Oamaru in the Waitaki Valley
Oamaru is a lovely town situated by the sea and populated by sunny
locals with an affinity to a creative, cosy environment. There's a lot to see here,
from New Zealand's most eccentric art galleries to colonies of rare penguins, initially Oamaru was quite an empire within New Zealand, and was the first port in the world to export frozen meats from Totara Estate.
British Empire Victorian architecture dominates Oamaru's downtown, lending an aura of
history and creative space for artists to practice their craft. The
Grainstore Gallery is home to an eclectic collection of sculptures and
paintings both bizarre and breathtaking, and every so often a musician
coats the studio in sounds. The Whiskey Tea Room is another popular
attraction with tea and whiskey tasting downstairs and a spacious art
gallery upstairs displaying paintings by local artists alongside a
giant window revealing a panoramic scene of the ocean lapping the
landside. Koru Community Dance Theatre is an opportunity to immerse
oneself in the world of Oamaru with bi-weekly classes in tribal dance
and drumming.
The Penguin Entertainers' Club and the recently refurbished Opera House provide evening entertainment aplenty. First opened in 1907, the Opera House is
considered a cultural and historic asset to Oamaru and is registered
under the "Historic Places Act." Events of all genres can be found
here: theatre, film screenings, comedy shows, music, fundraisers, and
operas. The Penguin Entertainers Club was initially established in
1990 by a group of local musicians "identifying a need for suitable
practice rooms and somewhere to chill out after gigs,"
(www.thepenguinclub.co.nz), and has since grown to be the primary
venue for a wide variety of popular musicians and travelling minstrels,
with free Friday night open jam sessions every week.
Oamaru is also home to some of New Zealand's finest cuisines, boasting
award-winning restaurants such as Fleur's Place in nearby Moeraki. Built in 2002 with recycled materials gathered from
all over New Zealand, Fleur’s serves its speciality of fresh fish straight from the Moeraki Bay fishing boats.
Portside Restaurant is also a delectable destination, with
stunning views of crashing waves overlooking Oamaru harbour and the famous penguin colonies. Riverstone Kitchen is
another yummy spot in Oamaru's competitive cuisine scene, with home
baked tarts, cakes, and salads straight from the garden. Riverstone is placed amidst green
pastures within view of the Southern Alps, with a
playroom & play adventur park for children, making it ideal for
families. And, of course, the Whitestone Cheese Factory and Cafe,
which makes 18 varieties of cheese, including an area for viewing the
cheese-making process-throw the cheese makers a wave and they'll wave
back! (Then taste the 2006 Cuisine Champion of Champions Windsor
Blue...)
And finally, the penguins. These funny birds once considered a town pest are now revered as the Oamaru staple attraction. Oamaru has many penguin images and emblems sprinkled about sidewalks and cross streets. Two colonies of penguins claim their empire here in Oamaru: the little blue penguin and the yellow-eyed penguin. The blue penguin (aka
korora in Maori) is the world's smallest penguin, standing a wee 30 cm
tall and wears a blue coat and white chest. The yellow-eyed penguin
(aka hoiho in Maori the name comes from its call. The best time for sighting
these waddling, feathered fellows is at dusk or dawn when they are
either gearing up to go out fishing or as the penguin swaggers back to their chicks.
On arrival in Oamaru, I had little
idea what to expect, but I am so grateful to have landed here -
there's just something about it. And it's that something that has
lured Chillawhile guests to return and me to extend my stay, relax and rejuvenate my travelled old bones.
- Alice Pencavel, Chillawhile guest
• Rare Yellow-Eyed Penguins and Blue Penguins swagger up onto the Oamaru beaches
• Native Bush Walks and tramping in the Waitaki Valley
• Cheesemaking at Whitestone Cheese - award winning blue cheeses
• Board a vintage Steam Train through historic Oamaru
• Grainstore Art Gallery, Parkside Stone Garden, Forrester Art Gallery
• Whisky Tasting at the Whisky Barrel Distillery
• Totara Estate Farm, historic farm park
• Family day out in Oamaru Public Gardens
• White Horse of Waimate, hand carved into the cliffside
• Moeraki Boulders and Elephant rocks (Aslan's Camp - Chronicles of Narnia)
• Live music at the world-famous Penguin Entertainers Club
• Janet Frame house, home of the famous writer
• The Oamaru Opera House
• The Riverstone Kitchen a place of creativity, fine dining, and exploration for the children
• Fleur's Place a restaurant by the sea close by Moeraki Boulders and Lighthouse Rd
• Portside Restaurant Opposite Little Blue Penguin Colony, dine on the balcony in the heat of the day with the waves lapping on the shore beneath you
• Traditional bookbinding at O'Briens Book Bindery
