Jan’s Local Favs - Food & Activities in Oamaru & Waitaki
Food scene
My favourite dining experience! Lovely setting, great selection of wines and beers, delicious, creative food with an Argentinian flare. Specializing in beef and lamb but you should also try their home made pasta. The smoked chicken ravioli is delicious.
19 locals recommend
Cucina
1 Tees StMy favourite dining experience! Lovely setting, great selection of wines and beers, delicious, creative food with an Argentinian flare. Specializing in beef and lamb but you should also try their home made pasta. The smoked chicken ravioli is delicious.
Same delightful owners as Cucina. Casual, relaxed cafe with great coffee and a good brunch menu selection. Worthwhile relaxing and spending time enjoying delicious food.
16 locals recommend
Tees Street Cafe
3 Tees StSame delightful owners as Cucina. Casual, relaxed cafe with great coffee and a good brunch menu selection. Worthwhile relaxing and spending time enjoying delicious food.
Award winning restaurant. 20 minutes north of Oamaru so you'll need a car. Superb dining experience using produce from their own garden. You'll also get a peek at Dot's castle from their lovely garden.
35 locals recommend
Riverstone Kitchen
1431 State Hwy 1Award winning restaurant. 20 minutes north of Oamaru so you'll need a car. Superb dining experience using produce from their own garden. You'll also get a peek at Dot's castle from their lovely garden.
A stop at Vanessa's in the little town of Hampden, 30 minutes south of Oamaru, is a must if travelling to Moeraki or Dunedin. Famous for their Paua pies, but there's many yummy food options in the cabinets and on the menu. The cheerful, upbeat Vanessa is always serving at the counter, so don't forget to say Hi! (Only open weekdays now)
7 locals recommend
Vanessa's Cottage Cafe
24 London StA stop at Vanessa's in the little town of Hampden, 30 minutes south of Oamaru, is a must if travelling to Moeraki or Dunedin. Famous for their Paua pies, but there's many yummy food options in the cabinets and on the menu. The cheerful, upbeat Vanessa is always serving at the counter, so don't forget to say Hi! (Only open weekdays now)
Very popular brewery, with a big selection of their own brews. Serve really good pizzas. The outside area is lovely to chill on a warm day.
36 locals recommend
Scotts Brewing Co.
1 Wansbeck StVery popular brewery, with a big selection of their own brews. Serve really good pizzas. The outside area is lovely to chill on a warm day.
Wonderful daily selection of freshly baked breads, pies, pastries and sweets. Everything is delicious, I particularly love the cinnamon custard scrolls. Good coffee to!
6 locals recommend
Harbour Street Bakery, Oamaru
4 Harbour StWonderful daily selection of freshly baked breads, pies, pastries and sweets. Everything is delicious, I particularly love the cinnamon custard scrolls. Good coffee to!
Sightseeing
Steampunk HQ features a fascinating collection of retro-futuristic sci-fi art, movies, sculpture and sound. Basically, it's how the Victorian people may have imagined their future world if electricity had never been invented. It's wacky, weird and very creative unlike anything else you'll ever experience and definitely a MUST visit whilst in Oamaru.
32 locals recommend
Steampunk HQ
1 Humber StSteampunk HQ features a fascinating collection of retro-futuristic sci-fi art, movies, sculpture and sound. Basically, it's how the Victorian people may have imagined their future world if electricity had never been invented. It's wacky, weird and very creative unlike anything else you'll ever experience and definitely a MUST visit whilst in Oamaru.
Wonderfully preserved Victorian street with cafe, bakery, galleries, gift shops and whiskey tasting
14 locals recommend
Oamaru Victorian Heritage Precinct
Harbour StreetWonderfully preserved Victorian street with cafe, bakery, galleries, gift shops and whiskey tasting
Watch Little Blue Penguins come ashore at night from viewing grandstands down at the Oamaru harbour
41 locals recommend
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
17 Waterfront RdWatch Little Blue Penguins come ashore at night from viewing grandstands down at the Oamaru harbour