Oamaru's Heritage Precinct — Attraction in South Island

Oamaru: New Zealand’s Best-Kept Secret

Everyone talks about Queenstown and Wanaka — meanwhile, Oamaru quietly exists as one of the coolest places you’ll ever stumble into.

We found the old Victorian precinct was pure magic: cobblestone streets, limestone buildings, and real artisans living and working like it’s still 1880 (minus the plague). Then, just to keep you guessing, there’s a brilliant smattering of steampunk — giant machines, retro-futuristic art, and more brass goggles than you can count.

It’s quirky, beautiful, and somehow still flying under the radar. Honestly, the biggest surprise is that more people aren’t...

On a recent trip to the South Island we passed through Oamaru and had lunch and a look around Oamaru's Victorian Precinct. What an unexpected surprise! Amazing attraction. The focus on steam punk an unexpected bonus, especially knowing that this has been a long-time focus of the area. The charming blend of history and quirkiness was captivating, with the steampunk twist adding an extra layer of fun.(as you will see from my few photos). Think a must see if you have children and want a great place to explore with them. Loved every moment of our brief stay and was sad to be on our way to our next destination. We will...

Oamaru has done an amazing job of renewing this area of town. Everyone except for one ugly homeware store has done a great job of maintaining the theme. There's a used book store focused on adventure books especially about Antarctica but also any kind of adventure from history to fiction. There's a great whiskey bar, a train ride, and all kinds of shops. It's just a nice shopping district which happens to maintain a Victorian period theme. A couple of shops delve into the kitchy fun of steampunk, and the Steampunk HQ museum is worth...