Upgrades to the Ōamaru Penguins
September 16, 2025
Oamaru’s penguin colony has long been one of the must-dos on New Zealand’s travel map. Ever since the world’s smallest penguin species, known as kororā in Teo Reo Māori, started making their homes in the disused quarry at the end of Oamaru’s harbour, people have come from far and wide to watch the nightly procession of these adorable birds as they return to their nests after spending days at a time feeding in the ocean.
After a several-months-long construction period, Ōamaru Penguins have just opened their new interactive visitors centre, adding an extra dimension to the visitor experience. There is a very informative looped video that provides a thorough background into the evolution not just of the penguins from the prehistoric, human-sized birds that used to ply the waters around ancient Aotearoa, but also of the Oamaru penguin viewing experience as well. Once you’ve viewed that, you proceed into a beautifully designed exhibit with interesting information about our iconic birds and their life cycle. There’s even a penguin version of Tinder that you can play with to “match” a penguin with a potential mate, and beyond there is a console where you can “design” your own penguin, name it, and release it onto a huge screen where you can watch it swim before your eyes.
This new visitor centre adds a tremendous amount to your visit to Oamaru, and we would recommend that you allow at least 30 minutes before your evening viewing time to allow you a chance to explore it thoroughly. Visit their website to find out the evening viewing time during your time in Oamaru, book your tickets (or ask us to do this for you if you’re staying with us), and find out how many penguins were counted coming in the previous night.
