Oamaru

The busy east coast town of Oamaru attracts many visitors to its famous Blue Penguin colony. Once there, guests often prolong their stay to explore the beautifully restored heritage precinct and the nearby seaside destinations such as Moeraki or Kakanui.

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 Oamaru, Central Otago  Amelia Norman

 Hotel Room Inside Accommodation  © espensorvik via Flickr

Oamaru

Accommodation

Every type of accommodation is on offer in Oamaru, from big hotels to coastal B&Bs, funky backpacker hostels to affordable family motels.

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 Janet Frame's childhood home in Oamaru.  Janet Frame Eden Street Trust

Oamaru

Activities

Browse through the diverse range of activities on offer in this beautiful area. There are many to choose from, find your favourite!   

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What to do in Oamaru

  • Watch the Blue Penguins coming ashore each evening
  • Stroll the historic precinct or enjoy a historic live theatre show
  • Taste locally made Whitestone cheeses
  • Wander the pretty Botanic Gardens
  • Visit the intriguing Moeraki Boulders

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How do you get to Oamaru?

  • Travel by Plane
    • Oamaru Airport is located 30 minutes’ drive away from the centre of town, but currently no commercial airlines land there. Dunedin Airport, 2 hours away, welcomes flights from New Zealand and Australian destinations.
  • Travel by Train
    • There is no train service to Oamaru.
  • Travel by Bus
    • Many major public bus, tour bus and shuttle networks offer a service to Oamaru from most South Island destinations.
  • Rent a Vehicle
    • There are few rental options in Oamaru. Dunedin and Queenstown offer the widest car rental selection in the Otago area.