Victorian Precinct Walking Tour

Suggested visit time: 30mins - 1 hour

Take a stroll through history on this walking tour through the historic areas of Oamaru. There are some uneven gravel paths on this tour.

"Nothing moves very fast in Oamaru. Tourists saunter, locals linger and penguins waddle. Even the town's recently resurrected heritage modes of transport – penny farthings and steam trains – reflect an unhurried pace. Most travellers come here for the penguins, but hang around and you'll sense the wellspring of eccentricity bubbling under the surface. Put simply, Oamaru is cool.

Down by the water, a neighbourhood of once-neglected Victorian buildings now swarms with oddballs, antiquarians and bohemians of all stripes, who run offbeat galleries, quirky shops, hip music venues and even an 'urban winery'. Most visible are the steampunks, their aesthetic boldly celebrating the past and the future with an ethos of 'tomorrow as it used to be'.

Away from the docks, Oamaru's whitestone buildings harbour an increasing array of cafes and bars, while up on the clifftops a few excellent accommodation options have taken hold. You may find yourself lingering longer than expected in this laid-back coastal town."

- Credits: Lonely Planet

Check out Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Instagram for photo inspirations.