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This page is operated by Tourism Waitaki, the Regional Tourism Organisation for the Waitaki District.
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Welcome to the Waitaki...

From our beautiful coastline, unique wildlife and interesting geological curiosities, through some of New Zealand’s best Victorian streetscapes and wonderfully quirky cultural attractions, to the vines, lakes and dramatic seasonal landscapes of the Waitaki Valley...

A land overflowing with historic treasures, natural marvels, outright adventure and absolute family fun,

the Waitaki has the perfect blend of adventure, leisure, recreation and relaxation for you to enjoy. Come see for yourself - come play, come discover, come explore!!

31/12/2024

Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou (Happy New Year)! ✨

Stay well, stay safe, and we can’t wait to welcome you in 2025.

www.waitakinz.com

27/12/2024

The holiday season can be a busy time driving on NZ roads 🚗 🛑

Here are some tips to keep you awake and safe on your road trip through Waitaki and beyond👇🏽

🚗 Stay alert and share the drive

🎶 Curate an epic summer playlist beforehand so you stay off your phone

⛰️ Roll the windows down for some fresh air, keep rested, and drive to the speed limit and conditions

🛑 Take lots of stops – Waitaki has heaps of places that will leave you feeling refreshed.

Read NZTA’s tips for safe summer driving 👉🏽 https://loom.ly/iF-alZk.

24/12/2024

Wishing you a Mere Kirihimete from Waitaki! ✨🎄

We hope you have a happy and safe New Year.

Need a last-minute getaway destination? You know where 👉🏽 www.waitakinz.com

22/12/2024

Do you have any last-minute Christmas shopping, or need to buy treats for the holiday break? 🎁 🍷

Spend a day in Kurow and enjoy all the area has to offer! Read our suggestions here 👉 https://loom.ly/1NfgDas

Whether it’s unique presents, amazing food and wine or the gift of experience, Kurow has everything you need this Christmas. With cafes, boutiques, vineyards and pubs to shop and explore, spending the day in the Waitaki Valley will have that list sorted. SHOP Support small businesses this Christma...

18/12/2024

🪨 🌅 Have you visited the Moeraki Boulders before?

This experience is a must – witness the cluster of spherical rocks dotted along the Moeraki shoreline at sunrise or sunset for an extra special view.

Don’t forget to check out The Fish Wife after for the freshest seafood!

www.waitakinz.com

13/12/2024

Add the Ōamaru Farmers’ Market to your weekend priority list! 🍞 🥦 🧀

Open 9.30am - 1pm every Sunday on the corner of Wansbeck and Tyne St, the market is a great place to grab yourself fresh, locally grown produce. You might even be able to score some Christmas gifts, too! 🎁

For more info visit www.oamarufarmersmarket.co.nz

10/12/2024

Christmas is just around the corner, and we have the perfect guide for every Waitaki Wanderer ✨

Explore Waitaki and shop local this Christmas season. Swipe through for our recommendations, or drop your local gift ideas in the comments!

Read our blog post for inspiration 👉🏽 https://loom.ly/h7E4-iQ

05/12/2024

Surf’s up! 🏄 🌊

Enjoy great waves without the crowds at Campbell’s Bay / All Day Bay, Rockpools and Kakanui Beach.

With so many options, the world’s your oyster 🦪. Plan your trip at www.waitakinz.com

03/12/2024

If you are looking for a summer adventure – look no further than Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail! 🚴

The Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail is New Zealand’s longest cycle trail and provides pretty epic scenery.

Start at the base of Aoraki Mt Cook and wind up in the coastal town of Ōamaru. Spend 5-7 days doing the whole 300kms+ or pick one or two shorter routes.

Learn more here 👉🏽 https://loom.ly/_r68zs8

29/11/2024

With summer officially here, it's a perfect time to plan a trip to the beach! 🏖️

Pack a picnic or bring some fish and chips, gather your crew and head to an epic beach spot, such as 14s Beach, Campbell’s Bay, or Friendly Bay.

www.waitakinz.com

27/11/2024

If you’re planning an epic cycling adventure, then look no further than Cycle Journeys 🚴‍♀️

Located on Harbour Street in Ōamaru, hire a bike for a trip around town, enjoy a day ride to nearby Enfield or Duntroon, or plan your Alps 2 Ocean cycle journey from their depot in Twizel.

From self-guided packaged tours, bike hire and luggage transfers, to a full trail shuttle and accommodation, they have everything you need to make your journey stress-free and comfortable.

Plan your trip at https://loom.ly/wrUX10A

25/11/2024

Ready for an adventure? 🥾 🍃

These 3 epic walking tracks will take you from wetlands to lakes to the top of the Ōamaru township.

📍 Devil’s Bridge Wetland
📍 Lake Ōhau Track
📍 South Hill Walkway

Find walking trails and more 👉🏽 https://loom.ly/Uqh4JMI

16/11/2024

Get summer ready and book a camping site in Waitaki 🏕

Choose from sites around the lakes or camp opposite the gardens in the Ōamaru township with Top 10 Holiday Park.

See where you can stay at www.waitakinz.com/stay

14/11/2024

Cycle New Zealand’s longest cycle trail with Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail 🚴

Bike past epic vistas from Aoraki Mt Cook all the way to the Pacific Ocean and stop off to see the unique geology of the Waitaki region.

Plan your adventure at www.alps2ocean.com

13/11/2024

🎨 The Waitaki Art Trail is on this weekend! 🧑‍🎨

Follow the route between Waimate, Ōamaru, and Palmerston as 20 artists open their doors for a behind-the-scenes look into their creative practice.

This is a special weekend that only happens twice a year. Find out more at www.waitakiarttrail.org.nz

12/11/2024

Which Waitaki wanderer are you – are you an adventurer, a luxury lover, or a hidden gem hunter? 💎 🚵‍♂️ 🔍

There’s something for everyone in Waitaki. Tag who you would take on a weekend getaway!

👉🏽 www.waitakiwanderer.nz

08/11/2024

See you next weekend at the Ōamaru Heritage Celebrations 14-17 November 👋🏽 👀

Enjoy a weekend of events against the backdrop of the town’s beautifully preserved Victorian architecture. Dance, promenade, and bring your penny farthing bicycle while immersing yourself in this year’s theme, ‘Growing for Gold’!

Find out more at www.vhc.co.nz

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Ōamaru was a place where tāngata Māori gathered delicious kai, such as tuna (eels), inaka (whitebait), and kōareare (an edible root) 🐟 🎣 It was a part of the extensive network of kāinga nohoanga (settlements) and kāinga mahinga kai (food gathering places) along the Otago coastline. Just 30 minutes out of Ōamaru, you can find ancient drawings from tāngata whenua along the limestone cave walls in sites such as Takiroa and Maerewhenua near Duntroon! You can find out more at the Waitaki Museum on Thames St, or visit www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas for online history about the region.

Did you know Ōmārama, also known as Te Ao Mārama, translates to ‘place of light’? ✨💡 It’s no wonder with its crystal-clear skies and stunning landscapes! Embrace and learn te reo Māori this Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week and flex your reo next time you visit. Find out more at www.reomaori.co.nz

Have you heard the Māori legend about Te Kaihīnaki / Moeraki Boulders? 🪨 🌊 Legend has it that the early Ārai-te-uru canoe was wrecked at Shag Point in Otago after sailing from Hawaiki. The boulders represent the remains of the hīnaki (eel baskets), calabashes, and kūmara washed ashore from the wreck. Have a go at pronouncing Moeraki and flex your reo Māori next time you visit!

Did you know Ōhau means ‘the place of winds’? 🌬 🍃 Embrace and learn te reo Māori this Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week! Discover more at www.reomaori.co.nz

Did you know Waitaki means ‘tears of Aoraki’? 🏔 ✨ Aoraki (Mt Cook) was the son of Rakinui, the sky father. He is the most sacred of ancestors and is whom Kāi Tahu descend. The iwi Kāi Tahu speak a southern dialect and use a ‘k’ in place of an ‘ng’, so you may also know this iwi as Ngāi Tahu. This means the kupu or word ‘tangi’, meaning to weep, is the same as ‘taki’. That makes the name Waitaki the southern dialect version of Waitangi. Discover the region at www.waitakinz.com

Have a go for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

It’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week! 🌿 🗣 This year’s theme is ‘Ake Ake Ake – A Forever Language’. It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of te reo Māori, an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand. Embrace and learn te reo Māori now and long into the future! Watch out for more videos like this over the week 👀 For resources and more, head to www.reomaori.co.nz

Looking for a weekend adventure? 🏔️🍷 Plan your trip at www.waitakinz.com

It’s World Penguin Day today! 🐧 A big shout out to @oamarubluepenguincolony for protecting our little penguins / kororā in Ōamaru. www.waitakinz.com

How good was the Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival! 🎶 We hope everyone had an awesome weekend soaking up some good ol’ rhythm and blues. It was the busiest ever! Until next year…🎷 www.waitakinz.com

Who is ready for day two of the Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival? 🙋🏽‍♀️ Discover a world of free musical offerings down Harbour Street and its surrounds in Ōamaru. www.waitakinz.com

What a night…and the festival has only just begun! 🎷 Join us at the Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival this weekend 🎶 See you there tomorrow! Visit www.waitakinz.com

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Explore the Waitaki District

Welcome to the official destination page for Oamaru and the Waitaki District. From our beautiful coastline, unique wildlife and interesting geological curiosities, through some of New Zealand’s best Victorian streetscapes and wonderfully quirky cultural attractions, to the vines, lakes and dramatic seasonal landscapes of the Waitaki Valley... A land overflowing with historic treasures, natural marvels, outright adventure and absolute family fun, the Waitaki has the perfect blend of adventure, leisure, recreation and relaxation for you to enjoy. Come see for yourself - come play, come discover, come explore!! #WaitakiNZ This page is managed by Tourism Waitaki, the Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) for the Waitaki District.