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Day 5 in Omaru

 

A bit of a slow start to the morning. 




Heritage precinct penny-farthing

After breakfast we had plans visit to the heritage precinct. My joyous plans for this were slightly saddened last night when I learned that the bookbinding store that I had specifically wanted to see was no longer here. 😩. 




Oh well. Disappointment over we set off to explore the other shops on offer. 


Steam Punk museum


 

The area is quite lovely. Even with the late hour it was relatively quiet. 

 

The area has some lovely buildings, many filled with eateries, and others with art/craft/gift stores. We did manage to find some treats to purchase. 


Natural Limestone carving - shop with live carving
Paua shell - top penguin

We then headed to a quilt store we had been directed told about. More treats to purchase. 😉

 

Across the road from that we found a museum that displayed some early artifacts and scientific specimens and the evolution of unmentionables 🤣🤣


Maori canoe

Loom

 

Then back to the motel for lunch and a short rest. We did try and find a beach for afternoon tea however we discovered that there are only rocks and no beach as such. So back to the motel for another rest and to get ready for our penguin experience tonight. 

 

We have just finished the Oamaru Penguins experience. It was wonderful. We saw approximately 300 blue penguins come in tonight. They were so cute. Unlike our previous penguin experiences this one allows for no photography at all. I must say I think it actually made the experience so much more special. We were totally focused on watching and not trying to get photos. An experience I would thoroughly recommend. 

As we left the viewing platform we were able to wander very quietly through the nesting area. A chance to see the family groupings and hear their most horrendous vocalizations. 🤣




Penguins are microchipped and are scanned and weighed as they pass 
though the blue boxes

penguin burrows made of wooden boxes


The performance ended with an additional show by two very fat and fluffy bunnies and a duel between two very cranky seals. 



Fur seals on the rocks - no they don't bother or try to eat penguins.

 

Altogether a wonderful day. 

Rob & Liz 

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