Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve

Christchurch & Canterbury


On the town’s northwestern fringe, Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve is a good place for a peaceful wander. Leafy delights include lofty kahikatea (white pines) and a massive tōtara estimated to be around 800 years old. This remnant lowland podocarp (conifer) and hardwood forest contains the last stands of trees that once covered the entire Geraldine area.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Christchurch & Canterbury attractions

1. Geraldine Historical Museum

0.65 MILES

Occupying the photogenic Town Board Office building (1885), this cute little museum tells the town's story with an eclectic mix of exhibits, including an…

3. St Stephen's Church

11.95 MILES

Sitting in a pretty glade right next to the general store, this gorgeous little Anglican church (1885) has a warm wooden interior and some interesting…

4. Fairlie Heritage Museum

20.71 MILES

A somewhat dusty window on to rural NZ of old, this museum endears with its farm machinery, model aeroplanes, dodgy dioramas and eclectic ephemera…

5. Caroline Bay Park

21.13 MILES

Fronting the town, this expansive park ranges over an Edwardian-style garden under the Bay Hill cliff, then across broad lawns to low sand dunes and the…

6. Aigantighe Art Gallery

21.18 MILES

One of the South Island’s largest public galleries, this 1908 mansion houses a notable collection of NZ and European art across various eras, alongside…

7. Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden

21.29 MILES

Rose aficionados should visit the Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden, where almost 1200 romantic blooms are set around arbours and water features. The finest…

8. Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre

21.64 MILES

Passionate Ngāi Tahu guides bring this innovative multimedia exhibition about Māori rock paintings to life. You can also take a three-hour excursion …