gorge, as well as a camping ground. We only had a very quick look there, but it could be a cool place to explore.
Getting to Geraldine
From Timaru it’ll take you around 35 minutes to drive to Geraldine. If you’re living in Timaru and want to drive somewhere for a nice lunch on a weekend, it’s one of your best options. If you’re driving from Christchurch to Mount Cook / Lake Tekapo and further south you’ll pass through Geraldine – it’s around 1 hour and 45 minutes from Christchurch and an hour from Lake Tekapo.
Where to Stay
On our recent trip to Geraldine we stayed at Four Peaks Motel. It’s one of the best decorated motels we’ve stayed at in New Zealand and there’s a nice little shared outside sitting area at the back of the rooms. The owners were friendly too – definitely recommended (again – we paid our own way).
Are you planning a trip to Geraldine? Check out our post on the Southern Alps – we’ll show you some of the best walks, viewpoints and scenic drives!
Jon Algie
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