Outstanding Ōamaru

With great food, top-notch craft beer and wine, historic charm, inventive art, geological wonders, spectacular scenery, beaches, lakes, and native wildlife, you ought to visit and discover the diversity of the Waitaki. And what better way to enjoy the Waitaki than by spending the weekend at the Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival and having a toe-tapping time? 

The Ōamaru Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival (17-19 March) is pretty unique. It is a feel-good, family-friendly, safe, and all-inclusive festival with something for everyone. It is based in a centralised hub of performance in historic Harbour Street and throughout Ōamaru’s cafés and restaurants. 

What makes it special is the festival is mostly free, with only two ticketed events – the opening event and the wrap-up Grand Finale Dine & Dance. 

It’s a festival that brings people together and creates an intimate, connected atmosphere for each of them to craft their own unique experience of music over the weekend. 

The Waitaki district offers an experience rich in history and heritage, from the landforms formed millions of years ago and ancient Māori rock art to Ōamaru’s amazing Victorian precinct, with New Zealand’s most complete collection of Victorian buildings. 

Ōamaru makes a great base for exploring more of the Waitaki district. The historic buildings, made from locally quarried limestone, are a testament to the town’s boom era when it was an important port. Today, they are filled with galleries, shops, artisans, and places to eat and drink. The area is also where you’ll find Whitestone City, an interactive and hands-on history experience, and Steampunk HQ, a gateway to other dimensions. 

Award-winning eateries are adding big flavour to Ōamaru. The town is now overflowing with top-class dining destinations, including Riverstone Kitchen and Cucina. 

Ōamaru is also home to two award-winning breweries, Scotts Brewing Co and Craftwork Brewery, and a new cocktail bar, Victoria Lounge, a unique venue in the heart of historic Ōamaru, serving a range of cocktails and food. 

If you know Ōamaru, it’s more than likely you know it thanks to the little penguin/ kororā. The Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony provides visitors with an opportunity to see the world’s smallest penguins in their natural environment – you’ll be totally captivated watching their nightly arrival.