Timaru Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

A coastal city with a beach, port, and industrial area.
A pebbled beach with driftwood and a calm sea at sunset.
A white church with a tall steeple and a clock tower, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.
A coastal town with a lighthouse, beach, and residential area.
A white church with a tall steeple and a clock tower.

Our guide on where to stay in Timaru

Find the best Timaru areas for the activities you enjoy most. Learn more about Timaru
Learn more about Timaru
A coastal city with a beach, a port with ships, and industrial buildings.

Timaru Central

If you're spending some time in Timaru Central, South Canterbury Museum and Te Ana Maori Rock Art Centre are top sights worth seeing.

A garden with a fountain, benches, and a statue.
Photo by Paolo Corrales
Open Photo by Paolo Corrales

Timaru Port

While visiting Timaru Port, you might make a stop by sights like Caroline Bay Beach and Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden.

A large church with two domes and a central dome, surrounded by scaffolding.
Photo by Dan Koczur
Open Photo by Dan Koczur

Parkside

While Parkside isn't home to many top sights, South Canterbury Museum and Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden are some notable places to visit nearby.

Maori Hill

While visiting Maori Hill, you might make a stop by sights like Ashbury Park and Caroline Bay Beach.

Highfield

While Highfield isn't home to many top sights, Ashbury Park and South Canterbury Museum are some notable places to visit nearby.

Aaron Court Motel

Aaron Court Motel

2 out of 5
27 Evans St Timaru Canterbury
The price is NZ$93 per night from 19 Aug to 20 Aug
NZ$93
19 Aug - 20 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Timaru. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Timaru Lighthouse and Aigantighe Art Gallery are located ...
6.8/10 (140 reviews)
"At the price point it was probably all that could be expected however for a very little effort they could attend to the shabiness"

Reviewed on 25 June 2026

Aaron Court Motel
Anchor Motel

Anchor Motel

2.5 out of 5
42 Evans St Timaru
Fully refundable
The price is NZ$94 per night from 16 Aug to 17 Aug
NZ$94
16 Aug - 17 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Timaru. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
8/10 Very good! (224 reviews)
"Our upstairs king studio was good value for a one-night stay - staff were friendly, the bed was comfortable, and there were plates etc for limited self-catering. No water coming from the hot tap in the kitchenette meant boiling the kettle to do our dishes. We appreciated the comfortable couch and ..."

Reviewed on 17 July 2026

Anchor Motel
Parklands Motor Lodge Timaru

Parklands Motor Lodge Timaru

3.5 out of 5
65-67 Evans Street Timaru
The price is NZ$145 per night from 2 Aug to 3 Aug
NZ$145
2 Aug - 3 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Timaru. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and private hot tubs. Popular attractions Ashbury Park and Timaru Lighthouse are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (278 reviews)
"Manager was very welcoming and friendly. Rooms were perfect for our families needs and were quite spacious. Surprisngly not noisy, despite being on the main road and a handy location to shops/parks/Caroline Bay"

Reviewed on 13 July 2026

Parklands Motor Lodge Timaru
See all 71 properties in Timaru
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Coastal Ridge Apartments

Coastal Ridge Apartments

3.5 out of 5
38 King Street Timaru
Stay at this aparthotel in Timaru. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the property condition in their reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (108 reviews)
"Wonderful staff!"

Reviewed on 12 July 2026

Coastal Ridge Apartments
Blue Dolphin Motel

Blue Dolphin Motel

3.5 out of 5
40 Evans Street Timaru
Stay at this apartment in Timaru. Enjoy free parking, Wi-Fi (surcharge) and an airport shuttle (surcharge). Our guests praise the property condition in their ...
8/10 Very good! (170 reviews)
"Rooms were clean. Kitchen was equipped. Staff was approachable. Off street parking available."

Reviewed on 8 Apr 2026

Blue Dolphin Motel
‘Jupiter’ Bayview Escape Apartment

‘Jupiter’ Bayview Escape Apartment

Timaru Canterbury Region
Stay at this apartment in Timaru. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities and patios. Popular attractions Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden and Aigantighe Art Gallery ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
"The host was very friendly and accommodating! The location was great and the home very comfortable."

Reviewed on 28 Feb 2026

‘Jupiter’ Bayview Escape Apartment
See all properties in Timaru
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Stay near popular Timaru attractions

Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden

9.0/10 (52 reviews)
You can find out about the history of Timaru with a visit to Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden. Visit the area's spas or simply enjoy its bars.
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