Guidebook for Kakanui
Food Scene
This restaurant is award winning and fabulous. We highly recommend the 7 course tasting in the restaurant with lots of fresh ingredients from the huge garden.
Do check out the shops as well and you can't miss seeing Dot’s castle.
35 locals recommend
Riverstone Kitchen
1431 State Hwy 1This restaurant is award winning and fabulous. We highly recommend the 7 course tasting in the restaurant with lots of fresh ingredients from the huge garden.
Do check out the shops as well and you can't miss seeing Dot’s castle.
Fleurs has been closed for a while but phone just in case they’re open again.
23 locals recommend
Fleurs Place
169 Haven StFleurs has been closed for a while but phone just in case they’re open again.
The Coast is our nearest restaurant. It's not on our recommendations but if you don't feel like driving further this is the place.
7 locals recommend
Coast Cafe Restaurant and Takeaway
913 Beach RdThe Coast is our nearest restaurant. It's not on our recommendations but if you don't feel like driving further this is the place.
Tees Street Cafe
3 Tees StOur favourite cafe for yummy food.
Cucina
1 Tees StLovely restaurant with great food! We love the pasta.
Great new outdoor fish and chips and more at Moeraki. Only open at the weekends. Check the website.
The Fishwife
145 Haven StGreat new outdoor fish and chips and more at Moeraki. Only open at the weekends. Check the website.
We love this new restaurant. Same owners as Cucina just a little more casual and lighter. Great spot for lunch.
7 locals recommend
Del Mar Oamaru
16 Waterfront RoadWe love this new restaurant. Same owners as Cucina just a little more casual and lighter. Great spot for lunch.
Arts & Culture
Steampunk HQ
1 Humber StYou can't visit Oamaru without seeing the wacky Steampunk museum!
The Victorian Heritage Centre
2 Harbour StYou can get a tour of local Whitestone cheese factory and some wine and cheese tastings.
12 locals recommend
Whitestone Cheese
469 Torridge StYou can get a tour of local Whitestone cheese factory and some wine and cheese tastings.
Donna Demente's grainstore gallery has to be seen to believe. Some things are even for sale.
7 locals recommend
Grainstore Gallery
9 Harbour StDonna Demente's grainstore gallery has to be seen to believe. Some things are even for sale.
Shopping
Worth a visit for local produce and great atmosphere every Sunday.
8 locals recommend
Oamaru Farmers' Market
1 Wansbeck StWorth a visit for local produce and great atmosphere every Sunday.
You can't miss the Victorian precinct for shopping. Lots of treasures and interesting stuff. https://www.victorianoamaru.co.nz/shopping
14 locals recommend
Oamaru Victorian Heritage Precinct
Harbour StreetYou can't miss the Victorian precinct for shopping. Lots of treasures and interesting stuff. https://www.victorianoamaru.co.nz/shopping
Kakanui is famous for Kakanui tomatoes. You can buy from the growers when they're in season.
Kakanui Tomatoes Ltd
16 Kakanui RdKakanui is famous for Kakanui tomatoes. You can buy from the growers when they're in season.
Essentials
They have basics as well as a liquor store and some takeaway food.
Please note they no longer sell petrol. The closest is a few kilometres away at Maheno or Alma.
Caltex Kakanui Store
1 High StThey have basics as well as a liquor store and some takeaway food.
Please note they no longer sell petrol. The closest is a few kilometres away at Maheno or Alma.
Vinbrux Bakery & Kaffehaus
36B Arun StAuthentic German bakery and cafe.
Brydone wholefoods is in the old church hall on the main road near Alma. It is great for healthy organic produce and has a cosy cafe out back. It's less than 10 minutes from Kakanui if you take Fortification road.
We love this place.
Brydone Wholefoods
451 Alma-Maheno RdBrydone wholefoods is in the old church hall on the main road near Alma. It is great for healthy organic produce and has a cosy cafe out back. It's less than 10 minutes from Kakanui if you take Fortification road.
We love this place.
Gull Maheno
6 Main RoadSupposedly the cheapest fuel in the South Island.
Harbour Street Bakery, Oamaru
4 Harbour StAnother great bakery with Dutch and kiwi treats.
Parks & Nature
Oamaru Public Gardens
17 Chelmer St The gardens are beautiful and definitely worth a visit.
Herbert Forest MTB Tracks
Reid RoadGreat hiking and mountain biking trails at Herbert Forest.
Reservoir Forest MTB Tracks
Good mountain bike trails for all the family
The Cube faces the ocean at the river mouth. It's a lovely walk along this beach but only when the tide is out. Sometimes when the river is low enough you can cross the river. Access is down a walking track near the playground.
Otherwise you can get there by turning off at the Kakanui store and drive down to the beach.
During whitebait season it is very busy with whitebait fishermen.
Kakanui River
The Cube faces the ocean at the river mouth. It's a lovely walk along this beach but only when the tide is out. Sometimes when the river is low enough you can cross the river. Access is down a walking track near the playground.
Otherwise you can get there by turning off at the Kakanui store and drive down to the beach.
During whitebait season it is very busy with whitebait fishermen.
Good walking tracks and mountain bike trails on South Hill in Oamaru.
Cape Wanbrow MTB and Walking tracks
Good walking tracks and mountain bike trails on South Hill in Oamaru.
Beautiful golden sandy beach for swimming or surfing. Wetsuit recommended. There are often seals on the beach and sometimes penguins.
Just follow the coastal track from the Cube. It’s a 5 or 10 minute stroll to the beach.
About 50 metres from the Cube towards Campbells bay you can drop down to a lovely stony beach and climb around the rocks. It’s worth exploring the little tracks when the tide is out.
Campbells Bay Public Toilets
56 Harbour TerraceBeautiful golden sandy beach for swimming or surfing. Wetsuit recommended. There are often seals on the beach and sometimes penguins.
Just follow the coastal track from the Cube. It’s a 5 or 10 minute stroll to the beach.
About 50 metres from the Cube towards Campbells bay you can drop down to a lovely stony beach and climb around the rocks. It’s worth exploring the little tracks when the tide is out.
Sightseeing
The penguin colony is a highlight of visiting Oamaru. You can visit during the day but you really need to go at sunset to see the penguins coming in for the evening. It's very popular so worth booking ahead.
41 locals recommend
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
17 Waterfront Rd The penguin colony is a highlight of visiting Oamaru. You can visit during the day but you really need to go at sunset to see the penguins coming in for the evening. It's very popular so worth booking ahead.
You get a lovely view of Dot’s castle when you walk around the gardens at Riverstone kitchen.
10 locals recommend
Riverstone Castle
1431 Glenavy-Hilderthorpe RdYou get a lovely view of Dot’s castle when you walk around the gardens at Riverstone kitchen.
Entertainment & Activities
Oamaru has a magnificent opera house. Check out http://oamaruoperahouse.co.nz/all-shows/ just in case you're lucky enough to be here when there is a show on.
9 locals recommend
Oamaru Opera House
94 Thames StOamaru has a magnificent opera house. Check out http://oamaruoperahouse.co.nz/all-shows/ just in case you're lucky enough to be here when there is a show on.
The New Zealand Whisky Collection
11 Wansbeck StTasting and sales of locally made whisky.
Friendly Bay Playground
Kids love the steampunk playground.