|
 |
- Oamaru
is the main town in the Waitaki region and you will find it a great
place to visit with its rich history of the gold rush era. Most New Zealanders will have heard of
Oamaru stone. Limestone has been quarried in the Oamaru District
since the 19th century and is still used today throughout New
Zealand. Much of Oamaru's early European buildings were made of
limestone blocks, as pictured above.
-
- For fourteen years
Oamaru was the home of New Zealand author Janet Frame. Her autobiographies, three in all, including 'An
Angel at My
Table', were made into a movie by Jane Campion. The movie, An
Angel at My Table, looks at Janet's traumatic life. Readers of
Janet Frame's novels would enjoy the Janet Frame Trail in Oamaru. Contact the local
information centre
for more details and a map of the trail.
-
- You and your family can enjoy the wonderful gardens here, or take the
children to visit the Blue Penguin Colony. The blue penguins are
the smallest in the world and nest along the coastline of Oamaru.
Five minutes from Oamaru is the visitor centre for the penguin
colony. This is the best place to find out more about visiting the
colony. The centre also arranges tours to the Yellow-eyed
Penguin Colony at Bushy Beach.
There is a lot to do in the
surrounding region and the Moeraki Boulders are a must.
These boulders are situated some 40km south of Oamaru at Moeraki on State
Highway One. It is just a five minute walk from the carpark to the boulders.
|
 |
|
The boulders
were embedded in the soft mudstone cliff at the
beach and the forces of the sea have eroded
the cliff away, exposing the round formation of
the boulders.
The boulders were
formed by the crystallization of calcium and
carbonates around charged particles, the process
taking some four million years. To help children
understand, we
suggest
explaining about how pearls are formed, as the
same principles apply here.
|
|
 |
|
While in the area you should visit
Duntroon. There are two main features, the Maori
rock drawings and the
Vanishing World Centre.
The Vanishing World Centre and the trail cover millions of years
of fossilised history. Fossils found here include whales, dolphins, penguins, sharks and many
shellfish.
The Butterfly and Bird Haven at
Palmerston, some 58km south of Oamaru, is a
year-round attraction.
Back to the top
Parks
and walks
- Oamaru's public gardens provide
a relaxed walk for parent and child. The gardens are free
to visit, with a playground, duck pond and bird aviary, and wallabies
and llamas to see. A holiday park is located at the far end of the
gardens making this an ideal spot for those in campervans.
-
- With BMX and trail-bike tracks,
it's a great location for parents with older children. There is a BMX track
off Old Mill
Road as well as a trail-bike area nearby.
-
- Fenwick Park is a great place to
go and is situated at Solway Street and Chelmer Street.
-
- Cape Wanbrow Plantation Reserve
is off Waterfront Road. Parking is available at the end of the road and
you will find Cape Wanbrow Lighthouse and the Blue Penguin Colony here
as well.
-
- Marine Parade has parking
available and overlooks Friendly Bay.
-
- Glen Warren Reserve is
accessible from Warren Street, Glen Street, Stoke Street and Derwent
Street.
Back to the top
Things to do in Oamaru
Oamaru Steam and Rail Society. Climb aboard
the restored vintage train from Historic Precinct to Oamaru's harobur. Train
runs from Habourside Station at the Historic Precinct to Quarry Siding at
the "Red Sheds". The train runs most Sundays and most public holidays. Web:
www.oamaru-steam.org.nz
-
Movies
- You can catch a movie at the
Opera House Movie Theatre.
Swimming Pools
- The heated swimming pool,
Oamaru Water
World, provides a
toddler pool for younger children and a spa, as well as a grown-ups' pool
of course! It is situated on Severn Street, opposite the Oamaru
Gardens.
Places to eat
The Woolstore Cafe (1 Tyne
Street, Harbourside, Oamaru) is a great place to eat and are
happy to have families to visit. When we visited them 2007 they
were more than helpful and their food is wonderful as well. Ph:
03 434 8336
Back to the top
|
Feature
article
Central Otago: Discover more about central Otago and
the small village of St Bathans. Did we mentioned that
the town has some great ghost stories to tell?
read more |
|
-
Emergency Contacts
- For emergencies requiring
Police,
Fire or Ambulance - Dial 111
-
- For non-emergency:
- Police: Severn Street, Oamaru.
- Ph: 03 433 1400
-
- Hospital: New Public Hospital, 8
Stewart Street.
- Ph: 03 433 0290
-
- Doctors: Oamaru Emergency Doctors.
- Ph: 03 434
9444
Back to the top
Additional information
Oamaru i-SITE Visitor
Centre, 1 Thames Street, Oamaru, Phone: +64 3 434 1656,
Fax: +64 3 434 1657 Email:
info@tourismwaitaki.co.nz
Omarama
Information Centre, Glencraig's of Omarama, 6 Chain Hills
Highway, Omarama. Phone: +64 3 438 9818 Email:
glenys.craig@xtra.co.nz
Palmerston
Information Centre, 117 Ronaldsay Street, Palmerston. Phone:
+64 3 465 1950
Blue Penguin
Visitor Centre,
http://www.penguins.co.nz/
Back to the top
|
