Oamaru

Introducing Oamaru

Nothing moves very fast in Oamaru: tourists saunter, locals languish and penguins waddle. Even the chosen forms of transportation – penny-farthings and steam trains – reflect an unhurried pace. For travellers, the town focuses mostly on penguins and the historic district, but eccentric gems such as the South Island’s yummiest cheese factory, cool galleries and a peculiar live-music venue are other distractions.

A questionably glamorous history of refrigerated-meat shipping made Oamaru prosperous enough in the 19th century to build the imposing limestone buildings that grace the town today. Oamaru also has an affinity with the arts that may well be rooted in its claim to Janet Frame, but extends to a lively arty and crafty community today, including Donna Dementé, whose works can be seen at the Grainstore Gallery.

Last updated: Sep 22, 2008