Recommended Touring Routes
If you’re planning a trip through Oamaru and the Waitaki District, chances are you’re looking for a holiday experience far from the crowds that gather at the larger tourist destinations.
Our district has a tiny population of only 20,300 people, spread over a huge area. We have the equivalent space of 35 hectares for each man, woman and child. Here there is room for you to explore the peace, the tranquillity and the beauty of a region uncluttered by houses, factories, traffic and the other trappings of civilization. Enjoy the spacious scenery and that luxurious sense of delicate isolation that brings peace to one’s soul.
Using Oamaru as your base, a range of touring options is available to allow you to discover locations and attractions without equal.
For example, try the RECTANGLE TOUR, from SHI (start Oamaru) to SDH85 (Palmerston) to SH8 (Clyde) to SH83 (Omarama) then back to Oamaru on SH1.
The first side of the rectangle is SH1 which passes through Oamaru along the Pacific Coast, just three hours south of Christchurch and one hour 30 minutes north of Dunedin. The second side of the rectangle lies just a few kilometres north of Oamaru, SH83. It passes up the beautiful Waitaki Valley through farms and lakes to Omarama where it meets SH8 which connects Christchurch to Queenstown and Central Otago. The third side of the rectangle is the Pig Route, SH85; it heads inland from Palmerston and finishes up amongst the vineyards of Central Otago. The fourth side is SH8; it connects the vineyards of Central Otago to Christchurch. It passes through Omarama at the top of the Waitaki District.
Check with the Oamaru Visitor Information Centre:
T: 64 3 434 1655
E:isite@visitoamaru.co.nz
Coastal Otago Scenic Route
Cruising The Waitaki Valley
Discover the Upper Waitaki Valley
