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Destination view

Timaru

Timaru is a pleasant town sitting on beautiful Caroline Bay. A busy town centre with cafés and restaurants overlooking the bay make for an enjoyable stay. The town itself has many restored Edwardian buildings and the rolling countryside inland towards Geraldine and Fairlie is stunning.  Timaru is also home to an impressive collection of ancient Maori rock art which provides a great insight into South Island Maori culture.  A short drive north of Timaru is the Pleasant Point Museum and Railway, one of New Zealand’s best preservation railways.

Pleasant Point Museum & Railway

Pleasant Point Museum & Railway

Pleasant Point Museum and Railway is an award-winning homage to the region's past.  Board the Fully restored steam train at the original Railway Station, built in 1875, which is in the center of the quaint country town of Pleasant Point. Travel down the track to the Keanes Crossing complex where there is vintage railway rolling stock; including steam locomotives an 85 ton Ab699 built in 1922 and a 16 ton D16 built-in 1878.  One of the world's only Model T Ford Railcars runs daily throughout the summer months (check the timetables).  At the historic museum, you can walk through and marvel at the interesting displays of railway memorabilia. Also, have a look at the displays of old computers and at the vintage printery see how newspapers were printed in years gone by.  Many of the machines here are more than 100 years old.  Some of the unique features of this award-winning attraction include New Zealand's only restored half-birdcage carriage built-in 1895, locomotive and wagon turntables, and the former 1912 Washdyke signal box.