Discover Oamaru: Heritage and Hotels
Accommodation in Oamaru
Oamaru combines an extensive historic townscape with gardens, art and a section of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail. You can therefore choose different focuses when planning your trip: the town’s architecture and history, its gardens and exhibitions, or a cycling section with Oamaru as your destination. The specific places and routes each provide a distinct setting for these interests.
Historic Townscape and Architecture
The Oamaru Historic Area includes buildings and structures on Harbour, Tyne, Wansbeck, Tees, Itchen, Thames, Severn, Meek, Wear, Coquet and Medway streets. It offers a glimpse of New Zealand’s best-preserved historic townscape and represents life and architecture from the 1860s to the mid-20th century. The historic architecture ranges from the Victorian style through to this period; many buildings were built between 1870 and 1885 in the prevailing neoclassical style.
A distinctive architectural landmark is the Grain Elevator, a building made of Oamaru stone in 1883 at the entrance to Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct. Steampunk HQ is located there. This interactive museum invites visitors to explore and discover, and features retrofuturistic science fiction art, films, sculptures and sound art. Here, a specific example of historic architecture meets a distinctive artistic theme.
Gardens, Art and History
Oamaru Public Gardens were established in 1876 and are among New Zealand’s oldest gardens. They have also received a five-star “Garden of Significance” rating. New Zealand’s first Chinese garden is located within the gardens. It was established in 1988 as a symbol of friendship between Oamaru and the large Chinese community in the Waitaki District. Most members of this community are descendants of the gold miners of Central Otago.
The Band Rotunda in Oamaru Public Gardens also reflects the garden’s building history: it was built in 1912–1913 in the Arts and Crafts style. For more than a century, it served as a venue for public performances and celebrations. This historic purpose is distinct from today’s garden and exhibition themes, and adds its own cultural dimension to the site’s history.
The Forrester Gallery showcases visual art with a diverse and varied exhibition programme, as well as a growing collection of artworks of significance to the region. The building is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 1 structure. The Gallery thus combines a current exhibition theme with a distinctive historic status. Together with the Oamaru Historic Area and the gardens, it offers another cultural highlight to consider when choosing your destination.
Penguins and Cycling
At ĹŚamaru Penguins, visitors can learn about little penguins at the Discovery Centre during the day. It is located five minutes from the town centre on the southeast side of ĹŚamaru Harbour, a few hundred metres beyond Sumpter Wharf. A visit to the Discovery Centre therefore offers a different focus from the historic streets, gardens and galleries: here, learning about little penguins is the main attraction.
The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail also offers a specific point of reference for trip planning. The full route runs from the Southern Alps near Mt Cook Village through the landscapes of the South Island to the historic coastal town of ĹŚamaru. Section 8 covers 54 km from Duntroon to ĹŚamaru, passing rock formations, valleys and former railway lines. So when considering the route, distinguish between the course of the full trail and this individual section, with its stated endpoints and landscape features.
Discover more destinations: Waianakarua, Tokarahi, Hampden, Kurow, Moeraki, Herbert, Duntroon, Black Point.
For the broader travel overview: Waitaki District.
