A 2½ hours drive south from Christchurch on Route One brings you to a  highly recommended and one of the most exciting detours along Route One. South of Timaru, after crossing the Makikihi River, turn right on Route 82 to the town of Waimata home to New Zealand's wallaby and the Strawberry Festival.

Just a few kilometres out of Waimata is the perfect place to enjoy an environment loved by children and adults both: the Kelceys Bush Farmyard Holiday Park. Fabulous spot to enjoy a beautiful area and to personally meet Pepi the 'possum and Whiskey the wallaby or get up close and personal with alpacas, emus, turkeys and ducks. For children they have goats to milk, eggs to collect and enjoy holding a guinea pig or a rabbit.
Gobbo the kuku pig and Xena the Spanish fallow deer love to be hand fed.

In other words this park has more to offer than just a place to stay overnight.

In 1875 the Bennet's wallaby  were released and still roam free. They host New Zealand's largest wallaby enclosure in its natural environment here.

Arrive during strawberry season and you will get  a bonus especially if it is during the Festival.  This holiday park  is a good place to base for more adventure in the area. Continue along Route 83 down past Elephant Hill, along the north shore of the  Waitaki River until crossing to Kurow and then return east along the south side on Route 83 passing through the Duntroon area.
Here stop to see the 25 million year old shark-toothed dolphin and other very interesting fossils. It is 35 kms back to Route One.

A fantastic  side trip  not  advertised enough. Well worth the time.
A pleasant fun place to stay. Don't miss it.

Kelceys Bush Farmyard Holiday Park Mill Road,
8.R.D.,
Waimate,
South Canterbury,
8791
New Zealand
Tel:  (Within NZ) 03 689 8057
Tel:  (International) +64 (0)3 6898057
Fax: (International) +64 (0)3 6898091

email:  kelceysbush@xtra.co.nz
website:Kelceys Bush