Omarama

Introducing Omarama

At the head of the Waitaki Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges, the Omarama area is at the centre of fabulous landscapes. The bizarre moonscape of the Clay Cliffs (admission $5) is the result of two million years of erosion on layers of silt and gravel that were exposed along the active Osler fault line. The cliffs are on private land; the turn-off is 3.5km north of Omarama, then it’s another 10km on unsealed road.

See where the wool in your fancy new Icebreaker top came from. Wrinkly Rams (03-438 9751; www.thewrinklyrams.co.nz; SH8; adult/child/family $20/10/50; 2 or 3 shows daily 10.30am-4.30pm) does 30-minute stage shows of merino sheep being shorn using both modern and traditional methods, along with a sheep-dog show. A BBQ lunch is included. Attached is one of the town’s better restaurants.

If you can time your visit to coincide with the Omarama rodeo (28 December), or the Omarama sheep-dog trials (March), you should do it.

The area’s westerlies and warm summer thermals allow for world-class gliding over the hills and spectacular Southern Alps, and the national gliding meet is held here in December or January. Two companies will get you aloft from around $240.

Southern Soaring (0800 762 746; ­www.soaring.co.nz)

Glideomarama.com (0508 585 588; ­www.glideomarama.com)

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009