The charming Historic Precinct of Oamaru, on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, looked like something from a fading sepia photograph. It boasts New Zealand’s best collection of Victorian buildings, each with its own character and story. I would love to be there for their Victorian Fete holiday in November, summer in that southern clime, with booths and performers.
A ferocious wind was blowing at nightfall as our motley group hiked out to and waited in a wooden hide, an open shed high above the beach where we would be unseen. Eventually a few yellow-eyed penguin parents swam in from the sea, one at a time, to feed their young, nestled in the bushes.
Later, at another point along the same outcrop, a crowd watched in silence, sitting in bleachers. Soon, around 100 blue penguins swam in in small groups and waddled up a hillside to their nests in a sheltered area, fenced to keep predators out. Once at home, they called to each other, tiny shrill voices in the night.
New Zealand
North Island: Auckland, Rotorua, Hobbiton, Wellington
South Island: Abel Tasman National Park, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dunedin, Otago, Oamaru, Moeraki
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Ruth Rosenfeld 
Oamaru oozes olde worlde charm Ruth, what a pleasant place to stroll through and explore. Did you poke your head inside Slightly Foxed? I have yet to see penguins doing their thing in a natural habitat. sigh…
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I usually can’t resist a bookstore but, for some reason, the shops were closed that day. It seemed a bit like a museum street, but worth a stop anyway.
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Oamaru looks like a typical English town doesn’t it? I remember when I visited NZ thinking that it felt very British compared other Commonwealth countries.
Two penguin spots in the same region though would have been my favourite sighting. 😊 Maggie
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It does look British, and seemed kind of out of place, almost like a movie set. We were seeking out penguins everywhere on this trip!
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Seeing those penguins was a great event!
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It was… and I couldn’t help thinking that they do that – come ashore to feed their babies in nests – every day and we are just witnessing a short moment in their lives.
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Wonderful log of events! I love the blue penguins.
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Thanks for reading, Barbara!
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Thanks for sharing!
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My pleasure!
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As always, I was fascinated by your photos, dear Ruth
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Thanks so much, Luisa! I always appreciate your visits.
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Wow, that’s not a landscape I would look at and think penguins. It seems like they’re just clinging to that slope. How cool that you spotted them there!
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They are well protected and tourists are kept at a safe distance, otherwise who would ever know they were on that rocky hillside?!
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More penguins, yay! The yellow penguin crossing sign made me smile. So fascinating to find them in this part of the world. Much, much love for penguins ❤ Thanks for sharing!
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Yes, gotta love those penguins!! 😊
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This is like a page out of a romantic storybook. 19th century British architecture with a dash of penguins.
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Your comment made me smile. 😊
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Lovely captures. The Victorian style architecture is beautiful. Agreed, it would be neat to visit for the Victorian Fete holiday. How fun to see more penguins!
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Thank you! This stop was a bit of a surprise in many ways.
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The old buildings of Oamaru are lovely but it’s the penguins that would get me excited here for sure!
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Me too!
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Great pictures. I really like the one of the bike and its shadow. Penguin crossing – cute!
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Thank you! For some reason those are two themes that seem to draw my camera – bikes and shadows. They are interesting shapes. I don’t know if the penguins actually make it out to the road, but the warning sign was fun anyway.
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I love your photos of the Victorian streetscape you so beautifully captured in Oamaru’s Historic Precinct, it’s like stepping back in time, with its beautiful old buildings, cobbled streets, quirky markets and shops. How cool to see more penguins! Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Thanks for reading, Aiva!
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🥰🥰🥰
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We are yet to see our first penguins in the wild. I can feel the excitement of rising early to grasp that experience.
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These were all late in the afternoon or dusk sightings, although you might catch them heading out to sea in the early morning. I’ve seen several kinds of penguins, all on the far southern end of the world.
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I would love to see those penguins someday:)
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They are interesting land and sea creatures. It’s always exciting to see them!
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We missed Oamaru. It looks lovely. But we did see yellow-eyed penguins, hiding in the bush motionless because they were moulting. New Zealand is a marvel.
Alison
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It truly is a marvel. An unforgettable journey.
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It looks like a lovely and laid back place, perfect for exploring
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