Homeowners also take great pride in their gardens and many special properties are open to the public at certain times of year. The town prides itself on its facilities for visitors, from those making a quick stop to those who choose to stay longer and enjoy all the area has to offer. Along with an excellent choice of accommodation, including a motorcamp set among the lovely trees of the domain right in the heart of the town, there are many cafes and restaurants.

Geraldine’s reputation as a home to gifted artists and artisans is growing all the time and many of these talented people have their work on sale in the town itself or from nearby studios. Some of the creations come in edible form too – Geraldine’s cheesemaker, chocolatier and the internationally recognised Barkers fruit products all have outlets in the town. A short drive from Geraldine is Peel Forest. This is not only a very precious and extensive podocarp forest with abundant birdlife, but also an area with many reminders of the region’s early European pioneers. Follow the road beside the Rangitata River (home of world class white-water rafting and salmon fishing) into the upper Rangitata River valley for some of the most spectacular alpine and high country scenery in New Zealand. It’s not difficult to see why Lord of the Rings producer Peter Jackson chose this superb valley as an important location in his films.

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A brief look at Geraldine's history - Back to Top Geraldine was discovered in the 1840’s but it wasn’t until 1854 that Samuel Hewlings built the first bark hut in Talbot Street. He married a Maori women, Nga Hei, and the Totara tree which he planted to mark the birth of his daughter still stands on the site today in Talbot Street, opposite the police station. Sheep were quickly established in the area together with pit saw milling of the native bush. When the bush had been cleared, wheat crops were grown across the plains. Originally called Talbot Forest, Geraldine was renamed Fitzgerald in 1857 after the first superintendent of Canterbury, the Irishman, Edward Fitzgerald. The name was finally changed to Geraldine, which was the Fitzgerald’s family name in Ireland. Today Geraldine is in the heart of a prosperous farming area with sheep, cattle, deer, dairy cows, cropping and fruit growing in abundance. Almost 2400 people live in the town and its surrounding areas.

i-SITE - Back to Top Let the friendly team at the Geraldine i-SITE help you. Located: Cnr Talbot & Cox Street, Geraldine Phone: +64 3 693 1006 Fax: +64 3 693 1008 Email: geraldineinfo@southisland.org.nz