
Day trip to Oamaru
I have lived in Christchurch for a long time and from there I went on many day trips on the South Island of New Zealand. I went, for example, to Oamaru for a night. Oamaru is a small village located between Christchurch and Dunedin. This village is known for the little blue penguins that walk through the village in the evening, this is also the reason that I went here.
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On the way to Oamaru
At the beginning of August I went to Oamaru during my weekend. The route from Christchurch to Oamaru is only three hours, which is easy to do. I had my own car so it was just a matter of getting in and going. I didn’t want to drive everything in one go so I decided to stop in Timaru for a walk along the coast. My starting point was at Caroline Bay Camping Place and from there I walked north. You will pass a lighthouse and you also have the chance to see marine animals, such as penguins and seals. Unfortunately I was not very lucky and did not see any animals. Afterwards I had lunch on a bench with a view and then I drove to Oamaru.
In Oamaru
Since I arrived too early and couldn’t check in yet, I went to the Bushy Beach Track. This is a short walk to a cabin on top of a mountain from where you have a view of a beach. On this beach you can see the rare Yellow-eyed Penguin and also seals. Make sure to bring binoculars as the beach is far away. Unfortunately I didn’t have one with me and couldn’t see the beach properly. I did spot some seals. The best time to go here is at the end of the afternoon, just before sunset, when the penguins return to the beach after a day of fishing.
After the hike it was time to check in at Swaggers Backpackers. This hostel was recommended to me by a colleague of mine in Christchurch. She had said it was her strangest but also best experience in a hostel, I was curious! When I arrived, Agra (the owner) told me I was the only one who booked for that night. August is low season in this area so that was not surprising. Since it was also winter, she said it was too expensive to keep the whole house warm so I could use her personal living room and kitchen instead of the shared ones. Also my room was not heated, but I did have an electric blanket. She told me that she would like to take me into the village to show me the best places to find the little blue penguins.
She took me to the waterfront and told me that the penguins arrive here and then walk into the village. Along the Esplanade, Wansbeck st, Tyne st and surrounding alleys, you will sporadicly see holes in the buildings where the blue penguins nest. She also said that the penguins sometimes even walk into the bar. They weren’t there at that time as they wouldn’t come until later. When I got back to the hostel, I started talking to her and she told me about her life. How her sons lived far away and she got divorced a long time ago. She sounded lonely. When I later told her that I was going out for dinner she invited herself. Together we went into town to see where we could eat. It was a weird but pleasant evening.
After dinner I went back to the waterfront to see the penguins. I have seen so many! Mainly around Wansbeck street. Bring a flashlight as there is no light here and you have to be careful not to step on them. Unfortunately I lost most of the pictures of these penguins, but luckily I still have the memories. It was a great experience that I recommend to everyone! If you want to learn more about these special animals, you can also do an evening tour with an expert who will tell you more about the life of the penguins and the importance of their conservation. Click here for more information or to book.
When I got back to the hostel, Agra had baked cookies. After talking a bit I went to sleep under my heated blanket. I totally understand why my colleague said it was her weirdest but best hostel experience. Agra might be a bit unusual, but she likes to connect with the guests and make sure they have the best experience while they stay at her home.
The next day
The next day I went to explore Oamaru by myself a bit. It is a very cute village with a Victorian influence. Harbor St where you can see the penguins at night is also a very nice street during the day. Steampunk HQ is a fun attraction, this is an interactive museum with a collection of retro-futuristic sci-fi art, movies, sculptures and sound. If you like cheese, Whitestone Cheese Factory is nice. Whitestone Cheese is an award-winning cheese brand in New Zealand. In this factory you can see how the cheese is made and of course you will get a chance taste it. After the tour of the city I went back to Christchurch. Again I stopped in Timaru on the way back, this time to take a walk through Centennial Park. This is a large park on the outskirts of the city. This park has many hiking trails, so you can choose how long you want to walk here.
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