Caroline Bay, Timaru Botanic Gardens & Centennial Park Walks

Three walks, one with views, one with gardens and one that offers some wilderness close to town.

Where is it?

Central Timaru is the starting point for the Caroline Bay and Botanic Gardens trails and Claremont Rd for the Centennial Park walks.

Terrain

Paved paths and steps for the urban walks; unpaved but well-constructed paths in Centennial Park.

Need to know

From 30min to 1.5hr

Easy to average fitness required

Easy tramping track

Dogs are allowed on the beach in winter only

TRACK OVERVIEW

This walk starts at the piazza steps and 30-45 minutes later – having meandered along the coast, up the cliff path for a view of the coast, past rose gardens, fountains, an aviary and tearooms – returns there. While in the area, Timaru Botanic Gardens trail is another delightful half-hour option. Start at the Queen St entrance, walk up past the conservatory and fernery to the rose gardens, past the hospital and duck pond to the Queen Victoria Sunken

Garden, then downhill to the aviary. For a longer walk, head to the Centennial Park where, from Otipua Rd bridge, you can follow a track for about an hour and a half past a lake, through bush.

Timaru © Adobe Stock

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