Oamaru

Oamaru is a town in the North Otago region, in the South Island of New Zealand, it is located 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin.

Oamaru is renowned for its excellent Limestone buildings, coastal wildlife and coastal walks. Attractions worth visiting include: The Art Gallery, Museum, Historical Precinct and the Magnificent Catholic Cathedral. The Harbour-Tyne Street area is also a must-see and the shopping is amazing too.

For the animal lovers Oamaru Harbour is home to a colony of little blue penguins. There you can also see yellow-eyed penguins from a special hide. Penguin viewing is best just before sunset.

Oamaru has a great Victorian heritage which the town celebrates at various parts of the year. Residents and visitors participate in full costume activities, have a parade of Penny Farthings down the main street, followed by a procession of red coated military looking personnel and ladies in elegant attire, dressed from another time, yet fittingly suited to the surroundings. To experience more of the Oamaru culture a visit to the public gardens in Oamaru is highly recommended, they include a Victorian summerhouse and an oriental garden.

There is no shortage of adventure in Oamaru fishing is great in the Waitaki River and nearby Waitaki Valley Lakes has jet boating, boating, sailing and water skiing.

Oamaru History

There are some important archaeological sites around Oamaru. On 20 February 1770 Captain Cook reached a position very close to the Waitaki mouth and "about 3 Miles from the shore" according to his journal. He said the land "here is very low and flat and continues so up to the skirts of the Hills which are at least 4 or 5 Miles in land. The whole face of the Country appears barren, nor did we see any signs of inhabitants." He stayed on this part of the coast for four days.

Main Towns in the Dunedin Region

Other Towns in the Dunedin Region

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