See what the experts are saying about Oamaru. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Introduction
Back in 1979, New Zealand cartoonist and satirist Tom Scott, writing in NZ Listener magazine, had this to say about New Zealand: "Terrible tragedy in the South Seas. Three million people trapped alive." The big news in 2003 was that we hit... Continue reading »
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Best dining bets
White (Auckland; tel. 09/978-2000): Named for its stunning minimal all-white interior, White is the handiwork of celebrated consulting chef Luke Mangan, who owns the award-winning restaurant Salt in Sydney. Its best feature is The Table, a bi... Continue reading »
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Best hotel bets
The Best B&Bs Amerissit (Remuera; tel. 09/522-9297): Barbara McKain's calm suburban home is a fantastically priced, peaceful haven that will soothe all of your senses. Genuine Kiwi hospitality rules here and you'll be hard-pressed to find... Continue reading »
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The best active vacations
Scuba Diving in the Poor Knights: Jacques Yves Cousteau rated this among the best diving spots in the world. This unique marine reserve has the best of tropical currents sweeping in to make it warm and inviting for a wide variety of tropical... Continue reading »
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The best beaches
Waiheke Island's Onetangi Bay: Stand on the bay's wide stretch of golden sand, and you can see for miles. On a clear day, throw yourself down into the sand and gaze at the steep pinnacles of Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier, off in the... Continue reading »
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The best gardens
Hamilton Gardens: Stretched along the banks of the Waikato River, this blissful, relatively new 58-hectare (143-acre) reserve is a lovely place to wander and picnic. Development began around 30 years ago; there's now a well-established Asian... Continue reading »
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The best hikes
Tongariro Crossing: Often described as one of the best 1-day walks in New Zealand, this high-altitude hike across volcanic terrain will give you cold mountain springs, lava flows, an active crater, emerald-colored crater lakes, and unforgetta... Continue reading »
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The best museums
Auckland Museum: After a very significant internal revamp, this museum is everything you'd want in a city's storehouse of treasures: fun, interactive, attractive, informative, and filled with interesting collections. Its Maori and Polynesian... Continue reading »
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The best natural attractions
Ninety Mile Beach and Cape Reinga: From the spiritual tip of the North Island where, Maori say, the souls of the dead depart, to mountainous sand dunes, quicksand, and the broad flat stretch of Ninety Mile Beach, this is a must-see area fille... Continue reading »
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The best offbeat travel experiences
Visit the World's Biggest Polynesian Market: Why go all around the Pacific Islands when you can get the best of it in the comfort of an Otara parking lot? Go hungry and feast on island goodies, smell the smells, and buy beautiful tapa cloth a... Continue reading »
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The best scenic drives
Auckland City to Mission Bay: This is the stuff of a weekend afternoon spin to see how the other half lives. Best done in a Ferrari, a BMW, an Audi, or an equally cool classic if you want to leave a lasting impression. Tight shorts and in-lin... Continue reading »
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The best shopping
Auckland: The whole city is a treasure trove of shops. Try the chic fashion and design shops of High Street; international designer duty-free at DFS Galleria Customhouse; upmarket boutiques in Parnell; antiques on Manukau Road; mainstream fas... Continue reading »
Oamaru Travel Experiences
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All this for one penguin
We made it to Oamaru after a five-hour drive from Christchurch (including a lovely lunch stop just off Highway 1 on a beach filled with a... Continue reading »
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Big round rocks and heaps of Germans
Our travels towards Christchurch took us directly by an exciting geologic wonder know as the Moeraki Boulders. As always, there is... Continue reading »
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A day trip to Oamaru and The Moeraki Boulders
March 10, 2007: A Day Trip to Oamaru and The Moeraki Boulders:The town of Oamaru is about 120 kilometers north of Dunedin (about a 1.5 ho... Continue reading »
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Day 27
Thursday 15th Feb After deciding we should get out of bed nice and early we eventually managed to drag ourselves from under the comf... Continue reading »
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Ppppp pick up a penguin!
Left Dunedin at 8.30am, but not before walking up Baldwin Street - the world's steepest street! We were the only two people on our... Continue reading »
