Oamaru (Whitestone City)

Oamaru (/ˌɒməˈruː/ ; Māori: Te Oha-a-Maru) is the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, it is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Timaru and 120 kilometres (75 mi) north of Dunedin on the Pacific coast; State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connect it to both cities. With a population of 14,350, Oamaru is the 28th largest urban area in New Zealand, and the third largest in Otago behind Dunedin and Queenstown. The town is the seat of Waitaki District, which includes the surrounding towns of Kurow, Weston, Palmerston, and Hampden, which combined have a total population of 23,200.

Places to go

Perfect Destinations In Oamaru

Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders are large, spherical stones located on Koekohe Beach in the Otago region of New Zealand. These mysterious boulders, ranging in size from 1 to 3 meters in diameter, were formed around 60 million years ago through a process of calcite crystallization within mudstone. Their unusual shape and size have made them a popular tourist attraction. Local Māori legends explain the boulders as remnants of gourds or eel baskets from an ancient canoe.

Oamaru's Victorian Precinct

Visit and explore Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct and experience what this architecturally stunning and unique area has to offer. Explore and enjoy a number of great attractions and activities including galleries, craft, antique and book stores, as well as eateries and bars serving up some delicious food, fine wine, craft beer and world-class whisky.

Steampunk HQ

Steampunk hq, which opened in November 2011, is an art collaboration proudly based in oamaru, new Zealand. It sets out to portray an industrial version of steampunk, with a giant sense of humour and larger than life visions of an off the wall steampunk universe.

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony

The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is located on the Otago coast of New Zealand and is home to the smallest species of penguin, the Little Blue Penguin (also known as the Fairy Penguin). The colony is renowned for its daily evening penguin parade, where visitors can observe the penguins returning from their day at sea.

Bushy Beach Scenic Reserve

Bushy Beach Scenic Reserve, located near Moeraki on the Otago coast of New Zealand, is known for its dramatic coastal scenery and diverse wildlife. The reserve offers visitors opportunities to explore native bush, enjoy panoramic views, and spot wildlife such as the endangered yellow-eyed penguin.

Whitestone Cheese Factory and Whitestone City

Whitestone Cheese Factory is a renowned artisan cheese producer located in the picturesque Otago region of New Zealand. They specialize in handcrafted, high-quality cheeses made with local milk, including a range of hard and soft varieties

Oamaru Public Gardens

The Oamaru Public Gardens, located in Oamaru, New Zealand, are one of the country’s oldest and most beautifully preserved Victorian gardens. Established in 1876, they feature a variety of themed sections, including a rose garden, conservatory, and formal plantings.

The Janet Frame House

Author Janet Frame lived at 56 Eden Street from the age of six until she left Oamaru after completing secondary school. Her childhood became one of the best known of any New Zealander after she wrote of its joys and sorrows in her bestselling autobiography, which was immortalised in the celebrated film An Angel at my Table.