Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism
Waimate Itinerary Features
| Must see! | |
| Te Waimate historic station | |
| The red-necked or brush wallaby - seen in parks around Waimate and in native bush and forestry hills behind the town | |
| Te Kiteroa - a stately home built in 1910 | |
| Maori Rock drawings at The Moa Cave | |
| The Secret Garden | |
| Maureen Allison's Garden | |
| Birchwood Garden | |
| Craigburn | |
| EnkleDooVeryKorna wallaby park | |
| Must Do! | |
| Talk to the animals ... at Kelcey's Bush Farmyard Holiday Park | |
| Superb hunting and fishing | |
| Off The Beaten Track | |
| Bush walks, forest walks, beach walks, river walks, park walks, garden walks and walks up mountains | |
| Eat, Drink and Be Merry | |
| Make a picnic of it at Blue Cliffs Station | |
The Strawberry Trail
Take a day to explore the history, scenery and character of the Waimate District by following the Strawberry Trail. This heritage trail takes you to the Grand National Monument, the Waihao Box and Bishop Selwyn’s Memorial to the east, and into Waimate to visit the Waimate Museum; built in 1879 this former courthouse exhibits an extensive range of memorabilia. A Waimate historic walk is recommended for those keen on learning more about the town’s Edwardian era.
Fishing & Hunting
The world-renowned Waitaki River is an angler’s paradise. The mighty Waitaki frequently carries the most water of any of New Zealand’s big east coast salmon rivers with 28kms of fishing water. Fishing guides are available or alternatively several accesses are clearly marked along the river. An annual Salmon fishing contest run in March offers thousands of dollars in prizes and draws fishermen worldwide.
Trout fishing is also very popular along the river with excellent spots offered up-river in the hydro lakes area for the fly fisherman.
A unique experience for the hunter is a Wallaby shooting trip, only available in the Waimate area. Guided Safaris trips are offered by Whitehorse Safaris, with all equipment supplied, are most popular all year round.
Discovery
Day 1:
Waimate has many treasures to discover. Visit Te Waimate Station for a guided tour of the historic buildings and a farm walk, then onto the Waimate Knitwear factory, which are always a worthwhile visit with a tour through the factory and a visit to the shop.
The day is not complete without a visit to the Kelceys Bush Holiday Farmyard to enjoy a nocturnal bush walk. On this educational guided tour discover wallabies, kiwi bears, silver fern and large fuchsia trees plus much more.
Day 2:
Visit EnkelDooVery Korna a country craft shop with olde worlde charm. You could even find you’re holding onto a baby wallaby. Relax with a coffee in the Secret Garden (one of the many delightful gardens in the area).
Indulge – with a visit to Te Kiteroa and discover the pleasures of aromatherapy oils, many produced from the garden surrounding this old homestead. Enjoy spectacular views over the town of Waimate. A native bush walk starts from this point, leading to the Whitehorse monument. At the top walkers are rewarded with breathtaking views over South Canterbury. In season, your tour around Waimate is not complete without a bowl of delicious strawberries or raspberries fresh from one of the local growers.
