OAMARU A VERY MEMORABLE DESTINATION

"We would recommend visiting Oamaru.  The town is a revelation-not just penguins but the outstanding architecture and surrounding countryside are worth seeing"  UK

RIVERSTONE KITCHEN the SUPREME WINNER in the CUISINE NZ RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2010 www.riverstonekitchen.co.nz 

STEAMPUNK "tomorrow as it used to be"  www.steampunk.co.nz check out this web site

ALPS TO OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL in progress over 300km of stunning scenery from Mount Cook to the Pacific Ocean

                        Oamaru and the surrounding Waitaki District offers you beautiful and diverse scenery.  From coastal Oamaru with its cooling sea breezes to the Mackenzie Country with its parched land and soaring temperatures in summer and snow covered mountains in winter, the scenery changes every few kilometers and the round trip can easily be done in a day.

The waterfront in Oamaru is the home of the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony, www.penguins.co.nz for viewing times and tour info.  These penguins can sometimes be seen in small caves around Graves Walkway which is beside the penguin colony.

The beautiful Victorian and Italian influenced architecture of Oamaru can be found in the VICTORIAN PRECINCT(Victorian Festival Week in Nov www.historicoamaru.co.nz) area itself. Whisky Fine Art (Dawn Mann), Whiskey and Wine tasting, Slightly Foxed Books, Clothing Emporium and much more....

Look out for the Forrester Gallery, National Bank, Council Chambers, Janet Frames' House in Eden Street,  and our beautiful Opera House.  If the doors at the Opera House are open please go in and look around. Visit the crafts people in the Red Sheds on the waterfront or check out the Penny Farthing Bicycles.

Parkside (Limestone) Quarry is amazing the limestone for the building in 1906 of the Oamaru Opera House came from this quarry.  It is still a working quarry.

 The Oamaru Gardens are amongst the finest in the country, this is where the Wine & Food Festival is to be held on the 19 Feb 2012 if you miss it this year! It will be back next year around this date.

 Oamaru is also home to the award winning Whitestone Cheese, we have been to their cafe and tasted the cheese...its good www.whitestonecheese.co.nz 

 Visit the library with its free internet service. Check out the cafes and pubs with their great food and really good coffee.

  Heading WEST through the Waitaki Valley stop at the Fossil Centre www.vanishedworld.org.nz in Duntroon, the new Kurow Winery www.kurowvillage.co.nz  near Kurow and check out the wines made in the valley at the Vintner's Drop in Kurow they stock one of our favs Ostler Wine www.ostlerwine.co.nz . West again and travel past the beautiful Lakes Waitaki, Aviemore and Benmore, all hydro lakes and great recreation areas, trout, salmon fishing and water sports. Carry on until you reach Omarama, turn left to go to Wanaka and Queenstown and turn right to Mt Cook.  Heading SOUTH visit the world renowned Moeraki Boulders and at Moeraki dine at Fleurs award winning restaurant.  Travelling NORTH visit the Riverstone Kitchen (Supreme Winner, Cuisine Magazine 2010 Restuarant of the Year)  fine food and fabulous shop approx 12km from Oamaru.

We have a fabulous i-site in Oamaru.  email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   website www.visitoamaru.co.nz

Why rush, stay and enjoy.

                  Little Blue Penguin                              Opera House                                Penguin Colony                    Historic Precinct