Timaru

Timaru is a small port city on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, between Christchurch and Dunedin. The town sits on volcanic rock, and many of the older buildings use the local bluestone, which gives the commercial district a different look from most New Zealand towns. Caroline Bay, a sheltered beach near the port, has a boardwalk, a playground, and a stretch of sand that is popular with families. The Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre displays charcoal and red ochre drawings made by early Māori in limestone shelters across the region, some dating back hundreds of years. The Aigantighe Art Gallery occupies a Victorian house and has a mix of New Zealand and European works. The Timaru Botanic Gardens are small but well kept, with a conservatory of subtropical plants. From Timaru, Aoraki/Mount Cook and the turquoise glacial lakes of the Mackenzie Country are about two hours' drive inland. Fish and chips is the default takeaway. The currency is the New Zealand dollar.