Where in the world is Waimate?
Waimate sits on the east coast of the South Island, about halfway between Christchurch and Dunedin.
Its neighbours are the legendary Mackenzie - home to Aoraki Mt Cook and beautiful lakes, Victorian Oamaru with its steampunk, seriously good cheese and penguins, and Timaru, a laid-back seaside city and a popular cruise ship stop with outstanding food.
Getting to Waimate
We’re in a great neighbourhood - the best of the central South Island.
Fly
The nearest airport is Timaru, and we are a scenic drive from the South Island's international airports - Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.
Approximate drive times:
Timaru Airport 46 minutes
Christchurch Airport 2 hours 38 minutes
Dunedin Airport 2 hours 33 minutes
Queenstown Airport 3 hours 25 minutes
Waimate Maps
Waimate District library and information centre
This is the front door to our district's unique offerings and experiences.
The staff are local experts and can help you with advice on accommodation, activities, attractions, events, eateries and everything in between.
Waimate District Library is a great place to relax, explore and imagine.
125 Queen Street, Waimate
P 03 689 0071
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm. Saturday: 10am to 1pm
Waimate’s visitor guide brings together a range of local stays, eats and experiences.
It’s a practical tool for planning - with maps, contact details and ideas to get you started.
Download it before you arrive or pick up a copy in town and at selected Information Centres.
The Official Visitor Guide
The Waimate App
Choose your trail and navigate there with The Waimate App.
You’ll find every trail in the district in the handy app, and you can check out the website version below without having to download anything.