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Oamaru, home of the world's smallest blue penguins, is located on the east coast of the South Island, New Zealand, almost midway between Christchurch and Dunedin.
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Timaru sandy beach -163km south of Christchurch and 84km north of Oamaru
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Take a break every 2-hour driving.
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The Moeraki Boulders, 40km south of Oamaru, are grey-coloured septarian concretions which have been exposed through shoreline erosion from black mudstone coastal cliffs that back the Koekohe beach.
They originally formed in ancient sea floor sediments during the early Paleocene some 60 million years ago. |
The Moeraki boulders weigh several tonnes and are up to three metres in diametre.
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The Victorian buildings built of local limestone are the characteristic feature of Oamaru.
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With a population of 12,600, Oamaru has Victorian historic precinct.
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Horse carriage rides around Oamaru historic precinct and town centre during the summer season.
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Famous persons born or grew up and educated in Oamaru include Janet Frame (writer), Chris Watson (3rd Prime Minister of Australia) and Richie McCaw (current All Blacks rubgy captain).
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Janet Frame (1924-2004), New Zealand's most distinguished novelist, poet, essayist, short-story writer. She developed an unique kind of narrative, which explores the problems of realising experience in language.
Her books include Owls Do Cry, An Angel at My Table and The Envoy from Mirror City. Janet Frame family lived in the house from 1931 to 1943 at 56 Eden Street, Oamaru. |
Oamaru YHA (the red kettle) garden
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bird's eye view of Oamara
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How far is it from Oamaru?
South Pole - 5600km, North Pole - 15,200km Auckland - 574km, New York - 15,050km |
The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is just beyond the Victorian Heritage Precinct and you are within walking distance of the town centre.
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The blue penguins are everywhere in Oamaru, one here in Eden Street.
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penguins on the wall of Oamaru YHA
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penguin on road sign
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sheep on Bushey Beach Road
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Late afternoon or early evening is the best time to watch the blue penguins in the natural environment on Bushey Beach.
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Please stay off the beach after 3pm to allow the penguins to come ashore.
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''Time and tide wait for no man.''
It is worth taking time out from our busy routine and waiting patiently for the blue penguins returning from the sea. |
New Zealand fur seal (kekeno), with its pointy snout, is the most common seal around NZ coast.
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Although NZ fur seal (kekeno) are marine mammals they spend much of their time on land - usually rocky shores providing shelter and easy access to the sea.
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NZ fur seal (kekeno) are sociable creatures of habit, returning annually to the same rest area.
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A little blue penguin is walking toward his bushy nest after food-hunting in Pacific Ocean.
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stunning sunset viewed from a beach front restaurant in Oamara
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You may be seated in an outdoor viewing area for 1-hour penguin evening viewing at 6pm in winter or 8:30pm in summer.
The birds return home from their days fishing, make their way onto the beach, up a stony ramp, and cross into the Penguin Colony. |
In Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony, arrival numbers vary from Summer to Winter from up to 180 birds in the summer to under 30 in Winter.
(these blue penguins on this photo captured in the Antarctic Centre, Christchurch) |
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