OAMARU Oamaru is one of those places that are a delight to visit. Pleasingly one can report the Victorian period of Oamaru is now fully recognized for the heritage protection tourism potential. Twenty years ago this quarter of Oamaru was under threat of demolition. Many public buildings are built of local limestone, quarried especially near Weston, and known as Oamaru stone. The southern part of Oamaru's main business district ranks as one of New Zealand's most impressive streetscapes [ Oamaru is an active fishing port with some industrial shipping movements. The port has a colorful and tragic history of shipwrecks. Oamaru for the size of the town has one of New Zealand’s best public gardens. The cities attachment to gardens is evident all through the cbd area. On 20 February 1770 James Cook in the Endeavour reached a position very close to the Waitaki mouth and "about 3 Miles from the shore" according to his journal. The perceptive Cook said the land "here is very low and flat and continues so up to the skirts of the Hills which are at least 4 or 5 Miles in land. More European settlers arrived in the Oamaru area in the 1850s. A colony of little blue penguin’s lives on the harbour, and a colony of yellow-eyed penguins just south of the town attracts ecotourists. Penguins sometimes live under buildings close to the beach, including the town's music club. The War Memorials and Cenotaphs are a credit to the town. The loss of life in the wars appears higher in the southern precincts, particularly so for the Boar War. The churches in Oamaru are spectacular. The Catholic Basilica particularly so. The Museum in Oamaru, though not large gives a good background on the cities key historic events. The dedication to Janet Frame is nicely done. The historic hotel in the Victorian Precinct is a pleasing restoration. Allow four days to delight in the magnificent Oamaru