Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In order to protect these endangered birds, the beach is closed to people at 3pm, but
there are hides set up on the cliffs (you'll need binoculars for a decent view). The best
time to see them is two hours before sunset.
Victorian Precinct
NEIGHBOURHOOD
Consisting of only a couple of blocks centred on Harbour and Tyne Sts, this atmospheric
enclave has some of NZ's best-preserved Victorian commercial buildings. Descend on a
dark and foggy night and it's downright Dickensian. It's also ground zero for all that is
hip, cool and freaky in Oamaru, and one of the most fun places to window-shop in the
entire South Island. Wander around during the day and you'll discover antiquarian book-
shops, antique stores, galleries, vintage clothing shops, kooky gift stores, artist studios
and craft bookbinders. At night there are some great little bars, and you might even see a
penguin swaggering along the street - we did!
The precinct is at its liveliest on Sundays when the excellent Oamaru farmers market
is in full swing and tourists on penny farthings wobble up and down Harbour St. Note
that some shops and attractions are closed on Mondays.
Steampunk HQ
GALLERY
(
www.steampunkoamaru.co.nz
;
1 Itchen St; adult/child $10/2; 10am-4pm)
Discover an altern-
ative past - or maybe a quirky version of the future - in this fascinating art project celeb-
rating Steampunk culture. Ancient machines wheeze and splutter, and the industrial de-
tritus of the last century or so is repurposed and reimagined to creepy effect. Bring a coin
to fire up the sparking, space-age locomotive out the front.
Friendly Bay Playground
PLAYGROUND
(Wansbeck St)
Steampunk for kiddies: this awesome playground includes swings suspen-
ded from a giant penny farthing, a slippery pole accessed from an armoured elephant,
and a giant hamster wheel.
Thames St
STREET
Oamaru's main drag owes its expansive girth to the need to accommodate the minimum
turning circle of a bullock cart. Oamaru's grand pretensions reached their peak in a series
of gorgeous buildings constructed from the milky local limestone (known as Oamaru
stone or whitestone), with their forms reflecting the fashion of the times; there's a partic-
ular emphasis on the neoclassical.
