Oamaru Things to Do Tips by kenmerk Top 5 Page for this destination

I Brake for Penguins....

Well, you don't see these traffic signs just anywhere.... but best to heed the warning, I dont know what the fine is for squashing a pengie, but I bet it is considerable...

... and Heading for Home... Blue Penguin Colony Review

... and then watch as they waddle off single file to their nests in the rocks...

Quite the Spectacle...

Gathering up... Blue Penguin Colony Review

Blue (or Fairy) Penguins are more common than the yellow eyed ones. Also, they come back from the daily fishing expeditions later, 9 or 10 o'clock at night.

Oamaru has built a big grand stand and now sells tickets to watch these little guys come back in on shore...

It is pretty interesting as they will land on the beach and then wait for a bunch of their friends to join them....

Baby Yellows... (Browns ??)

If you come to Oamaru in the summer time, you may be fortunate enough to see some babies yellow eyed penguins in the nest.

First thing you will notice is their colorings. While adults are black and white with a yellow stripe around their eyes, the babies are all brown. (they will shed this coat after the first year.)

Another interesting fact is how big they are... Usually when the baby heads out to sea for the first time, they are actually bigger (i.e. fatter) than their parents...

Must be all that YUMMY regurgitated food...

Endangered Species.... Yellow-Eyed Penguins Review

The yellow eyed penguins are one of the most endangered of the penguin species. There are only about 4000 or so in the world...

Note the metal band on the right wing of the adult... Its used for tracking by the local conservation group...

The picture here is another penguin nest close up, thanks to the guided tour by the local conservation group here at Oamaru...

The Loner

Keep you eyes open and scan the brush for tell tale penguin droppings... You might just get lucky and spot a loner yet to find a mate...

Hit the Beach !!!

At sunset, sit up high in the designated "Penguin Blind" and watch the little guys hit the beach...

It is pretty interesting as they will pause on the beach for quite a while (seemingly for a photo op, but actually to cool off) before tramping up into the bush to head towards their nest...

Yellow-eyed Penguin Nest Yellow-Eyed Penguins Review

Take the guided tour at sunset, and the guide will take you right up close to some of the yellow eyed penguin nests near Oamaru..

Downtown Oamaru Historic town Review

Well, there is more to Oamaru than just penguin watching... This town is an old commerce center with a number of historic buildings. Quite scenic...

Directions: Located about 100 Km's north of Dunedin...