The Waitaki region combines historic whitestone architecture and unforgettable wildlife encounters in a beautiful natural landscape of rolling hills and sparkling rivers.
The Waitaki District is famed for its dramatic landscape, its classical Victorian architecture and heritage, and its strong links to New Zealand’s pioneering past. With its emerald green lakes, snow-capped mountains and rolling green pastures, Waitaki is a place of haunting natural beauty.
Oamaru is the main centre of the district and it is instantly recognisable for the white limestone buildings that give an air of stately elegance to the town. In historical times, Waitaki was a particularly wealthy region and this fact, combined with the region’s abundant limestone, gave rise to a great number of impressive buildings. Today, Oamaru’s historic precinct is New Zealand’s most complete Victorian streetscape, full of atmosphere and charm. In addition to its fascinating human heritage, Waitaki is also a place with a rich natural heritage.
In Oamaru, visitors can experience an unforgettable evening encounter with wild penguins at the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony. Every night the penguins come in from a day spent feeding at sea and waddle up the beach to their cliffside burrows. A little further south along the coast (approximately 40 kilometres), the Moeraki Boulders – huge, perfectly round boulders scattered along the beach – are a strange and fascinating sight. Inland, the Waitaki Valley, linking North Otago and Central Otago, features stunning scenery ranging from rolling farmland to alpine landscapes. The Waitaki River is ideal for fishing and water sports, and the valley is also home to fascinating Maori rock art and the Vanished World Centre at Duntroon.
Regional Highlights
Unforgettable Sights
Historic Precinct Oamaru Admire the famous whitestone heritage buildings of Oamaru in one of New Zealand’s best Nineteenth Century streetscapes. Moeraki Boulders The fascinating Moeraki Boulders are on the Otago Coast, 40 kilometres south of Oamaru. The boulders were formed around 60 million years ago and some are up to four metres in circumference. Vanished World Centre (Duntroon) A window into another era – 24 to 34 million years ago – through fossils extracted from local limestone. www.vanishedworld.co.nz Elephant Rocks These rocks at the Vanished World Fossil Trail featured in the film, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Adrenaline Rush
Cape Wanbrow Visit this area for excellent mountain biking and walking. Gliding at Omarama Northwest thermals have given this area a worldwide reputation as an excellent place for gliding. 4WD Adventure The Waitaki Valley is the perfect setting for an unforgettable backcountry adventure by four-wheel-drive. Waitaki Jet (Waitaki Valley) Experience the unforgettable thrill of skimming across the mighty Waitaki River in a powerful jet boat. www.waitakijet.co.nz
Relax & Indulge
Explore Oamaru’s historic precinct New Zealand’s best preserved collection of historic commercial buildings. Fly Fishing The Waitaki River attracts salmon and trout anglers from around the world – this is one of the few places in New Zealand where visitors can fish for salmon. Golfing Enjoy a round of golf on one of the region’s golf courses; North Otago Golf Club offers wonderful sea views.
Luxury
Pen-y-bryn (Oamaru) Award-winning luxury accommodation, fine dining and sophisticated hospitality in an elegant Victorian mansion. www.penybryn.co.nz
Culture
Maori Rock Art Explore remarkable Maori rock art near Duntroon, thought to date from AD1000 to 1500. North Otago Museum (Oamaru) Showcase for the Waitaki District’s heritage. www.northotagomuseum.co.nz
Natural New Zealand
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony (Oamaru) Watch these appealing little birds coming ashore at the end of the day. www.penguins.co.nz Moeraki Take a walk and explore the strange boulders strewn across this pristine beach on the coast south of Oamaru. Benmore Dam (Waitaki Valley) Take a drive out to New Zealand’s largest earth dam and walk the Benmore Track.
On a Budget
Yellow Eyed Penguins Visit the Yellow Eyed Penguins at Bushy Beach, making use of the hide to watch the birds without disturbing them. MP3 Self-guided Tour (Oamaru) Rent an MP3 player from the i-SITE Visitor Centre and embark on your own tour of Oamaru’s historic precinct. Janet Frame Trail (Oamaru) Enjoy a 90 minute walking trail around central Oamaru, passing sites of personal importance to author Janet Frame as well as sites that feature in many of her books.
The Iconic Experience
Penguins at Oamaru Spend an evening watching the Little Blue Penguins coming ashore at Oamaru’s Little Blue Penguin Colony or see Yellow Eyed Penguins from a viewing hide at Bushy Beach.
Dining & Shopping
Exclusive Dining
Clay Cliffs Winery (Omarama) New Zealand’s highest altitude vineyard, offering a range of local food and wines. www.claycliffs.co.nz
Casual Dining
Last Post Bar & Restaurant (Oamaru) Oamaru’s old Post Office has been turned into a fantastic pub with good quality casual dining and a great atmosphere, phone +64 3 434 8080.
Café
Short Black (Oamaru) This is a café with a big reputation for serving exquisite coffee, phone +64 3 434 6406.
Stylish Bar
T-Bar Restaurant, Kingsgate Hotel Enjoy a drink at this award-winning restaurant in Oamaru. www.millenniumhotels.co.nz/kingsgateoamaru
Cosy Pub
Fat Sally’s Pub & Restaurant (Oamaru) Pub food and a cosy atmosphere. www.fatsallys.co.nz
Culinary Experience
Fleur’s Place (Moeraki Village) A unique dining experience featuring fish straight from the Moeraki fishing boats. www.fleursplace.com
Shop or Gallery
Omru Blue (Oamaru) New Zealand’s largest display of Oamaru Stone ornaments, phone +64 3 434 3303.
Suggested Itineraries
3 days in Waitaki
Day 1 South of Oamaru
Day 2 Oamaru & Waitaki Valley
Day 3 Waitaki Valley
On Day 1, visit Totara Estate – birthplace of New Zealand’s frozen meat industry, with Oamaru Stone farm buildings with heritage display items. Travel to the Moeraki Boulders and Moeraki Township via the Coastal Scenic Road and wonder at the intriguing boulders, 60 million years old and up to four metres in circumference. In the evening, visit the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony situated in the historic harbour area. On Day 2, take a walking tour of Oamaru’s Historic Precinct with Ralph’s Rambles, experiencing the fascinating story behind the development of Victorian Oamaru through the eyes of a professional guide in period costume. Visit the Forrester Gallery – home of some of the finest art in New Zealand – and enjoy lunch at Whitestone Cheese Factory & Café. Afterwards, visit Parkside Stone Quarry for a quarry tour, then explore the North Otago Fossil Trail with a visit to the Vanished World Fossil Centre in Duntroon. On Day 3, head to the spectacular Waitaki Valley – perfect for fishing and boating. Benmore Dam is one of the biggest earth dams in the Southern Hemisphere. After touring the dam, experience the world’s best soaring experience with Southern Soaring
at Omarama.
Road Trip
Waitaki Valley Explore the diverse scenery of this beautiful valley as the rolling farmland of North Otago gives way to the alpine scenery of Central Otago.
Transport
Airports
Oamaru Airport offers daily domestic flights from Monday to Friday, along with an evening flight arriving on Sundays. There are no direct international flights.
Roads
Oamaru is situated on SH 1. It is three hours, 20 minutes from Christchurch by road and one hour, 40 minutes from Dunedin. Several coach companies service the region.
Further Information
Tourism Waitaki
Phone +64 3 434 1655
Email isite@visitoamaru.co.nz
www.visitoamaru.co.nz
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