From heritage architecture and local discoveries to little blue penguins, a recent return visit to Ōamaru has us thinking about whether this charming South Island town deserves a little more time on our New Zealand tour itinerary.
One of the pleasures of creating and leading Mondumo tours is returning to the places we visit with our tour groups. There's always something new to discover, and each visit is an opportunity to reflect on how we can make the experience even better for our tour members.
A recent weekend in Ōamaru was a perfect example.
Harbour Street, Ōamaru. Can you see the dates on the building? Original construction and restoration.
A Weekend of Ōamaru Discoveries
We packed plenty into our stay, starting with a fascinating heritage walking tour with Mike from Whitestone Tours. Ōamaru's remarkable Victorian architecture and historic precinct are always a highlight, and exploring with a knowledgeable local guide brings another dimension to the town's history.
We also enjoyed a visit to Buggy Robot, sampled the food and drinks at Scotts Brewing Co, and made time for one of Ōamaru's most famous attractions: its little blue penguins.
Our Mondumo tour groups usually visit the Ōamaru penguin colony at dusk, when the penguins return from the sea and come ashore in much greater numbers. This time, we opted for a daytime visit, which was particularly well suited to travelling with children.
Although the experience was different, it was still wonderful to see some penguins nesting in their boxes. Photography isn't permitted in these areas, so you'll have to take our word for how delightful they were!
Mike of Whitestone Tours sharing a glimpse of Ōamaru in days gone by
Is One Night in Ōamaru Enough?
The weekend reinforced something I’ve been thinking for a while: Ōamaru absolutely deserves its place on our New Zealand tour itinerary.
The more difficult question is whether we’re allowing enough time to enjoy it.
Currently, our 14-day tour includes one night in Ōamaru. It works well, giving tour members an opportunity to experience the town and its famous penguins before continuing their journey.
But with so much to see and do, two nights would allow for a more relaxed visit and more time to explore independently.
Of course, adding an extra night isn't quite as straightforward as it sounds.
We could take a day away from another destination, but every stop on our itinerary has been carefully chosen, and I'm reluctant to sacrifice any of them.
Which raises an interesting possibility: what if we extended the tour from 14 to 15 days?
Cheese Rolls: a local delight. These ones are in Tee St Cafe. Almost every cafe in Ōamaru sells them, often make with local Whitestone cheese
A Destination Attracting More Attention
Ōamaru is also gaining international recognition. With recent coverage from Lonely Planet and its role as a filming location for Netflix’s East of Eden, the town may be welcoming even more visitors in the coming years.
That growing interest is exciting, although it could make securing accommodation for an additional night more challenging, particularly when planning for a group.
It’s another consideration as we look ahead to future touring seasons.
David with his Penny Farthing bicycle, which he rode the length of New Zealand on and Mike from Whitestone Tours.
Looking Ahead to the 2028/29 Season
Nothing has been decided, but we're exploring the possibility of extending our New Zealand tour to 15 days for the 2028/29 season.
Returning to destinations between tours is an important part of how we develop the Mondumo experience. It gives us a chance to discover new attractions, reconnect with local operators and consider whether the pace of our itinerary gives tour members the best possible experience.
After this latest visit, Ōamaru has certainly made a strong case for a little more time.
We’d Love Your Thoughts
Would a 15-day New Zealand tour appeal to you, particularly if it meant more time to explore destinations like Ōamaru? Or would that extra day make it more difficult to fit the tour into your travel plans?
We’d love to hear what you think as we consider the possibilities for future Mondumo adventures.