Hollywood came to Whitestone streets or Ōamaru. Now it's your turn to step into the scene with this self-guided walking tour of key filming locations around the iconic Ōamaru Historic Precinct.
While all locations are just a short stroll, we recommend allowing 45-60 minutes to thoroughly explore all the stops along the way.
1. Smith's Grain Store
Located at 9 Tyne Street, and built in 1882 for grain merchant Joseph Smith, this Whitestone building was so ornate on opening that one description called it “a temple of art rather than a grain store.” Its ornamental Tyne Street façade has since done time as a newspaper printworks, a dance hall and a skating rink. Today it houses the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark.
East of Eden connection: One of the grand Whitestone façades reworked for the production's early-1900s Californian streetscape.
2. The Criterion Hotel
On the corner of Tyne and Harbour Streets, the Criterion Hotel has watched over the Precinct since 1877. Designed by Oamaru architectural partnership Forrester & Lemon and built of Oamaru stone from the Cave Valley quarries, it was built in an elaborate Italianate style. It has become one of its most photographed façades in New Zealand.
East of Eden connection: This iconic building formed part of the production's period streetscape.
3. Interior of The Criterion Hotel
Still a working pub and hotel today, the Criterion's interior holds the Temperance Room (a nod to Ōamaru's prohibition-era history), a Gentleman's Lounge with leather chesterfields, and a few good ghost stories in the rooms upstairs. Order yourself a pint at the bar or a local wine to enjoy as you wander around exploring the variety of spaces.
East of Eden connection: The interior provided one of the production's period sets.
4. Emulsion Lane
Possibly the oldest building on Harbour Street, this 1875 store was built for merchant Arthur Maude and later became home to chemist Edward Lane's factory, maker of the famous Lane's Emulsion cod liver oil tonic from 1907, and the source of the laneway's name.
The legendary Harbour Street Bakery trades from the building today – well worth a stop to taste their delicious range of bread, buns, pies.
East of Eden connection: This stretch of Harbour Street featured in the production's transformed streetscape.
5. J&T Meeks Building
Built for J and T Meek in 1876, this building is unique among others on Harbour Street as it is the only one that the original ornate entablature and facade was not removed. Now, it’s a doing something entirely of its own era: a full-time gallery of robot sculptures built from pre-1970 vintage metal parts by local artist Martin Horspool, with the Harbour Street Collective café right next door for a pause and a coffee.
East of Eden connection: The heritage building and streetscape appear in the production.
6. The Penguin Club
Founded in 1990 by local musicians after gigs, the Penguin Entertainers' Club has hosted hundreds of local, national and touring acts over three decades - from The Feelers to Anika Moa - and remains a working home of live music in Ōamaru.
7. "The Rail Yard"
The Oamaru Steam and Rail Society railyard runs behind the heritage precinct and had a starring role. Home to the volunteer-run society, who’s locomotive and carriages were specially restored and put back into service for the production. The trains are the real thing - vintage steam engines, still running on the original line, decades after the working port they once served closed down.
Friendly Bay's coastal reserve sits right alongside the heritage railyard, and its open shoreline featured in the production's backdrop.
East of Eden connection: This area had a starring role in the production's Ōamaru shoot, having been completely transformed into a rail yard.
8. Steam & Rail Station
Home to the volunteer-run Ōamaru Steam and Rail ticket office. The vintage locomotives and heritage carriages run through the harbour precinct most Sundays, with the workshop open for a look behind the scenes midweek.
East of Eden connection: Reported to have had a starring role in the production's Ōamaru shoot.
