Was a great experience for us and the kids, all had a great time. Lots of seals to see around the area as well. We had a little one and he did well for a 2year old but they do take their time coming home of course so just to expect might take up to an hour for them to all come home slowly but a breathtaking moment when they do come in and awesome to see them up close. Not allowed to take photos or videos of the penguins which is disappointing to not be able to capture the moment, maybe a green screen picture you’re able to purchase at the end? A lot of other places let you take photos and videos but just no flash but rules are rules and still enjoyed the experience. Would definitely come back if we’re back in town.

The best customer service. Although we couldn’t wait to see the penguins the staff was still patiently explaining my questions! I will definitely buy tickets next time!!!! You can still see heaps of seals lying on the beach For free!

Fantastic experience to see this little fairy came home. I literally hold my breath when this little penguin passing by in front of me. Really worth every penny to pay for the evening viewing. The guide will tell you information about the penguin while you wait for them. If you come to Oamaru blue penguin, please follow the rule and do not disturb the penguin and the seal.

We loved this experience, it was amazing to see all the Penguins as they climbed up the rocky bank to come back to their hutches. There were tons of seals the day we went and that meant there was also plenty of entertainment from them. We sat in the general admission area and while I think the VIP seating had a slightly better angle of the Penguins as they climber up the rocks, quite a lot of the Penguins have discovered short cuts that walk through the general seating grandstand which was incredibly exciting. We went in September and it was really cold so definitely recommend rugging up, with gloves and Beanies. Also consider whether you are allowed to bring your own cushion or blanket it to sit on as the grandstand isn't very comfortable. Would absolutely recommend this experience and the guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. Note you aren't allowed to take pictures of the Penguins.

Penguins are adorable, but the experience is a little bland. Since they don't allow any video or photos, they should provide some for you. The premier seats place you a little closer, but the best part of the premier is walking along their little burrows on the way out.

I got great looks at the penguins from the premium seating area...but also afterwards in the parking lot for free. A group of them did walk through the regular seating area as well. It felt like being in a zoo, regardless of them being wild and simply returning to their burrows as they would naturally. Supposedly cameras aren't allowed because of their white lights (as opposed to the mainly orange lighting the facility uses due to penguins not being able to see those wavelengths - that part is true) and the movement of those taking photos that would disturb them. Yet when a group left early and walked past one penguin that was standing approximately three feet away from the boardwalk, that penguin didn't budge an inch. They also want people watching to be quiet, yet use a loudspeaker system to communicate those desires. It's those sorts of things that smell as fishy as the penguins' burrows. Long story short if you want guaranteed close looks of the penguins premium is your best bet. If you have binocs normal seating would be fine. Or roll the dice and skip this place altogether and possibly see them walking along the roadway that leads to it.

If you want to see a large group of penguins, I recommend making a reservation. The facility was fully booked on the day, so we were unable to use the facility, but we were lucky enough to see a penguin that had separated from the group right nearby. The penguins were small, cute, and seemed timid. It was a great experience to take children with. However, despite the warning signs that flash photography is harmful to penguins, we saw a few people using flash photography. As a good adult, you should not do what you are told not to do and follow the instructions.

What a serene place to chill, with a subway on one hand and a coke on the other. At least thats what i thought, looking at the breathtaking view.. then turn my head to see a person snacking in his car. The view from the lookout was quite wow From there, u can see the raging waters on one side and the calm water blocked by the breakwater. Love it. I can stare at it all day.. if there had benches there, to do so. Light wind today. Good conditions. Saw 2 families bring their dogs for a walk. :)

Very chilly!! But the view was awesome!

From this position, the view of the sea and the city is truly wonderful. Unfortunately, I came here when it was about to rain so I couldn't take beautiful photos.

Million Dollar View! Oamaru's lookout point is simply picturesque and for those who plan to visit the town of Oamaru, this is the place to be included in the travel itinerary. The million-dollar view offers a panorama view of the beautiful seaside town together with the turquoise ocean and blue sky. This lookout point is probably the best location for a picnic. There is also parking space available at the lookout point for visitors.

This place has a great view of the city! It is a wonderful place to sit and relax in, you can hear the birds singing and watch time pass by. There are also nice walks going from there and you can bring your dogs there. It is also a beautiful place to be in during the night to see the stars as Oamaru has relatively small light pollution. I recommend people going there and having a look around!

Must visit when you are in Oamaru, the views are so stunning and there are a lot of car parking, you still get the amazing views without getting off the car.

Beautiful place to just be and watch the scenery. A few walking tracks start from there.

This is in a great spot, right on the beach with views over the harbour. The young lady on the register didn't know much about the menu, she had to keep asking another staff member. Maybe she was in training? I had the blue cod meal. Fish was delicious and fresh but only 2 small pieces for $35. There was alot of chips & salad to feel the plate & made a large portion but small portion of fish seemed a skimpy for the price. It would have been more suitably priced at $10 less. It's a shame as the place was only half full on a school holiday on a sunny day.

Technically, i only had a hot chocolate. The Gallery was quite crowded.. bustling with people.. Food must be good..

The Galley is great wee cafe! Called in for breakfast. Eggs Benne with Bacon, Rustic Hash and x2 Kids Waffles. Food was tasty. Great portion sizes. And came out so quickly! Kids menu had a good selection. Friendly staff. Coffees were nice and hot. And that view out the window overlooking Friendly Bay…. just stunning! The location is fab for whānau. The very cool Friendly Bay Playground is right there and Friendly Bay Beach is literally on the doorstep.

During our holiday we had prepared most of the meals ourselves. But at Oamaru we decided to give ourselves a break for once and indulged in a hearty local brunch. The Galley is walking distance from our overnight spot so that's where we headed to. Food and drinks came up to NZD60+ for the both of us, so we might have gone overboard on the indulging bit. But the food was good, my wife especially liked the soup of the day - potato and bacon soup. And since it wasn't packed, we picked a table by the windows. Nice food, nice view. There are fewer better ways to start the day.

Great atmosphere and view! The chai latte was good too!

Beautiful location, super tasty breakfast with generous portions

We had a fantastic breakfast at The Galley, definitely recommend. I had the bacon buttie which was great (pictured) and my wife had the eggs on toast. Great setting and lovely outlook with very friendly service.

Oamaru: New Zealand’s Best-Kept Secret Everyone talks about Queenstown and Wanaka — meanwhile, Oamaru quietly exists as one of the coolest places you’ll ever stumble into. We found the old Victorian precinct was pure magic: cobblestone streets, limestone buildings, and real artisans living and working like it’s still 1880 (minus the plague). Then, just to keep you guessing, there’s a brilliant smattering of steampunk — giant machines, retro-futuristic art, and more brass goggles than you can count. It’s quirky, beautiful, and somehow still flying under the radar. Honestly, the biggest surprise is that more people aren’t shouting about it.

Always a delight to visit. Arrived home with birthday presents of beautiful candles and 2nd hand books. Chocolate and hokey pokey and a conversation with a lovely lady about life and travel.

A excellent place for understanding th heritage of North Otago lots to see and do. Organized events and Steam train rides Blue Penguin colony lots of cafes and restaurants brewery Something for all ages to check out

A gem in the South Island - Oamaru. We were only staying a few days but ended up being almost a week. There is so much to explore, and this quarter is fascinating.

On a recent trip to the South Island we passed through Oamaru and had lunch and a look around Oamaru's Victorian Precinct. What an unexpected surprise! Amazing attraction. The focus on steam punk an unexpected bonus, especially knowing that this has been a long-time focus of the area. The charming blend of history and quirkiness was captivating, with the steampunk twist adding an extra layer of fun.(as you will see from my few photos). Think a must see if you have children and want a great place to explore with them. Loved every moment of our brief stay and was sad to be on our way to our next destination. We will definitely be back !

Great place glad it was on the list to visit

Went to the Steampunk Festival over the long weekend. People watching on steroids! Had fun seeing the tapestry of costumes, conversations and shared obsession unfold all around. The historic setting alone is worth the visit, but even better if you can time it with an event like this one.

This was such a highlight of my road trip up the east coast. I decided to randomly stop and check it out and it was such a creative and fun place to visit. So many interactive and unique exhibits and well worth the visit. Very highly recommend.

I was actually surprised that I really enjoyed this activity. Was a lot to see and do here. The kids loved it and so many things to touch and experience. Is an outside area so we did that first with the weather about to turn! Really cool. Would recommend to anyone in the area to go and check out it. You will be surprised!!!

Loved this museum! It’s a mix of both cool and freaky stuff! I would highly recommend visiting this place. You will easily spend an hour or so if you love taking photos like me! It has many interactive elements which were a massive highlight!

Steam Punk HQ Was great fun! Everything is interactive. Lots of buttons to push and levers to move and things that make noise or flash lights. There are vehicles to climb in & on and amazing machines and sculptures and giant roaches on the wall! Ever wanted to play an evil dentist? Or mad scientist? This is the perfect opportunity. Quirky kids of all ages will love this place!

I love carefully curated clutter where I can poke around and fiddle with stuff. While not a steampunk aficionado per se, I am a generalist nerd, so I have made my rounds with Gibson and Sterling. The place is perfectly sized for a couple of hours of serious examination or an hour of casual wonder. It is a bit like the original Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. While it doesn’t have as strong and in-depth of a narrative thread as MW, it does stick its main theme with fanciful interpretive plaques like a traditional local history museum. Oh, and there is a little Weta Workshop connection and kickass movie prop if you read carefully.

Definitely go to this. 2kids loved it 1 didn't. Ages, 13, 11 and 9. Fun activity and lots of cool photos and things to do

Second time here and still enjoyed our visit. Loved the things that we can activate. Well worth the visit.

Absolutely love this place in spring. Good for walks and children will love the playground.

Stayed at the top 10 Oamaru, this park is about 5 mins from there,very impressive different gardens within the park. Children's play area, bridges over the water. Such a beautiful place definitely worth a visit

Beautiful garden. Well worth the stop. When we visited the glass houses were closed as they were undergoing restoration. I'm very envious of the private house that sits in these gardens, it is an amazing little piece of paradise.

Gardens on all their autumnal glory. Very pleasant to walk around. Has a lovely kids play park with a Humpty Dumpty wall. The Alps to ocean bike trail goes through the gardens. Very nice atmosphere after a long ride.

Was a bit 'abandoned' during winter. But it is still worth going to see the aviary, the green house and the park in general. There are a lot of ducks, the sign asks people not to feed the ducks with bread, but grain/seeds so the ducks don't get sick.

Outstanding. Well maintained gardens with a vast variation of plantings in a beautiful setting. Great playground with paddling pools for kids. Picnic tables and clean toilets

Not as good as I expect, maybe it’s because in the winter. The bird areas are quite good, they are adorable. There are some parking lots and toilets next to the garden which are so good.

Had a great experience! The food was delicious, seafood chowder was amazing and the service was excellent. Sachin, the owner was friendly & attentive, and made sure everything was perfect. Will definitely be back!

Unfortunately our experience wasn’t on par with the other glowing reviews. Food did not live up to the expectations we would have paying close to $50 per main. The fish and pork dishes were very disappointing save for the mash and broccoli, and flavour choices were all over the place (crumbed pork served with cheesy fettuccine and sweet chilli sauce????). But kudos to the bartender for excellent cocktails, that saved the night for us! With a bit more culinary know how and a higher standard of guest service this place could be great. So much potential in this grand historic building and location, and I can tell the staff are putting in an earnest effort, but if you’re charging that much you gotta be delivering top tier dining, otherwise stick to the pub grub. We ended the night down the road at Cucina for dessert and for basically the same prices they delivered much much better on the high-end dining experience.

We were here for dinner. The owner was attentive and helpful. The food SPECTACULAR. The Short Rib curry the BEST I have ever had. If you’re in Oamaru do yourself a favour and go and have dinner there. I am one very happy customer

The most delicious seafood chowder you could ever wish for. Our highest compliments to a very talented chef ! Lovely atmosphere, great service, great lunch menu. If you are visiting Oamaru this bar and eatery is a "must do". Thoroughly enjoyed.

This was not the dinner we were hoping for. The food was ok, except for that we ordered a shared main which was delivered without any plates or cutlery. We had to ask for those. Our waitress was really not very good. She knew nothing about the menu and struggled to answer questions about it. Given their other reviews I’d say they had an off night or had new staff. Not worth the money at all though.

I went to this bar to have a cocktail!the Bartender , Sachin asked me about my favorite taste, what kind of taste I wanted to drink.in addition,he recommend me nice cocktails . The one I ordered was soo delicious. Also he said if I didn’t like, he would make another one. Thank you for the warm and thoughtful service. It meant a lot to me. Next time I am going to stay your hotel and eat dinner!

One of the best meals we have ever had. Staff were amazing and stayed just for us. We would highly recommend this restaurant

Loaded fries with bacon and sour cream were absolutely delicious — something a little different and really satisfying! Loved the beer tasting tray too — such a fun way to try a variety of brews. The pizza was okay; I went with the smoked salmon one, which tasted as expected. Might try a different flavour next time for something more unique. Also, huge bonus — there’s plenty of free parking right next to the restaurant! Really loved the ambiance as well — it’s spacious, with both indoor booths and outdoor seating. Great spot to chill and enjoy good food and drinks! 🍺🍕🍟

I have been there a few times, always a really good experience, friendly attention and food price/quality excellent. The veggie pizza with chilli mushrooms tastes perfect for people who don't like spicy food. 100% recommend

Really delicious food and beer let down by confusing service. After ordering pizza and loaded fries, there was a good 15 minutes between the pizza being finished and fries arriving. Quite disappointing when our party of three were dining together with only one person having pizza. The staff excuse of them being made in different sides of the kitchen sounds like whitewashing. Good food let down by a poor experience. I'll be going elsewhere next time. Fries arrived 30 minutes after the pizza, disappointing.

Really fantastic pizza! Highly recommend alps 2 ocean pizza, the best pizza I have had in NZ! Also recommend NINETEEN 05 beer🍺

Great vibes. Food was alright, beer was better (rose cider!) the food took really long to arrive - pizza was just normal but the fries were delicious

Tried their Hazy IPA, pretty good. loaded fries with smoky pulled pork & jalepenõs are yum!

Out of this world… insanely delicious. The beer was fantastic, the calamari wasn’t chewy at all and pizza was perfectly cooked and the dessert transported me to a happy place.

Nice vibe. Kids playground outside Good coffee, yummy food. Although for eat in they ask you to add your own sugar to coffee. No wifi available

Great Cafe with little playground outside for kids. Coffee is great, especially the apple crumble custard muffin !!

Yum breakfast, great staff!

Lovely spot, a historic looking house that has been fully renovated, really clean and crisp looking and always temperate inside. The food is simple fare and reasonably priced, unlike every other cafe in Oamaru Milligans is not delusional. Love their pancakes and toasted sandwiches and haven’t had a bad coffee yet. Only wish there more salad options with good portions, can’t seem to find that anywhere though. Unassuming wee place but pleasant and I’m happy to spend my money there.

What a great team providing great food.

Stopped in today late afternoon for a coffee. Grabbed a takeaway and a slice. Staff were real friendly and we joked about a little. Coffee was great and the slice was beautiful. Loved it. Will have to come back for a meal someday. Food looked awesome

Love the.blocks of cheese And the butter so nice . Regular visits to stock up.on Both. Frosty boys are delicious with added toppings .a perfect place close to the gardens very friendly smiling 😃staff .plus Great selection of mouth watering food