Fill your days exploring our region steeped in Māori history and the Victorian era.

From Victorian streetscapes and Māori settlements to celebrations of Steampunk and vibrant galleries, Ōamaru and the wider Waitaki region are built upon the rich history cherished by locals and visitors alike.

Learn of the different iwi in the region, and where Māori fished, foraged, and built their settlements pre-colonialism. Rewind to the early 1800s, when European settlers arrived and built grand buildings out of limestone and brick. Visit Harbour Street, a preserved Victorian streetscape with all the contemporary trimmings, before taking a roadtrip through Kurow and Duntroon to discover ancient Māori rock art, fossil collections, and hidden gems of local history. Wind back to Ōamaru and end your day visiting Steampunk HQ, a place where science fiction meets steam-powered technology in a futuristic version of 19th-century Victorian England.

Around every corner you can find a beautiful building full of history. If you want to learn more about what’s behind the walls, visit Ōamaru’s Victorian Precinct.

Festivals

If you’re a fan of the Victorian era, each November, Ōamaru brings its Victorian heritage to life with a five-day celebration filled with top hats, hoop skirts and penny farthings.

As winter descends, Ōamaru is transformed from its Victorian past, but this time the multi-day celebration is all things steampunk – these celebrations give you the perfect excuse to dig out those hats, timepieces, and vintage corsets. If you’ve got nothing to wear, let one of our steampunk boutiques dress you up for the part.

If you’re a music-lover, check out the Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival held every March across Otago Anniversary weekend. Hop between the town’s numerous bars and musical venues for an extravaganza of soul-warming rhythm and blues.