Local Information

Geraldine is a pretty town where you can get away from the hustle of life and enjoy some genuine Kiwi hospitality and relax in the fresh air and open spaces. Geraldine has that country village atmosphere, with majestic old forests, early settler’s cottages and little arts and crafts corners. Its friendliness, tranquillity and wealth of history make it hard to resist. Geraldine is simply unique...

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, Nga Hei, and the totara tree which he planted to mark the birth of his daughter still stands on the site today. Sheep runs 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 superintendant of Canterbury, the Irishman, Edward Fitzgerald. The name was finally changed to Geraldine, which was the Fitzgerald's family name in Ireland. Geraldine became a Town Board in 1884 and a Borough in 1905. It was incorporated in the Ashburton electorate in 1908, when its hotels were closed. It remained "dry" until 1950 when the Geraldine Licensing Trust Hotel opened.

Today Geraldine is in the heart of a prosperous farming area with sheep, cattle, deer, dairy cows, cropping and fruit growing in abundance. Almost 2,500 people live in the town and its surroundings areas. It is the headquarters for the nearby State Forests and has modern shopping amenities. It is a tranquil, rural town with a friendly village atmosphere and is situated 2 hours (136 km) south of Christchurch on the main highway to Mt Cook and Queenstown. The town and its surrounding district has something for everyone and at a pace to suit each individual's needs. Attractions and activities include walks, garden visits, artists and craftspeople, white water rafting, golf, fishing, and movies at the historic cinema. The domain in Cox Street has rose gardens and camping ground, swimming pool, bowling greens, tennis and netball courts and sports fields. Adjacent to the swimming pool is a children's playground and picnic area. This district offers a variety of walks, whether it is a relaxing stroll beside the river, an easy native bush walk surrounded by bellbirds and fantails, or a rewarding hill climb.