North Otago
Welcome to Oamaru
Oamaru is the largest town in the Waitaki District and is one of the country’s most historic and beautiful towns. From the famous Blue Penguin Colony to the limestone architecture of the Victorian Precinct, Oamaru has something for everyone.
Things to do IN & Around Oamaru
Little Blue Penguins
The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony provides visitors with an opportunity to see little penguins in their natural environment. Little Blue penguins come onto land mainly to breed and moult, but will also spend time ashore during non-breeding months. They are only active on land at night. They leave from the colony early in the morning before sun-rise, and return to the colony after dark.
Ask us to book your tour. Self Drive 10 minutes to the Oamaru Harbour
The Victorian Precinct
New Zealand’s best preserved Victorian commercial streetscape.The original buildings, made from locally quarried limestone, are a testament to Oamaru’s boom era, when it was an important port town, sending the first frozen meat exports around the world. Today, the buildings are filled with galleries, shops, artisans, and delicious places to eat and drink. This area can easily be explored by foot.
Self Drive: 7 minutes from Casa Nova House
Moeraki Boulders
Lonely Planet sites Oamaru as “New Zealand’s coolest town” and we agree! Oamaru is also a great base from which to explore the local area. Only an hour from Oamaru and situated on Koekohe Beach, are the Moeraki Boulders. Ancient mysterious spherical coastal stones formed millions of years ago weighing up to several tonnes and measuring up to several meters.
Self drive: 35 minutes from Casa Nova House
Elephant Rocks
23-25 million years in the making, the large hummocky rock formations that look like elephants were created after fossil-rich limestone deposited millions of years ago eroded, leaving behind an incredible boulder-field which towers above your head. Located on a private farm 5 kilometres south of Duntroon, in the
Maerewhenua Valley.
Self drive: 35 minutes from Casa Nova House
Bushy Beach Scenic Reserve
Bushy Beach Scenic Reserve is home to endangered yellow-eyed penguins. Experience the natural coastal habitat of yellow-eyed penguins/hoiho, and watch penguins from the viewing hide as they cross the beach. The Busy Beach track zig-zags across the top of the cliff on the south side of Cape Wanbrow. From a platform you can see New Zealand fur seals/kekeno on the rocks below. Carry on further to a viewing hide to watch penguins as they cross the beach
(before 9 am and after 3 pm).
Self drive: 11 minutes from Casa Nova House
Cycle Trails
Oamaru is a great town to cycle around. The Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail from Aoraki Mt Cook ends in Oamaru. This trail provides a great day trip, as you can easily cycle from Oamaru to the Fort Enfield Tavern for lunch and back. Oamaru also has some great mountain bike tracks;
- Cape Wanbrow is Council-owned land overlooking Oamaru and Oamaru Harbour.The Cape’s mountain bike tracks have been built and are maintained by Mountain Biking North Otago.
- Oamaru Reservoir mountain bike track is Council-owned land in the hills overlooking Oamaru.
- Herbert Forest mountain bike tracks are located in Blakely Pacific-owned forestry about 20 minutes drive south of Oamaru.
Paritea Clay Cliffs
Part of the Waitaki Whitestone Aspiring Geopark, this Geosite was originally formed as gravels, sands and silt in freshwater lakes and rivers. The sediments, which were deposited around 20 million years ago, were over time buried and compressed, then uplifted and eroded. The cliffs are located on private land and there's a donation box at the gateway ($5/vehicle).
Self drive: 1h 40 minutes from Casa Nova House