The first recorded history of South Canterbury began in March 1839 when a group of whalers landed at Timaru. Although these whalers were the first Europeans to visit the area, it wasn't until 1851 that George and Robert Rhodes established a run at the southern limits of the Canterbury Plains. George Rhodes and his wife arrived on horseback in 1854 to live and other runholders soon followed.

Caroline Bay is one of Timaru's claims to fame. When development of the harbour began in earnest in the late 1800s a sandy beach was formed to the north and Caroline Bay soon earned a reputation as one of the safest beaches in New Zealand.

The name Timaru is taken from the Maori " Te Maru", meaning " The Place of shelter" it could also be a derivation of "Ti Maru"' the Sheltered Place of The Cabbage Tree" (Ti) because of the abundance of Cabbage trees in the vicinity.

Today Timaru has a population of just under 30,000 and provides excellent facilities for residents and for industrial development. Just 19 kilometres from the coast, on the road to the high country, is the busy township of Pleasant Point with recreational facilities to suite all. It began as one of the Rhodes brothers' outstations of their Levels Run.

The Pleasant Point Museum and Railway is a fascinating taste of the past. As well as a host of memorabilia housed in the old railway station, steam locomotives, lovingly restored and gleaming, chug along a three-mile track to Keanes Crossing. Here more engines may be inspected and an old-time movie enjoyed in the theatrette before the journey back.

Thirty six kilometres North West of Timaru is the pretty town of Geraldine. Early in 1864, under the Provincial Council, the first Geraldine Road District Board was set up. It was later to become the Geraldine Borough and now forms part of the Timaru District Council.

In the 1860s' there were still swamps, thick with rushes and cutty grass, flax and toi-toi with boggy creeks to skirt and huge areas of high manuka to the river beds and of course native forest. The flax gave rise to an early industry and signs of the flax mills can still be seen.

Today Geraldine while still well endowed with native forest has built on a reputation as a centre of arts and crafts and plants. Each spring a festival of arts and plants is held in the local Domain.

The Vintage Car and Machinery Museum on the main street houses some intriguing old vehicles and implements and is well worth a visit.

On State Highway 1, 19 Kilometres north of Timaru, is the town of Temuka. It is the home of Temuka Pottery. The towns name is, in fact, a Maori word meaning literally "fierce oven'. The high quality local clay lends itself well to pottery.

Local restaurants offer fine fare and a trip to the Temuka Domain on Domain Avenue provides the perfect picnic spot.

The surrounding countryside has always been good for dairy farming - the first butter factory opened in 1883. Neighbouring rivers beckon enthusiasts for some worthwhile trout and salmon fishing and at the river mouths, whitebait can be caught.

The District continues to thrive and the proximity of mountains, ski fields, lakes, the sea and great fishing together with a relatively dry temperate climate makes the Timaru District a great place to live, work or visit.