Oamaru

As you enter Oamaru you will notice very strong Victorian influence throughout the town. Many of the stunning historic buildings have been constructed from the local Oamaru whitestone, providing fantastic reflections of the sun on clear days. The town has become a haven for antique shops, and a Victorian Heritage festival is held every November to acknowledge the unique attributes of the town.

In the late 19th century, the town was a centre for commerce with a busy port the first shipment of refrigerated meat in New Zealand left from here, which was a big event at the time.

One of the best known features of the town is the nearby blue penguin colony at dusk every day the endangered penguins can be seen returning from the sea to nest and feed their young.