We arrived in the fascinating town of Omaru at around 4pm perfect timing to grab a shower before heading to the Blue Penguin colony for the viewing of their evening return home from a day out fishing. The smallest penguin on the planet, and very cute. Rafts of penguins in groups ranging from 8-20 would arrive on the beach between 5.30 and 7pm and make a dash for the colony homes built within the site of an old quarry. The wider town and area also has many ‘Blues’ (even some nesting under the kitchen at our camp site) but this protected and tourist funded colony is very successful.

 

The town its self was probably our favourite settlement in New Zealand, a once wealthy Victorian metropolis funded by the export of frozen meat across the globe, eventually went bankrupt and its’ grand Victorian buildings became derelict. A collection of artists created a Steampunk movement within the town decorating it sculptures and artefacts. Alongside this independent and antique shops and breweries have also taken residence within these buildings and the whole place has a lovely atmosphere of distorted nostalgia.