Worth A Detour South Island by Peter Janssen

Worth A Detour South Island by Peter Janssen is a revised and updated edition of this highly popular guidebook. In it, he shares over 370 special places and quirky destinations he discovered while travelling almost every road and visiting every hamlet and town in New Zealand while researching his series of guidebooks.

COVID-19 took its toll, causing many businesses and attractions to close. But plenty of new ones have opened since then, taking their place. And many of the old favourites are still there. With so many places to see and things to do, we are spoilt for choice. There is sure to be something for everyone.

Woven throughout the book are many fascinating anecdotes about Māori and colonial history. And he introduces us to some colourful local characters who have great stories to tell.

The beautiful photographs, taken by Croatian photographer Josip Bojcic and Peter Janssen himself, made me long to start travelling straightaway to see these places at firsthand. They include stunning landscapes, marae, historic buildings, old theatres, churches and pubs, and local museums and galleries. And there is a beguiling one of Shrek the sheep’s statue, who once lived wild in the high country of Central Otago and became a national celebrity. The photograph of a cheese roll, a beloved South Island snack, is mouthwatering. Peter Janssen divulges where he found an especially delicious one, which is a must-try.

While travelling in the South Island, we have often passed through some of the townships mentioned in Worth A Detour South Island, stopping only for a coffee, a quick bite at a café, or to use a public toilet. In hindsight, we have been in far too much of a hurry to reach our destination. But it is not too late. And we are now looking forward to going on more leisurely journeys. Two of my favourite small towns, which we have bypassed and are looking forward to exploring next time we head South, are:

Ranfurly 

The perfect destination for my partner and me. I love Art Deco, and he loves pies. At the Fantail cafe, we can indulge in one of their mouthwatering homemade pies. The flavours include pork belly, venison and mutton. And afterwards, we can wander around and take in the Art Deco buildings for which Ranfurly is famous. One particularly stylish one is the Centennial Milk Bar, which used to be the refreshment rooms for rail passengers and today houses a great collection of 1930s and 1940s crockery, period clothing, furniture and memorabilia.  If we time it right, we could also join in the lively Art Deco Festival the town hosts each February.

Waimate

Waimate is just a few kilometres off SH1. This was Norman Kirk’s birthplace and he is buried in the local cemetery. Another famous local was Margaret Cruickshank, the first woman to be registered as a doctor in New Zealand in 1897. A commemorative statue of her graces the main street.

These two are further commemorated on the giant Silo murals, on which local artist Bill Scott is in the process of depicting Waimate’s history. Also shown here are Second World War hero Eric Batchelor, local Chief Te Huruhuru and Michael Studholme, the first European settler in Waimate, who arrived in the district in 1854.

Another must-see is the White Horse monument, high on Mt John, dedicated to the humble Clydesdale Horse. Peter Jansson describes it, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as a quaint piece of folk art, best appreciated from a distance. It was constructed from blocks of concrete in the 1960s. There are also two historic churches to visit, and the town has two very fine public parks to wander through.

And after a leisurely walk, we’d head for the old Waimate Hotel on the main street, where the interior has been modernised, but the original exposed brickwork and the old coal range provide a cosy link to the past. Here in the Waimate Kitchen and Bar the menu is contemporary and modern including innovative vegan and vegetarian dishes and spectacular desserts.

Independent travellers who love to avoid crowded tourist spots and enjoy exploring new places and attractions will find Worth A Detour South Island indispensable! The clear instructions on how to reach them ensure they will have no trouble finding them.

And, much to my relief, you do not need to put on your tramping boots to reach them; they are easily accessible and only require a small detour or sometimes a short walk. I think it is a gem of a book!

Reviewer: Lyn Potter

White Cloud Books