Oamaru

Travel Guide

Oamaru showing heritage architecture and street scenes
Oamaru featuring outdoor art and art
Oamaru showing heritage architecture and outdoor art as well as a family
Oamaru showing interior views and art
Oamaru featuring rugged coastline, a sandy beach and a sunset

Where to stay in Oamaru

Oamaru which includes a bay or harbor

South Hill

If you're spending some time in South Hill, Oamaru Harbour and Oamaru Victorian Heritage Precinct are top sights worth seeing.

South Hill
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Oamaru North

While Oamaru North isn't home to many top sights, Whitestone Cheese Factory and North Otago Museum are some notable places to visit nearby.

Oamaru North
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Ardgowan

Ardgowan might not have many top sights, but North Otago Museum and Steampunk HQ are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Ardgowan
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Weston

While Weston might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like North Otago Museum and Steampunk HQ.

Weston
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Holmes Hill

While Holmes Hill isn't home to many top sights, Oamaru Gardens and Steampunk HQ are some notable places to visit nearby.

Holmes Hill
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Waiareka Junction

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Waiareka Junction and surrounding area, you can visit North Otago Museum and Steampunk HQ.

Waiareka Junction
Poshtel
Poshtel
5 out of 5
126 Thames Street, Oamaru, Otago
The price is SAR 346 per night from May 12 to May 13
SAR 346
SAR 398 total
includes taxes & fees
12 May - 13 May
Stay at this 5-star luxury lodge in Oamaru. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (290 reviews)
"We love staying here every time. Private and exclusive 😃"

Reviewed on 6 May 2025

Poshtel
Oamaru Motor Lodge
Oamaru Motor Lodge
4 out of 5
391 Thames Highway, Oamaru
The price is SAR 273 per night from May 11 to May 12
SAR 273
SAR 316 total
includes taxes & fees
11 May - 12 May
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly motel in Oamaru. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (671 reviews)
"Clean and tidy spacious room. Good in room facilities. Helpful and easy check-in and check-out."

Reviewed on 3 May 2025

Oamaru Motor Lodge
Brydone Hotel Oamaru
Brydone Hotel Oamaru
3.5 out of 5
115 Thames Street, Oamaru
The price is SAR 292 per night from May 23 to May 24
SAR 292
SAR 339 total
includes taxes & fees
23 May - 24 May
Stay at this 3.5-star eco-certified hotel in Oamaru. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (526 reviews)
"Very convenient to get around Oamaru as central location"

Reviewed on 30 April 2025

Brydone Hotel Oamaru
See all 80 properties in Oamaru
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Little Sweetie in the Heart of Old Oamaru
Little Sweetie in the Heart of Old Oamaru
Oamaru
Book a stay at this family-friendly cottage in Oamaru. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and patios. Popular attractions St Lukes Anglican Church and Grainstore Gallery ...
10/10 Exceptional! (41 reviews)
Beautiful, Sweet Cottage
"Loved our stay here. It is walking distance to the Victorian Precinct and many shops and cafes. Was very quiet at night. The cottage is so pretty...beautiful wallpaper, art, linen curtains, comfy hotel-style sheets and towels. We had everything we needed and it was very clean. There is even an ocean ..."

Reviewed on 31 March 2025

Little Sweetie in the Heart of Old Oamaru
Breathtaking sea view house
Breathtaking sea view house
Oamaru North
Stay at this villa in Oamaru. Enjoy a garden, patios, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Whitestone Cheese Factory and Janet Frame House are located ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (58 reviews)
House stay
"House worked well for 2 couples. There was to be 3 couples so it would’ve worked well then too. Great views. Lovely sun trap."

Reviewed on 31 March 2025

Breathtaking sea view house
The Sea View BnB
The Sea View BnB
Oamaru
Stay at this vacation home in Oamaru. Enjoy an in-room coffeemaker and air conditioning. Popular attractions Whitestone Cheese Factory and Janet Frame House ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (7 reviews)
Girl's Road Trip
"Lovely home well equipped.Comfortable beds lots of linenGreat location and viewWe had a small issue I contacted owner and all sorted.Owners helpful"

Reviewed on 15 March 2025

The Sea View BnB
See all properties in Oamaru
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

In Oamaru there's a little blue penguin colony where you can pay to see a show and learn about the penguins and watch them come in for the night. Penguins in New Zealand are only around at dusk when they swim in from a day at sea for the night.

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony

4/5(12 reviews)

Explore the great outdoors at Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony, a lovely green space in Oamaru. Amble around the area's marina or experience its museums.

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
Oamaru which includes outdoor art

Steampunk HQ

4/5(8 reviews)

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Steampunk HQ during your trip to Oamaru. Amble around the area's marina or experience its museums.

Steampunk HQ
Oamaru showing a bay or harbor, boating and rugged coastline

Oamaru Harbour

4.5/5(7 reviews)

Explore the waterfront in Oamaru with a trip to Oamaru Harbour. Amble around the area's waterfront or experience its museums.

Oamaru Harbour
Oamaru which includes street scenes and heritage architecture

Oamaru Victorian Heritage Precinct

4.5/5(3 reviews)

You can spend time browsing the exhibits at Oamaru Victorian Heritage Precinct during your trip to Oamaru. Stroll along the marina or experience the area's museums.

Oamaru Victorian Heritage Precinct
Grainstore Gallery showing heritage architecture

Grainstore Gallery

4/5(1 review)

You can spend time studying the exhibits at Grainstore Gallery during your travels in Oamaru. Amble around the area's marina or experience its museums.

Grainstore Gallery
Forrester Gallery which includes heritage architecture

Forrester Gallery

You can spend an afternoon exploring the galleries in Forrester Gallery during your trip to Oamaru. Amble around the area's marina or experience its museums.

Forrester Gallery

Reviews of Oamaru

4.2
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
9
5 - Excellent 38%
4 - Good
11
4 - Good 46%
3 - Okay
3
3 - Okay 13%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 4%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

If I ever visit New Zealand again I won't stop in Oamaru.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Lovely stop for family history.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler

The blue penguin colony was a disappointment.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

The station wok restaurant is a good Chinese restaurant, best Cantonese gourmet in South Island.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Cute historic friendly town to spend some time in. Loved the Victorian district

3/5 - Okay

CJ

We went to see Penguins but disappointed by lack of communication when penguins arrive. We saw 9 that came in at 9:30. We were told to be there at 8:30. We heard later that penguins normally don’t arrive until after 10:30 or 11.