Short Walks in Timaru and South Canterbury: 16 Walks of an Hour or Less

Last updated November 2026

This list gathers 16 short walks in Timaru and South Canterbury that take about an hour or less from start to finish. They suit a lunchtime stretch, a walk with young children, or a quick dose of coast, creek or bush when you don’t have half a day.

Seven are in and around Timaru city, from Caroline Bay and the old town centre to the south coast and the Otipua Wetlands. The rest are spread across the district and beyond: a domain loop at Temuka, a stream walk at Pleasant Point, two rural bush reserves, two Geraldine loops, a waterfall at Peel Forest and two walks near Waimate.

How We Chose These Walks

We used the managers’ own figures: Timaru District Council’s walk pages, its Walk & Bike trail guide and its visitor guide, Visit Timaru, the Geraldine Sculpture Trail’s trail pages and the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) track pages.

Every walk here takes about an hour or less in all, as a loop or there and back. Where a manager gives a one-way time, we say so and double it. Where the council’s walk page and Visit Timaru differ, we follow the walk page. Conditions change, so check the manager’s page before you go.

Central Timaru and Caroline Bay

Caroline Bay Walk

The council calls this “a return track from the city to the clifftop for a view along Caroline Bay”. Start at the top of the Piazza steps and descend, follow the Willow Walk and the Memorial Walkway towards the Caroline Bay Community Lounge, then take the cliff path up to the Benvenue Cliffs before coming back through the Sound Shell to the Piazza.

The council’s trail guide gives 30–45 minutes and 2–3 km, graded Easy to Medium. For a 30-minute walk, the walk page says, leave out the Benvenue Cliffs. Look both ways at all rail crossings. Dogs are allowed on the beach in winter only, from 1 April to 30 September.

Dashing Rocks

This 2.2 km loop sets off from Caroline Bay and takes 30 minutes, the council says, graded easy with gradual inclines. It runs over the Benvenue Cliffs past Blackett’s Lighthouse and the site of the 1882 wrecks of the sailing ships Benvenue and City of Perth, turns up Climie Terrace, then goes on to Westcott Street and back down Richmond Street to the coast.

Cross the footbridge to Benvenue Avenue and return down Virtue Avenue to the bay. The rocks are the basalt of ancient lava flows, and seals and penguins are sometimes seen. Dogs are permitted on a lead.

Central Timaru Historic Walk

Start at the Landing Service Building for this self-guided walk through the old town centre. The council gives 30 minutes for its 15 sites, which include the Theatre Royal, the Grosvenor Hotel, the Arcade Chambers, the Chief Post Office, the South Canterbury Museum and St Mary’s Church, ending at the Old Customs House.

The council doesn’t say whether the walk is a loop, but even if you walk back the same way, allow about 30 minutes each way, an hour in all. The council’s page gives no distance.

Timaru’s South Coast and Creeks

South Beach Coastal Track

Start at the Pātītī Point car park. The council describes “a wide, well made track” formed on the edge of a shingle beach, following the coast north towards Timaru harbour and finishing at Stuart Street. It gives 20 minutes, so allow about 20 minutes each way, around 40 minutes there and back.

Look for round stones on the beach, rolling surf and birds such as banded dotterels, South Island pied oystercatchers and white-fronted terns. The council says the track is good for cycling, so expect bikes. Its page gives no distance and no dog rule.

Tuhawaiki (Jack’s) Point

This coast walk runs past the Tuhawaiki (Jack’s) Point Lighthouse, built on site in 1903 by the Timaru Harbour Board.

Start at either the Scarborough Road or the Ellis Road end; the council says there is more parking at Ellis Road. It is a 5 km return trip to either end, and the council’s trail guide gives 1 hour, graded Medium.

For a shorter stroll, walk out to the lighthouse, about halfway, and back. The walk is dog friendly, and the guide allows dogs off lead, but keep them under control: you may see penguins and seals on the rocky beach.

Otipua Wetlands Track

Start at the bridge over Saltwater Creek on King Street/Main South Road, or park in Rothwell Street by the Timaru rowing club.

Follow the left side of the creek to the wooden bridge, cross, pass the railway bridge where the lagoon drains to the sea, then walk around the four-hectare lake and cross the Main South Road bridge back to the start.

The council’s trail guide gives 4 km and 1 hour, easy, and the track is well formed gravel with a few gentle rises. Look for swans, royal spoonbills and the old basalt lava rock wall. Dogs on lead only on the north side; none on the south side.

Otipua Creek

Start on Coonoor Road, across the road from the Saltwater Creek walk. The track follows Saltwater Creek to the BMX track at the start of Centennial Park. The council’s trail guide gives 1.5 km and 20 minutes, easy, but the council’s walk page, and the guide’s own Saltwater Creek entry, give half an hour.

Allow 20 to 30 minutes each way, up to an hour there and back. Native Carex secta sedge has been planted on the banks, and the birdlife includes fantails, black scaup and mallards. Dogs are permitted on a lead.

Temuka

Allan Jones Walkway, Temuka Domain

Start at the Temuka Domain entrance beside the Police Station. Timaru District Council’s trail guide and its visitor guide, Visit Timaru, route the Allan Jones Walkway through Torepe Fields, which has an off-lead dog exercise area and a frisbee golf course, then behind the golf course and back along Domain Avenue through tall gum trees to the start. Both give the loop 1 hour and 3.5 km, graded easy, and both say dogs are allowed off lead.

The council’s dog rules allow dogs off lead on the Domain Avenue tree walkway and near the Torepe Fields car park, but ban them from the part of the domain between the golf course’s western boundary and Fergusson Drive.

Pleasant Point, Waitohi and Claremont

Pleasant Point Stream Walk

Start on Halstead Road, opposite Pleasant Point Primary School; the council lists an adventure playground among the walk’s features. The council describes a flat gravel walk that meanders beside a dry river bed, with grassy banks and tall shady trees, finishing at Runa Terrace, and calls it “a pleasant, easy walk suitable for all ages”. It gives 20 minutes, so allow about 20 minutes each way, around 40 minutes there and back. The council’s page gives no distance or dog rule.

Kowhai Track, Waitohi Bush

To reach Waitohi Bush Reserve, at the corner of Gully Bush Road, follow Main Waitohi Road, turn right onto Galbraith Road and stay on it up the hill. The council gives the Kowhai Track about 40 minutes at a moderate level, and the easy Cabbage Tree Track 20 minutes; it doesn’t say whether they are loops.

Expect views over South Canterbury from the top of the hill. The reserve has a small campground, a picnic area with running water and a barbecue, and a toilet. Dogs on lead only (council guide), and the council asks for care with children and dogs because predator control operations are carried out from time to time.

Claremont Bush

From the Holme Station Road and Beaconsfield Flat Road intersection, turn onto Claremont Bush Road, which is loose gravel; the track is a further two kilometres down the road. If you reach the Pareora River bridge, you have gone too far. Start next to the sign, walk through the macrocarpa plantation and over the footbridge into the bush.

The council’s trail guide gives 30 minutes and 1 km for this circular track, graded Medium with a steep climb. It climbs steeply up one side and drops sharply on the other, which can be slippery when wet. Watch for bellbirds and fantails. Dogs are not permitted (guide).

Geraldine

Ribbonwood Track

Start at the bottom of Tripp Street, opposite Bridge Street, and walk up the footpath of Tripp Street, continuing straight onto the gravel Ribbonwood walking track. The council says the slope is quite steep and the track narrows as you climb, with views over the plains and mountains.

At the top, follow Ribbonwood Road left, turn left into Pye Road, then left into Davies Road and right into Tripp Street back to the start. The council gives 1 hour; its trail guide adds 4.5 km, graded Medium. Take care on the road sections and watch for traffic. The guide allows dogs off lead.

Geraldine Domain Trail

Part of the Geraldine Sculpture Trail, this one-hour loop follows existing and new walkways through the Geraldine Domain, between Cox and Talbot Streets, and along Talbot Street past the Playhouse Theatre. The trail’s managers give 1.74 km in the page heading and 2.0 km in the details, and rate it easy and flat. They also call it wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Sculptures along the way include Piwakawaka and the Pinecone, in bronze and bluestone, and in spring a bank of azaleas flowers. The domain has a public toilet, picnic tables and a playground. Dogs on lead only (council guide).

Peel Forest

Acland Falls Track

This DOC track leads to the 14 m Acland Falls, named after J.B. Acland of Mount Peel Station. From Clarke Flat it is 600 m, about 30 minutes each way, around an hour there and back; the track climbs steeply, then drops into a small stream, and the falls are a short walk up the stream bed.

From Te Wanahu Flat it is 800 m, about 25 minutes each way, around 50 minutes there and back. DOC grades it easy to intermediate. To get there, turn off SH72 9.5 km north of Geraldine into Peel Forest Road, which becomes Rangitata Gorge Road; the two flats are 600 m apart, about 14 km from SH72. No dogs.

Waimate

Railway Track, Studholme Bush

DOC calls the Railway Track in Studholme Bush Scenic Reserve “an easy, level track”. It follows a 2 km section of embankment from the former Waimate to Waihao Forks railway, opened in 1882 and closed in 1953, with Deep Creek on one side and wetlands and regenerating bush on the other.

DOC gives 30 minutes one way, so allow about 30 minutes each way, an hour there and back. It is also a Grade 1 mountain bike track. Follow State Highway 82 (Hakataramea Highway) from Waimate; after about 3.5 km the car park is on the right. No dogs.

Sanders Falls Walk, Kelceys Bush

In Waimate, turn off Queen Street (Highway 82) onto Mill Road and follow it to Kelceys Bush. DOC gives the Sanders Falls Walk 20 minutes one way, so allow about 20 minutes each way, around 40 minutes there and back.

A gentle climb and some steps take you to a viewing platform overlooking the falls, and a short branch leads to a lookout and seat with views up the valley.

The pipe beside the track supplied Waimate’s water from 1915 to 1932. Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control. Hunting is permitted, and DOC says hunters may be present at any time.

Helpful Resources

Questions Visitors Ask

What counts as a short walk on this list?
The whole outing takes about an hour or less, using the manager’s time: a loop, or there and back. Where the manager gives a one-way time, we double it and say “each way”.

Which walks are loops?
Dashing Rocks, the Otipua Wetlands Track, Claremont Bush, the Ribbonwood Track, the Geraldine Domain Trail and the Allan Jones Walkway at Temuka all bring you back to the start. Caroline Bay and Tuhawaiki (Jack’s) Point are return walks.

Which walks have waterfalls?
The Sanders Falls Walk at Kelceys Bush, near Waimate, and the Acland Falls Track at Peel Forest, where the falls are 14 m high.

Which walks suit young children?
The council calls the Pleasant Point stream walk suitable for all ages, DOC calls the Railway Track at Studholme Bush easy and level, and the Geraldine Domain Trail is flat and easy with a playground in the domain.

Can I take my dog?
On many, on a lead. Tuhawaiki (Jack’s) Point and the Ribbonwood Track allow dogs off lead, the Allan Jones Walkway allows them off lead outside the part of Temuka Domain where the council bans dogs, and dogs must be kept under control at Kelceys Bush. No dogs are allowed at Claremont Bush, Acland Falls or Studholme Bush, or on the south side of the Otipua Wetlands.

How do I get to Peel Forest?
DOC says to turn off SH72, 9.5 km north of Geraldine, into Peel Forest Road, which becomes Rangitata Gorge Road. Clarke Flat and Te Wanahu Flat are about 14 km along it from SH72.

Are any of these walks rated for wheelchairs?
The Geraldine Sculpture Trail calls the Geraldine Domain Trail wheelchair/stroller accessible. The council’s Caroline Bay walk page gives wheelchair access on the bay only, not on the Benvenue Cliffs.

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