Discover Tai Tapu

Tai Tapu brings together an Arts and Crafts church and a small historic library with a developing sculpture garden. Local history and the regeneration of native vegetation give the area distinct cultural and nature-focused highlights.

Cultural history in the local landscape

St Paul’s Church was built by Sir Robert Heaton Rhodes in memory of his wife, Jessie Cooper Clark. It is considered an outstanding example of an Arts and Crafts-style church and is still used as an Anglican church. Public access is restricted. Tai Tapu Public Library continues to operate as a small library and is classified as a Category 1 historic place. In the wider Selwyn District destination, both buildings were completed in 1932; their construction was funded largely by Sir Heaton Rhodes, who lived at nearby Otahuna.

Walking routes and getting your bearings

A 15- to 20-minute walk leads from the church along Old Tai Tapu Road to the Domain. Another set of directions covers the first section of the Tai Tapu Walkway: it runs behind Tai Tapu Church, alongside the river, to the Rhodes Park Footbridge. Check access to this walk before your trip. The two descriptions refer to different destinations and help you plan specific walks in Tai Tapu.

The town’s location is another useful point of reference: Tai Tapu lies on the main road to Banks Peninsula. Along with the local walking routes, this information can help you narrow down the focus you want for your stay, without combining the separate route descriptions into one tour.

Sculpture garden and native vegetation

Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden is a developing sculpture garden and a project to regenerate native vegetation. More than 8,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted there since autumn 2010. The combination of sculptures and plant regeneration gives the garden a different character from the town’s historic buildings.

Garden visits are available by appointment throughout the year, so a spontaneous visit should not be assumed. Free parking is available on site, and the garden is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. As appointment arrangements and facility information may change, it is best to confirm them before your visit.

Consider the wider Selwyn District, too

Those considering the wider Selwyn District destination will find other distinct landscape and activity highlights. The Rakaia Gorge Walking Track runs along the edge of the gorge through geological areas featuring rhyolite, pitchstone and andesite lava flows. Kura Tāwhiti/Castle Hill consists of limestone formations in an area of special significance to Ngāi Tahu and is considered an internationally renowned climbing and bouldering destination. Cave Stream is a 594-metre-long cave in Cave Stream Scenic Reserve.

This distinction can help you decide what kind of trip you want first. Tai Tapu itself offers a specific geographic reference on the main road to Banks Peninsula.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Maungati, Southburn, Loburn, Diamond Harbour, Governors Bay, Staveley, Burnham, Waiau.

For the wider travel overview: Canterbury.