Waimate District

In the Waimate District, local history, art and outdoor experiences are close together: in Waimate, a former courthouse shapes the streetscape, grain silos feature murals, and trails wind through bush and past wetlands. There is also a gallery, a cinema, disc golf and regular markets. When planning your trip, you can focus on culture, activity or local events.

Buildings and stories in Waimate

The Waimate Museum & Archives is housed in the town’s former courthouse. The neoclassical building shapes the streetscape. The museum complex includes the 1879 courthouse, a former police station, a jail, stables and a pioneer cottage. The different types of buildings give local history a visible form.

Another historic visitor attraction is Bushtown Heritage Park, just a short distance from the town centre. Edwardian cottages and historic buildings stand across seven hectares. The miniature railway also runs through the park, on the second Sunday of each month from 1 to 3 pm. If you would like to plan your trip around the ride, check the date in advance.

Waimate’s 36-metre-high grain silos were built by hand in 1920. Their murals depict the town’s past. Historic construction and public art come together here in a striking structure. At the silo site, there is a marked path around the perimeter and a viewing platform on Dash Street. Industrial requirements may affect your visit.

Waimate Art Gallery is a regional gallery featuring established and emerging artists. You can also explore public art around town on a self-guided tour using the Waimate app. As the app’s availability and functionality may change, check before setting out on the tour.

Trails and outdoor activities

In and around Waimate, there are shared walking and cycling trails, as well as separate trails for each activity. Nearby, the two-kilometre Railway Track in Studholme Bush Scenic Reserve follows a former railway embankment. It runs alongside Deep Creek, wetlands and regenerating bush. Trail conditions can change; check them before setting out.

Two Whitehorse routes also lead to Centrewood Park. The Whitehorse Link Track in Studholme Bush Scenic Reserve connects with the park and the Clydesdale Horse monument. The nearby Whitehorse Walkway climbs to Centrewood Park, where the White Horse stands. These named destinations give you clear points of reference if you want to include trails and scenery in your trip.

For a different activity, Victoria Park in Waimate has a 9-hole disc golf course. So, in addition to the trails, there are options in town to choose from if you want to add variety to your holiday.

Culture, events and local strawberries

Waimate Regent Theatre screens current films and hosts live events and performances by visiting artists. Programme dates are subject to change; check if you are planning to attend a particular screening or event.

The Waimate Community Market is held every Saturday morning in Seddon Square. The Waimate Strawberry Fare is also held there, in the centre of Waimate, every year on the second Saturday in December. Its offerings include locally grown Waimate strawberries. If the market or Fare is important to your travel plans, check the dates of the event in advance.

Which holiday home suits your travel plans?

When looking for a holiday home or holiday house in the Waimate District, you can start by considering which experiences you want to shape your days. Local history, silo art and the gallery suit a cultural focus; the trails and surroundings of Studholme Bush Scenic Reserve offer a different emphasis. The market, Strawberry Fare and events programme, meanwhile, add specific dates to your plans.

Discover more destinations: Diamond Harbour, Ferniehurst, Waikari, Arthur's Pass, Governors Bay, Little River, Lincoln University, Temuka.

For the broader travel overview: Canterbury.