Timaru
New Zealand · Oceania
The water
28 mg/LSoft
Source: Timaru District Council · Official figure. Hardness counts dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water; it is the number your hair meets in the shower.
What soft water does to hair
Shampoo lathers fast and rinses away clean, with little mineral film left behind. The trade-off is at the roots: fine hair can sit flat and flyaway, and rich conditioners feel heavier than they do at home.
The washing routine for Timaru
Keep your normal rhythm; soft water asks for no detox routine. If anything, use less conditioner than usual, as it feels heavier here, and give fine hair lift at the roots instead of product through the lengths.
Climate, from recent records (Open-Meteo, ERA5 2015-2024): January is the warmest month, averaging 22°C by day, and humidity peaks in June at about 82% on average. In the humid months, frizz is the main event; anti-humidity styling matters more than wash frequency.
Plugs and power for your tools
Sockets: Type I. Supply: 230 V, 50 Hz.
Full sockets by the sink are standard (RCD protected and set back from the bath and shower zones under AS/NZS 3000).
A 120 V only dryer or styler (North American) will burn out on this supply, and a plug adapter does not change voltage. Check the label for dual voltage (100-240 V) before you plug in.
Plug, voltage and frequency: IEC World Plugs and national standards.
Plan Timaru properly
The trip planner turns this water profile into a wash plan for your hair type, a chosen kit and a packing list, month by month.