Southern Destinations: March 03, 2016

More documents

Recommendations

Info

6 | March 2016 *Southern Destinations OAMARU Oamaru “Steampunk Capital of the World” Meander on Main Street Thames Street is Oamaru’s modern commercial hub and complements the nearby historic precinct with a variety of shops, services and accommodation. Alongside its wide thoroughfare and easy parking, you’ll find well-known stores and franchises, locally owned boutiques and a plethora of delightful cafés, restaurants, pubs and hotels; among them: Lagonda Tearooms, an iconic New Zealand style of milk bar, ice cream parlour and tearoom. Offering selections for morning and afternoon tea, lunches and takeaways, Lagonda is also a Coach Travel Centre and seven-day-a-week comfort and refreshment stop for bus travellers to and from Oamaru. As well as indoor and outdoor seating, the tearoom also has several internet terminals for customer use. During the summer holidays, it is only closed on Christmas Day. RealFood is just off Thames on Eden St, and is home to quality ingredients for baking, cooking, treats and brewing. You’ll also find a selection of organic and "Where Happiness is HOMEMADE" Grains & Flours Peas Beans & Lentils Herbs & Spices Organic & Gluten Free Products International Foods Cake Decorating Supplies Brewing Supplies Confectionery & Treats 10 Eden St, Oamaru Ph:03 433 1433 • M:027 357 6590 info@realfoodpantry.co.nz Most of the food at The Roost is made on the premises and is complemented by the taste and flavour of coffee made with topquality Bruno Rossi coffee beans. gluten-free products, bulk fruit and nuts, herbs, spices and environmentally friendly cleaning products. Offering a back-tobasics approach to food, you will also find recipes, new ideas and friendly advice. The Roost is a popular stop for locals and visitors alike. Offering an all-day breakfast, lunch, cabinet food and wonderful coffee, customers are assured of fine food, excellent service and an atmosphere of welcome. As well as a varied breakfast menu, open sandwiches and delicious cakes and baked items, there is a good selection of gluten-free food, which many customers appreciate. Most of the food at The Roost is made on the premises and is complemented by the taste and flavour of coffee made with topquality Bruno Rossi coffee beans. Located in the Main St and open 7am to 4pm everyday, the café is easy to find but once discovered, you will want to come home to roost – often! Visit The Roost Café on www.facebook.com/roostinoamaru/ for more details. Steampunk HQ, New Zealand’s premier steampunk experience, is a museum and workshop situated in the Victorian precinct of Oamaru. It is crazy, quirky and unique, unlike any other visitor attraction in NZ. Steampunk is a fun subgenre of science fiction that features steam-powered technology, set in an alternate, futuristic version of 19th century Victorian England. Visitors to HQ will have the opportunity to marvel at the wonderful exhibition of “Recycled Relics” created by late Dunedin sculptor Chris Meder. This exhibition has been extended due to very popular demand. Outside Steampunk HQ, Engine SP001 greets visitors by belching flames, smoke and eerie sounds; while inside, a museum of two darkened rooms presents a theme of a dark post-apocalyptic vision of a future “as it might have been.” Contraptions and bizarre machinery featuring heavy use of copper, gears, pipes and gas cylinders, as well as an ensemble of skeletal sculptures are lit by flickering lights and accompanied by film, projection and sound. A back door leads to a large yard with projects and machines in various stages of being “steampunked!” The Portal is a highlight of any visit to Steampunk HQ, and is described as “a time travel experience that moves visitors through into another dimension.” The Portal is a retro-futuristic mirror and lighting installation that features original glowing light sculptures with a theme of skulls and mythology. Steampunk HQ must be experienced rather than explained. LAGONDA TEAROOMS OAMARU FAST FRESH FOOD with value meals, milkshakes, icecreams & drinks Internet available Open everyday over the Easter period Call in, relax and enjoy at LAGONDA TEAROOMS SERIOUS FOOD & GOOD COFFEE OAMARU 30 THAMES STREET PH 03 434 1165 WARM & WELCOME AMBIENCE STOCKISTS OF PHOENIX ORGANIC DRINKS BRUNO ROSSI COFFEE (FAIR TRADE) 191 Thames Street, Oamaru Phone: (03) 434 8716
*Southern Destinations OAMARU March 2016 | 7 Explore the Waitaki District Located an easy three-hour drive from Christchurch, the Waitaki District is one of the most interesting and diverse regions in New Zealand. It has a bit of everything that’s great about our country – majestic mountains, stunning blue lakes, rolling green farmland and the wonderful Pacific Ocean. The Waitaki District goes from the Waitaki River in the north, then west to Lake Ohau in the Southern Alps and to Palmerston, which is the southern most point on the eastern coastline. It takes about two hours to drive through the district and there’s so much to see and do along the way. The four lakes – Ohau, Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki – are ideal for swimming, boating and fishing. There are many vineyards with excellent wines and local produce, too. The district also has a fascinating history, from the ancient Maori Rock Art site to natural limestone formations to the fossil trail. Whatever your tastes, there’ll be something for you in the Waitaki District. It’s a truly special place and well worth your time. Oamaru Penguin Colony The world’s smallest penguins live in their natural environment within walking distance of the town centre. These little blue birds spend their days diving in the ocean, returning at dusk where they can be closely viewed from two specially-built grandstands. The spacious grounds have beautiful natural landscaping with ocean views. www.penguins.co.nz Steampunk Quirky and cool, steampunk is an unusual and fascinating experience. This subgenre of science fiction imagines an alternate future that uses steam-powered technology, often set in Victorian England or the American “Wild West”. Oamaru is the steampunk capital of New Zealand and home to Steampunk HQ with its iconic steampunked locomotive sculpture. www.steampunkoamaru.co.nz Gliding Omarama, known as the place of light, is one of the world’s best places for gliding. Imagine being in a large paper plane (only much sturdier!), riding the wind currents of the mountains. No experience is necessary to experience the wonder of gliding silently over the iconic MacKenzie landscape with its golden tussocklands and bright blue lakes. www.glideomarama.com Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail (A2O) From the tallest mountain in New Zealand to the ocean, the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail covers 300 kilometres of the most stunning scenery in the country. You can start at Aoraki/Mount Cook, or alternatively, at Lake Tekapo. The trail is a great way to experience our country’s diversity while getting fit at the same time. You need a reasonable level of fitness to do the trail but taking five or six days to complete, it will ensure a relatively easy experience with plenty of time to explore what else is on offer. There are many fantastic attractions along the trail such as stargazing, hot springs, Lord of the Rings tours, wine tastings, fishing, swimming, boutique shops, ancient fossil sites, gliding and more. www.alps2ocean.com Oamaru Victorian Precinct The Victorian Precinct is a lovingly restored slice of 19th century life and one of the world’s best examples of a living Victorian town. Many people there dress in the old style and you can dress up too for a unique holiday photo. There are artisan businesses selling everything, from artworks to vintage clothing to rare books. You’ll see Penny Farthing bicycles, wonderful galleries and museums as well as an innovative brewing company and an award-winning whiskey company. www.victorianoamaru.co.nz Wine and food The Waitaki District has a wide variety of dining experiences available, from the very finest of dining to sushi and gourmet pizza. There are several award-winning restaurants, a gourmet cheese company, a great brewery and excellent wines from vineyards. The Oamaru Farmers Market on a Sunday is a must-do with fresh, local produce, handcrafted baked goods, excellent coffee and good music, too. Moeraki Boulders and Coastal North Otago On the stunning Koekohe Beach near Moeraki are a rather unusual group of large, spherical stones. They look like fossilised dinosaur eggs lying on the beach, but they’re actually concretions which formed 60 million years ago and have been exposed through erosion. These huge stones are large enough to sit or stand on for an interesting photo. The coast line of the Waitaki District from Oamaru to south of Palmerston is particularly beautiful. It’s often secluded and a lovely place to simply wander and watch the waves. www.moerakiboulders.com Harbourside The harbour of Oamaru has undergone a lot of development in the last few years and is well worth taking the time to explore. There is a fantastic steampunk-themed playground, which is fun for adults as well as children. Cafés and restaurants offer a good variety food as well as excellent coffee, and some of the best real fruit ice creams around. There are lots of nice places for a stroll, with interesting interpretative panels showing the history of Oamaru. The beach is calm and sheltered for swimming, kayaking or paddleboarding. Harbourside is also right by the Victorian Precinct and the penguin colony. For holiday and booking information, go to www.visitoamaru.co.nz. Call the Oamaru i-Site on 03 434 1656 or email isite@visitoamaru.co.nz.
Page 1 and 2: Southern HolidayDestinations AUTUMN
Page 3 and 4: *Southern Destinations WINCHESTER *
Page 5: *Southern Destinations WAIMATE Marc
Page 9 and 10: *Southern Destinations OAMARU March
Page 11 and 12: *Southern Destinations DuneD in Mar
Page 13 and 14: *Southern Destinations DUNEDIN Marc
Page 15 and 16: *Southern Destinations otaGo March
Page 17 and 18: *Southern Destinations Central otag
Page 19 and 20: *Southern Destinations central otag

Southern Destinations: March 03, 2016

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?