Oamaru
Nearby
Dunedin Wanaka Queenstown Central OtagoOamaru: Understand
Oamaru offers a refreshing blend of historic charm and hidden treasures. Boasting a vibrant Historic town centre that features New Zealand’s best 19th Century streetscape plus a world famous Blue Penguin Colony, Oamaru is not to be missed.
Oamaru is internationally renowned for its neo-classical buildings crafted from locally quarried Oamaru Stone. The nearby harbour is recognised as a site of national significance by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and is also home to the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony. About a half-hour drive south of Oamaru is the small fishing settlement of Moeraki where the famous Moeraki boulders are situated. Huge, completely round, smooth rocks sit in the beach like giant bowling balls. These boulders are the largest, most spherical and densely populated in the world.
Lake Benmore
North west of Oamaru, Waitaki Valley is home to New Zealand’s largest braided river, the Waitaki River sourced from the snowy peaks of the Southern Alps. The valley boasts picturesque, man-made lakes that are part of a complex hydro-electric dam system. The drive from Oamaru to the head of the valley takes you through stunning sweeping vistas of snow capped mountains and deep blue lakes.
Oamaru: Getting In & Out
By plane:
The best airport for accessing Oamaru is Dunedin.
Renting a campervan or rental car is a great way to explore New Zealand with flexibility and freedom! It’s easiest to pick up/drop off rentals from the major airports in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. We recommend you book in advance. Check out our handy guides Travel New Zealand by Campervan or Travel New Zealand by Car.
By car:
Oamaru is on State Highway 1.
By bus:
Take a look at the InterCity website to plan your bus journey.
Oamaru: See & Do
When in Oamaru, tourist attractions we recommend visiting include the Blue Penguin Colony where you can view the world’s smallest penguins, in their natural environment. Other attractions include the Moeraki Boulders (30 mins south of Oamaru), which is well worth a visit. These highly spherical boulders located on a beach near Moeraki are fascinating. When driving through the Waitaki Valley, we recommend visiting the Benmore Dam.
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
Home to the world’s smallest penguin, the Blue Penguin. Offers a viewing area where they can be observed in their natural environment.
Whitestone Cheese
Offers handmade traditional cheese with cheese tasting and a cafe located on-site. Features a viewing gallery and group tours by arrangement.
Benmore Dam
The largest earth-filled water-retaining structure in New Zealand.
Moeraki Boulders
A fascinating grouping of unusually large, almost perfectly spherical boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach on the North Otago coastline.
Oamaru: Eat & Drink
Riverstone Kitchen is our number one recommendation for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s north of Oamaru by 20-minutes.
Scotts Brewing Co is in Oamaru itself, with good beer, great pizza and a lovely atmosphere.
Oamaru: Sleep
Oamaru offers a variety of accommodation options. For Motel lodgings, we recommend staying at Oamaru Motor Lodge or Avenue Motel. For those of you in search of hosted lodgings, look no further than Highway House Bed and Breakfast. To experience the beauty of the North Otago high country, we recommend staying at either the Country Lodge at Dome Hills Station or Glenmac Farmstay.
Glenmac Farmstay
Offers well-appointed accommodation and great kiwi hospitality, located on a high country farm in the Waitaki Valley a short drive from Kurow.
Dome Hills Station Country Lodge
Offers luxury accommodation on a high country station in the Kakanui Mountains. Ideal for people who enjoy fishing, hunting or walks.
Oamaru Motor Lodge
Offers modern motel accommodation boasting 15 superior suites and apartments, double glazed for quietness and warmth.
Oamaru Top 10 Holiday Park
Offers a range of holiday accommodation in Oamaru including motels, self-contained units, cabins, tenting and powered sites.
Moeraki Village Holiday Park
Offers self-contained motel units, tourist flats, cabins plus power and tent sites located above the boat harbour in Moeraki.
Avenue Motel
Offers well-appointed motel accommodation featuring a wide range of rooms located away from the road for privacy and quietness.
Where to next?
Nearby in Otago:
Dunedin Wanaka Queenstown Central Otago
Nearby Regions:
Southland West Coast Canterbury