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The Best Independent Bookshops in New Zealand

Bookcase jam packed with books at The Last Chapter, Wānaka.
Story Auckland

Bibliophiles, gather round. This Saturday 10 October is Aotearoa New Zealand Bookshop Day, when independent bookshops across the motu celebrate with author signings, kids’ activities, bookshop crawls and more. While you’re there, pick up this year’s limited-edition tote bag featuring artwork by Coco Solid.

Each of these fiercely independent bookstores brings a strong sense of personality, shaped by the culture and history of the towns they call home. From Auckland to Alexandra, from mystical fantasy to heartfelt memoirs, here’s where to get your literature fix across Aotearoa, on Bookshop Day and every other day of the year.

The Best Food and Drink in South Canterbury

A flatlay of plates of food on a table at Mint Folk in Twizel.
Story South Canterbury

From award-winning pies and small-batch gin to hand-crafted hot sauce and hydro-canal salmon, South Canterbury’s eateries and food heroes are well worth the drive.

12 Hours in Timaru

Mural painted on side of building in Timaru.
Story South Canterbury

Make the most of your flying visit to Timaru with our 12 hour guide, which will have you sipping the best coffee, nipping into intriguing boutiques and galleries, learning about the ancient practice of Māori rock art and filling up on the best food in town.

We've Done the Hard Yards to Bring You the Best Boutiques and Galleries of South Canterbury

Interior view of art hanging on a brick wall at 77 Art + Living.
Story South Canterbury

The finest galleries and boutiques dotted around South Canterbury.

Road Trip to the Mackenzie: A Day in Geraldine and Fairlie

The streets of Geraldine on a sunny day.
Story South Canterbury
Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned road trip? Sitting at the start of the Inland Scenic Route and the Starlight Highway, the charming towns of Geraldine and Fairlie are the gateway to the Mackenzie region’s famous blue lakes and dark skies – and both deserve far more than a quick toilet stop. Fuel up on breakfast and art in Geraldine, stock the chilly bin with the town’s best local produce, then take the scenic drive over the hills to Fairlie for pies, boutique shopping and a proper country pub dinner. Keen to keep going? Lake Tekapo is only around 40 minutes further down the road.

Get to Know the Town of ... Timaru

An old building in Timaru on a sunny day.
Neighbourhood South Canterbury
The Riviera of the South, Timaru, is a South Canterbury east coast town well worth getting to know. The second largest city of the region, Timaru has so much to offer visitors that it’s pure madness not to have it on your must-visit-list.