As with many an Aotearoa gem, if you fail to take a crucial turn as you swoop into Ōamaru, an hour and a half north of Dunedin, you’ll miss the staggering genius of this stunning east coast Otago town. So stop. Do a U-turn. Head straight back down Thames Street, and a wonderful world awaits: an untouched historic quarter, a steampunk museum, an apothecary, craft breweries, gorgeous galleries and, to top it all off, the Pacific Ocean.
But first, the history. You can get this yourself at the charming Whitestone
