12 Hours Ōamaru

Start the day off with a bang at Tees Street, a café that does things deliciously and a little differently. Here the brunch plates you know and love like eggs and toasts are reborn and made with local ingredients and flavours of South America, Asia, and the Mediterranean. The breakfast board is a true delight and will win over big brekkie traditionalists with the assortment of flavours both sweet and savoury on offer.

Visitors to Tees Street are also well taken care of on the coffee front with everything from classic flat whites to Vietnamese coffees and turmeric lattes. The bomboloni doughnuts are also not to be missed.

Once you’re well fueled, walk a few minutes towards the ocean and you’ll quickly find yourself standing between 1800s era limestone facades - Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct.

While these historical streets were once home to grain stores, shipping yards, and rowdy seafarers they are now inhabited by  locally-owned cafés, shops and galleries. It's the perfect spot for art lovers to engage in a tour of the town's finest curated collections and displays.

Start at Crafted, where contemporary handmade wares showcase the region’s artistic flair, then step into the whimsical world of Buggyrobot Gallery, packed with surreal installations and repurposed treasures that blur the line between imagination and reality. Just down the cobbled street, Luzette Art offers a striking collection of bold paintings and sculptures, while the nearby Forrester Gallery, housed in a grand neoclassical building, presents a rotating mix of historical and contemporary exhibitions.

To round out your artistic adventure, take a short stroll to Silenzio Pottery, where earthy, hand-thrown ceramics reflect the peaceful beauty of Ōamaru's coastal surroundings.

Shopping NZ-made is the way to go, and at Hyde Boutique, it’s easy. In the shop, you’ll find a host of New Zealand made designer clothing from the likes of Deadly Ponies, Juliette Hogan, Twenty-Seven Names, Marle and Kowtow, sitting alongside international brands. Whether you’re in need of a new outfit, or a gift or simply believe you deserve a treat - this is the place to shop.

Midday will be fast approaching by this stage - head to Whitestone Cheese Deli & Diner to beat the hangry stage. Whitestone is well known in these parts for producing incredible cheeses and with the addition of their welcoming diner, it's the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely lunch while sampling their award-winning cheeses. With a menu that champions their handcrafted dairy, you can indulge in cheese-laden platters, toasted sandwiches, and other locally inspired fare—all served in a bright, airy space that overlooks the working cheese factory. It’s a must-visit for cheese lovers wanting to go straight to the source.

An afternoon browse at Inc. Design Store, is time well spent in our book. Sitting somewhere between art and play, the items at Inc. have been handpicked by owner/director and independent designer Helen because she sincerely believes in their function, quality, ingenuity and beauty and in supporting emerging local artists’ quirky and fun creations.

This concept store began inside a house, showcasing, in the very space Helen used them, items she adores that serve a purpose and add playfulness to everyday life. It's the perfect place to come if you need a gift, new item for your own house or to simply bring some joy to your day.

We’d put money on the fact that you’ve probably never played an intergalactic organ pipe. At Steampunk HQ you can do just that as you dive headfirst into the weird, wacky and wonderful world of this niche subculture. Once you’re through the door you’ll be instantly transported to a future that remained powered by steam.

Steampunk HQ isn’t a gallery or a museum but it IS full of art, oddities, and exhibitions many of which come to life with the touch of a button. Press the keys of the intergalactic organ, for one, and delight as a range of spooky and funny sounds echo from its bellows.

If you’ve got the time you can even play dress-up here and develop your own Steampunk identity. Choose an outfit, a name, a trade, and a tool but choose wisely as you never know what you’ll encounter in the world that is Steampunk HQ.

After returning from your journey to the past/future at Steampunk HQ you’ll likely be getting hungry. Talk a walk along the harbour and find the perfectly positioned Del Mar, with its relaxed beachy vibes it's just the spot for an afternoon ice cream by the seaside. 

Del Mar's gelato cabinet houses up to 12 different flavours each day and one of the most difficult decisions you'll face in your 12 hours spent in Ōamaru will be which scoop to choose.

Tucked away in Ōamaru’s historic Victorian Precinct, Craftwork Brewery is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner drink with real character. This Belgian-style brewery is known for its complex, bottle-conditioned ales crafted with care by founders Michael O’Brien and Lee-Ann Scotti.

With a reverence for traditional European brewing methods and a flair for storytelling, every sip offers depth and intrigue. The brewery’s intimate tasting room invites you to slow down, enjoy nuanced flavours, and soak up the old-world charm before heading out for dinner in this picturesque corner of town.

It’s been a big day and now it’s time to dine. Cucina is one of the region’s best spots for inspired international flavour created with local, seasonal ingredients. The dimly lit interior is moody yet cosy and filled with vibrant indoor greenery giving this restaurant an atmosphere akin to what you might find in Auckland or Melbourne.

Order a cocktail or a local wine from the bar and you’ll soon see that while this spot brings the wow factor, it’s still committed to genuine Kiwi hospitality. Take a peek at the menu which showcases slow cooked meats, handcrafted pasta dishes and desserts you must leave room for.

Mediterranean and South American flavours run through Cucina’s offerings as owners Pablo and Yanina, originally from Argentina, love to share the flavours they grew up with.

In Ōamaru you don’t have to go far to get up close and personal with native wildlife. In fact, you don’t even have to go while the sun is up. After a delicious dinner at Cucina walk just a few minutes down the road to the Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony.

This unique centre is home to several hundred nesting pairs of Kororā Little Blue Penguins and a team of scientists who study and look after them. Each day these tiny but mighty birds leave the roost to fish in the open ocean. They return every night at dusk and you can watch the penguin ‘rafts’ come in on the waters edge here.

Grab a ticket for the evening viewing, walk through the educational area and take a seat in the stands to await these little critters' return. As they come in you’ll be able to see (and even smell!) them as they make their way back to their nests. Don't forget to take into account the time of year when you're planning out your day, as in winter the penguins return home earlier so you may need to rejig your itinerary.

Once the evening is well and truly over you’ll be glad to know that some of the best accommodation around is not too far away (but do book ahead as this place fills up!).

Poshtel is as the name suggests, posh, but also has a quirky, interesting, and charming personality all its own. Once you’re inside the warmly lit lobby you’ll understand exactly what we mean - this place is full of curiosities.

Every room is themed and decorated as such. The Antarctic Explorer Suite, for one, tells the story of the South Island as “the final stepping stone for early Antarctic expeditions'' and the items found inside “hark back to the to the days when determined men set off on journeys that pushed them to their limits and sometimes, tragically, beyond.”

As you wander through Poshtel you’ll find plenty of vintage sporting gear, historical artifacts, incredible artwork and more to explore. While it could take a lifetime to discover every detail here, little details like fresh milk in your room for coffees, soft linens, plush carpets, incredible shower water pressure and Whittakers on arrival make each stay welcoming, comfortable, and a touch luxurious.