Last updated October 2026
Saint Andrews is a small rural village in the Waimate District, on the South Canterbury plain south of Timaru. It sits on State Highway 1, five kilometres south of Pareora, and still works as a service point for the farms around it.
The village grew after the Pareora Run was broken up for closer settlement, once the railway connected this stretch of coast with Timaru.
Life here is quiet and practical: a full primary school, a council domain with a grass campground, and open country between the inland hills and the sea. Saint Andrews is not part of Timaru. Waimate District Council is the local authority, while Timaru remains the nearest city for a wider range of shops and services.
Official Locality Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 490, down 1% since 2018
- Land area
- 61.53 km²
- Location
- 14.7 km south-west of central Timaru
- Council
- Waimate District Council
Saint Andrews at a Glance
- Ward or local board
- Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi Ward, Waimate District Council
- Getting there
- By road on State Highway 1, the highway between Timaru and Waimate. The local school describes the drive from Timaru as about 15 minutes. No local bus route into the village was confirmed.
- Schools
- St Andrew’s School (also called St Andrews Primary School), a full primary for Years 1 to 8 on the outskirts of the village. It opened in 1881.
- Nearby landmarks
- St Andrews Recreational Reserve (domain and campground), just south of the village on the main road; the Masonic Hotel building, a long-standing roadside landmark in the village
The Background
Saint Andrews is a highway village rather than a suburb of Timaru. It lies in the Waimate District, so district roads, the domain and local camping are council matters for Waimate, not for Timaru District Council.
The settlement is strung along State Highway 1 on the coastal plain, with farmland spreading inland toward the hills and the sea not far to the east.
Published descriptions call it a small town and a rural settlement, and the local school refers to St Andrews Village. Both fit. There is no town centre in the city sense.
The useful public places are the school on the outskirts and the domain just south of the township, off the main road. Through traffic on the highway is a constant, so this is a place you notice from the road as much as a place you wander on foot.
The official name is Saint Andrews. Local writing often shortens that to St Andrews, including the school and the council camping page. The name is an English saint’s name. Sources checked for this guide did not record a separate Māori name for the village itself.
It suits a short highway stop, an overnight camp, or anyone with family or work ties to the surrounding farms. It is not a resort town, and it does not offer the shops, cafes or services of Timaru or Waimate. Those larger centres are the practical places for a supermarket shop, a hospital visit or a wider choice of schools beyond Year 8.
History and Heritage
Saint Andrews took shape as a rural service settlement after the Pareora Run was subdivided. A rail link with Timaru opened in 1876, the same year the South Island main line connected Christchurch with Timaru, and closer settlement followed. St Andrew’s School opened in 1881 and has remained the village school, teaching Years 1 to 8.
The settlement has stayed small and agricultural. Encyclopedia accounts still describe it as a rural service town, which matches what is on the ground: a school, a domain, a handful of local buildings including the Masonic Hotel, and farms rather than a commercial strip. This guide did not confirm whether the hotel still trades, so treat the building as a landmark, not as a guaranteed place to stay or eat.
There is no confirmed passenger railway station in the village now. The 1876 link is a historical fact, not a promise of a train stop. Check operator timetables before planning any rail travel in South Canterbury.
Getting Around
Almost everyone arrives by car, campervan or farm vehicle. State Highway 1 is the way in and the way through, running between Timaru to the north and Waimate to the south.
Allow about 15 minutes from Timaru in ordinary traffic, as the school describes the trip. Side roads lead off into the farming district; many are quiet, but highway accesses need the usual care with fast through traffic.
No scheduled town bus serving Saint Andrews turned up in council or reference sources. Coach services use State Highway 1 between Timaru and towns further south, but a stop in the village itself was not confirmed. If you are travelling without a car, check the operator for the nearest stop, which may be in Timaru or another highway town.
Getting Outdoors and Community Facilities
The main public open space is St Andrews Recreational Reserve, also called St Andrews Domain. Waimate District Council describes a large grass campsite just south of the township, off the main road. Facilities are basic: a dump station, an ablution block, and a kitchen and lounge.
The site has 24 power sites and numerous non-power sites, with a caretaker on site. Bookings can be made with the council camping service or with the caretaker. Fees change, so use the council page rather than a remembered price.
Dog rules on the reserve are split. The council dog-control information marks both a dog-on-leash area and a dog-prohibited public area at St Andrews Recreational Reserve. Keep dogs leashed where that is signed, and out of prohibited parts such as any playground or camp facilities marked as closed to dogs.
Beyond the domain, the setting is farmland, with the hills inland and the coast a short distance east. This page is about the village, not a named swimming beach, and no water-quality status for a local shore was confirmed here.
If you head to the coast, follow local signage before entering the water. The school is the other community anchor: five classrooms, a library, playing areas and an indoor heated pool for its own pupils, set on the outskirts of the village.
Find Out More
Saint Andrews, Canterbury on Wikipedia: summary of the settlement, its ward, the 1876 rail link and the local primary school, with citations to Te Ara and Education Counts.
Waimate District Council: St Andrews Recreational Reserve: official camping details, facilities and how to book the domain site south of the village.
Te Ara: South Canterbury places: John Wilson’s encyclopedia guide to Timaru and the surrounding South Canterbury settlements, the source behind the Pareora Run and railway history.
Who Lives in Saint Andrews
About 490 residents in 180 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
Near Saint Andrews
Just outside Saint Andrews, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Businesses
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Andrews
Is Saint Andrews part of Timaru?
No. It is a village in the Waimate District, south of Timaru on State Highway 1. Timaru is the nearest city, but Waimate District Council is the local council.
How do I get to Saint Andrews?
Drive on State Highway 1 between Timaru and Waimate. The village is five kilometres south of Pareora. The local school puts the drive from Timaru at about 15 minutes. No local bus route into the village was confirmed.
What council ward is Saint Andrews in?
Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi Ward of Waimate District Council. The regional council is Environment Canterbury.
Is there a school in Saint Andrews?
Yes. St Andrew’s School is a full primary for Years 1 to 8 on the outskirts of the village. It opened in 1881. Secondary schooling means travelling to a larger centre such as Timaru or Waimate.
Can I camp at Saint Andrews?
Yes, at St Andrews Recreational Reserve, a council grass campground just south of the township. It has power and non-power sites, a dump station, toilets, and a kitchen and lounge. Book through Waimate District Council or the on-site caretaker, and check the council page for fees.
Are dogs allowed at the domain?
Only in line with the signs. Council dog-control information shows both a leash area and a prohibited public area at St Andrews Recreational Reserve. Do not assume the whole reserve is an off-leash exercise area.
Is the Masonic Hotel open?
The Masonic Hotel building is a known landmark in the village, and it appears in published images of Saint Andrews. Whether it is open for meals or rooms was not confirmed, so check before you rely on it.
Is there a train station?
The settlement was linked to Timaru by rail in 1876. No passenger station in the village was confirmed for this guide. Do not plan a rail arrival without checking current timetables.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Explore Timaru only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Saint Andrews is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.