Timaru

Timaru ( ; ) is a port city in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand, southwest of Christchurch and about northeast of Dunedin, on the eastern Pacific coast of the South Island. The urban area's population of people is the largest in South Canterbury, and the third-largest in the Canterbury Region overall, after Christchurch and Rolleston. The town is the seat of the Timaru District, which includes the surrounding rural area and the towns of Geraldine, Pleasant Point and Temuka, which combined have a total population of . Caroline Bay beach is a popular recreational area close to Timaru's main centre, just to the north of the substantial port facilities. Beyond Caroline Bay, the industrial suburb of Washdyke is at a major junction with State Highway 8, the main route into the Mackenzie Country. This provides a road link to Pleasant Point, Fairlie, Twizel, Lake Tekapo, Aoraki / Mount Cook and Queenstown. Timaru is built on rolling hills created from lava flows of the extinct Mt Horrible volcano, which last erupted 2 to 2.5 Ma . The result is that most of the main streets are undulating, a clear contrast with the flat landscape of the Canterbury Plains to the north. The volcanic rock is referred to as bluestone, and is used in the construction of local buildings.

Timaru ( ; ) is a port city in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand, southwest of Christchurch and about northeast of Dunedin, on the eastern Pacific coast of the South Island. The urban area's population of people is the largest in South Canterbury, and the third-largest in the Canterbury Region overall, after Christchurch and Rolleston. The town is the seat of the Timaru District, which includes the surrounding rural area and the towns of Geraldine, Pleasant Point and Temuka, which combined have a total population of . Caroline Bay beach is a popular recreational area close to Timaru's main centre, just to the north of the substantial port facilities. Beyond Caroline Bay, the industrial suburb of Washdyke is at a major junction with State Highway 8, the main route into the Mackenzie Country. This provides a road link to Pleasant Point, Fairlie, Twizel, Lake Tekapo, Aoraki / Mount Cook and Queenstown. Timaru is built on rolling hills created from lava flows of the extinct Mt Horrible volcano, which last erupted 2 to 2.5 Ma . The result is that most of the main streets are undulating, a clear contrast with the flat landscape of the Canterbury Plains to the north. The volcanic rock is referred to as bluestone, and is used in the construction of local buildings. ==Geography== Timaru is situated along the Pacific Ocean coast. Much of the hinterland is farmland. To the north and northeast are the Canterbury Plains. ===Climate=== Timaru has a relatively dry temperate climate similar to that of neighbouring Ashburton and Christchurch, classified as an oceanic climate (Cfb) by Köppen-Geiger climate classification system. Temperatures are warm in summer and cool in winter, with Timaru's extreme maximum temperature being on 6 February 2011 and the extreme minimum on 3 August 1998. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year, with a very small proportion of it falling as snow. ===Sister cities=== Timaru District has established four sister city relationships. Orange, New South Wales, Australia Weihai, Shandong, China Eniwa, Hokkaidō, Japan Orange, California, United States of America ===Inline speed skating=== Timaru has New Zealand's largest Inline speed skating teams, South Canterbury, which has national records in several disciplines. The club has held many national tournaments over the years and holds the annual tour of Timaru. ===Tennis=== Timaru has several tennis clubs affiliated to Tennis South Canterbury. Their headquarters is the Trust Aoraki Tennis Centre on Benvenue Avenue, Timaru which features 14 outdoor floodlit courts. Since 2025, the venue has hosted a weeklong international tennis competition as part of the ITF World Tennis Tour. ==Utilities== Timaru's water comes from the Pareora River and Ōpihi River, and is stored in the Claremont Reservoir. Timaru's water is treated with ozone and is chlorinated. ===Primary=== Barton Rural Primary School (previously Fairview) Beaconsfield Primary School (previously Pareora West) Bluestone Primary School (previously West School) Gleniti Primary School Grantlea Downs (previously Grantlea) Highfield Primary School Oceanview Heights Primary School (previously Marchwiel School) Sacred Heart Primary St. Josephs School Timaru Christian School Timaru South School Waimataitai Primary School ===Secondary=== Aoraki Alternative Education Centre Craighead Diocesan School Mountainview High School Roncalli College Timaru Boys' High School Timaru Girls' High School ===Tertiary=== Ara Institute of Canterbury ===Business=== Henry Le Cren, Timaru pioneer and first European trader Fulbert Archer, of the merchant house Miles Archer and Co 1867–1893; first Chairman of the Timaru Harbour Board ==See also== Phar Lap ==References== Historic images of Timaru from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

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