Listings for: Waitaki District > Oamaru > Activities and Attractions

Oamaru Public Gardens

Est. 1876
Oamaru Gardens are one of the oldest and finest in NZ.
13 hectares of stunning established gardens and features.  Open daily from dawn till dusk.

A wide variety of colourful gardens, traditional and modern complete with an excellent children''s playground; a 100 year old Summerhouse; aviary, fern shade house, band rotunda, Japanese red bridge and Chinese gardens - an ideal place for the whole family to enjoy, and the perfect setting for your wedding photographs.

Living History
For over a century Oamaru Public Gardens has welcomed, entertained and inspired.

The well tended gardens and distinctive features reflect the unique style and heritage of Oamaru and Whitestone Waitaki.

Provision was made to develop 13 hectares of public reserve between Chelmer and Isis Streets when Oamaru was surveyed in 1858.

Officially opened in October 1876, the Oamaru Gardens are one of the oldest in the country.

Whitestone Charm & Character
From the moment visitors enter the classical main gates on Severn Street, they discover a special space designed to foster an appreciation for our natural environment.

The regal Craig Fountain donated by James Craig JP and erected in 1915 near the main entrance is one of many charming features. Made of Italian marble, this magnificent fountain is surrounded by a colourful profusion of bedding plants.

One of the finest features is the Wonderland Statue created by Scottish Sculptor Thomas J. Clapperton and gifted in 1926 by former Mayor Robert Milligan. This magical area includes a garden completed in 1959 and an ornamental stream flowing past the gracious Swan Fountain.

The Elderslie Gazebo provides a romantic venue for contemplation alongside the popular Display House which is open daily from 9am—4.30pm.

The local Chinese community is celebrated in the Chinese Garden easily identified by an impressive oriental inspired wall and entrance off Chelmer Street. This traditional garden is also accessible via the distinctive red Japanese Bridge.

Oamaru Creek meanders gently through the Gardens past the Top Pond and Mirror Lake created by the Council’s gardener James Kidd in the late 1870s.

Other unique features include the Band Rotunda, Aviary and Peacock House and a children’s play area complete with paddling pools, coin operated barbeques and an enticing range of play equipment.

Naturally Better
The Garden’s natural features reflect the passion and vision of former curators. Their legacy has been a proud tradition of community involvement and pride.

Regularly updated displays of bedding plants and stunning rose gardens are ablaze with colour during summer entrancing visitors with their luscious scent and picture perfect form. There is an impressive array of New Zealand native plants that includes mature trees, shrubs and a Native Fernery.

For a touch of the exotic, the centrally located Display House is renowned for bold displays of begonias in summer.

People Spaces
The interaction of people with nature has been paramount in the Oamaru Garden’s evolution. Individual areas are seamlessly linked by walkways while a successful fusion of old and new, modern and traditional makes each visit a memorable experience.

The children’s play area has entertained countless families over the years while wide walkways are suitable for walking or running.

A large glade by the Band Rotunda and Aviary surrounded by magnificent trees provides the ideal venue for events including Victorian Heritage Week tea parties and the annual Whitestone Waitaki Wine and Food Festival.

The Gardens offer the perfect backdrop for wedding ceremonies and photographs as well as other special occasions.

At the western end, croquet lawns and several grass tennis courts are also popular.