Sights in Oamaru
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Visitors Centre
In an old limestone quarry near the waterfront, Oamaru’s blue-penguin colony sees little blue penguins surfing in and wading ashore at the visitors centre. The penguins arrive just before dark (around 5.30pm in midwinter and 9.30pm midsummer) and it takes them about an hour to all come ashore. You’ll see the most penguins (up to 150) in November and December; in the cold months from March to August there may be only 30 to 50 birds. Optimum viewing times for each night are posted at the Oamaru i-SITE. Use of camera flashes is prohibited. It can be cool, so dress warmly.
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Grainstore Gallery
In the world's most ornate grain storehouse , you'll find the lavishly decorated stage of the theatre company Living History , which does live theatre around historical themes. Their energetic Great Storm show, based in 1868, receives rave reviews. Much of the set and many of the props incorporate ‘found' objects, and dispalys the work of locals artists, including Oamaru's best-known artist, Donna Dementé, who is one of the artists that run the Grainstore Gallery upstairs.
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Living History
In the world's most ornate grain storehouse , you'll find the lavishly decorated stage of the theatre company Living History , which does live theatre around historical themes. Their energetic Great Storm show, based in 1868, receives rave reviews. Much of the set and many of the props incorporate ‘found' objects, and dispalys the work of locals artists, including Oamaru's best-known artist, Donna Dementé, who is one of the artists that run the Grainstore Gallery upstairs.
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Forrester Gallery
Housed in a beautiful, columned 1880s bank building, Forrester Gallery has an excellent collection of regional art, and hosts diverse temporary exhibits, including contemporary media. This fantastic gallery is a good place to see works by Colin McCahon, renowned for his darkly melancholic style.
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Oamaru Public Gardens
The Oamaru public gardens were first opened in 1876 and are a lovely place to chill out on a hot day, with endless lawns, waterways, bridges and a children’s playground.
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North Otago Museum
In the grand 19th-century library, the North Otago Museum has exhibits on Maori and Pakeha history, writer Janet Frame, architecture and geology.
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Auto Museum
The Auto Museum is perfect for Top Gear fans (the racing cars from the 1930s through ’80s are particularly cool).
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Blue-Penguin Colony
In an old limestone quarry near the waterfront, Oamaru’s blue-penguin colony sees little blue penguins surfing in and wading ashore at the visitors centre. The penguins arrive just before dark (around 5.30pm in midwinter and 9.30pm midsummer) and it takes them about an hour to all come ashore. You’ll see the most penguins (up to 150) in November and December; in the cold months from March to August there may be only 30 to 50 birds. Optimum viewing times for each night are posted at the Oamaru i-SITE. Use of camera flashes is prohibited. It can be cool, so dress warmly.
To understand the centre’s conservation work, take the 30-minute daytime behind-the-scenes tour (sel…
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Lookout Point
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Yellow-Eyed Penguin Colony
There are large hides and good trails to the yellow-eyed penguin colony at Bushy Beach, where the penguins come ashore in late afternoon to feed their young. Two hours before dark is the best time to see them. Despite their Maori name, hoiho (noisy shouter), they’re extremely shy; if they see or hear you they’ll head back into the water. Graves Trail, a 2.5km low-tide walk, starts from the end of Waterfront Rd and follows the rugged coastline around to the yellow-eyed colony at Bushy Beach. Watch out for fur seals, and do not use a flash when photographing the penguins.
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