Steampunk & a Castle?

The best part of road tripping, besides all the scenic views, is discovering the unexpected gems along the way – like Barry’s Cheese, horses in a lake, colorful boat houses, ditch flowers, quaint towns, …

Oamaru, a port town of 14,000, is a little gem of a town to visit with beautiful old Victorian buildings, quirky shops, art galleries and Scott’s Brewing. The highlight of Oamaru is the Steampunk HQ Museum, an eclectic and fun retro-futuristic science fiction themed attraction featuring industrial steampunk sculptures, a portal, and a gadgetorium. (Jeff Omen would have loved this!) The Steampunk attitude thrives throughout the Oamaru.

Oamaru Harbour has the largest colony of Otago’s only native seabird, the rare Otago shag, who have taken over the Sumpter Wharf. The harbour is also home to a Little Blue Penguin research and conservation facility with special penguin housing to protect them from predators and, farther down the beach, another seal colony.

The oldest city in NZ, Dunedin was settled by the Scots in 1848. William Larnach, of Scottish heritage, built his “castle” in the 1870s overlooking Otago Harbour. He married 3 times, had 6 children and lived a life of great wins and losses until 1898. The Castle is now owned by the Barker family since 1967, working many years restoring the property to its former grandeur. Besides the amazing histories of both the Larnach and Barker families and the well-appointed rooms full of many Larnach family antiques, my favorite feature is the 4-story grand staircase. Surrounding the magnificent “Castle” is a 7 acre garden highlighting native plants and trees; highly rated as a Garden of International Significance.

The Otago Art Society, formed in 1876, is housed in the historic Railway Station, New Zealand’s most photographed building. Showcasing local artists, we were happy to find a large modern-art painting by artist Cara Fotofili, our friend Bev Laurent’s sister. The architecture of the Railway Station takes you back to how it was to travel back in the golden age of rail travel.

Before leaving Dunedin we drove up and down Baldwin Street, a strange tourist attraction located in a residential area, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the steepest residential street in the world. Whoa! Definitely could not take a bike up OR down that street!

Time for bed.
XOXOXOXO
Gma & Gpa