Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations
Annual celebration of Oamaru's heritage, set among the Victorian limestone streetscapes and harbour area. A volunteer-run festival, with small-town warmth, music, food, lectures, tours, dances, crafts and heaps of Oamaru creativity.
Saints, Sinners & Skeletons
Between Thursday 13 November 2025 and Sunday 16 November 2025
Saints, Sinners & Skeletons:
Scottish Sabbaths, Sailors' Shanties, Salvationist Skeletons!
Victorian Ōamaru wasn't short on drama when it came to religion. Services kicked off in woolstores, stables, and farm estates - then moved into grand Basilicas, Cathedrals, Chapels, and Citadels as congregations grew. This enlightening talk takes you back to a time when the town was alive with godly parades, booming hymns, impressive churches, and plenty of rivalry.
Discover the holy chaos behind Ōamaru's many churches... and find out what in heaven's name was going on! Presented by
local historian Bruce Albiston.
Ōamaru Repertory Theatre
The Pirate King of Ōamaru
Thursday 13 November 2025
In November 1883, an enthusiastic group of amateurs put on a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Pirates of Penzance'.
The result was a spectacular success, which lived long in the memories of Ōamaru locals. The cast members were a multitalented bunch, who contributed to many aspects of the Ōamaru community.
For one man, appearing in the show was a life-changing experience. But along with the plaudits, darker forces were unleashed: deception, adultery and death in the Klondike.
Ōamaru Repertory Theatre
Tour the Restored Junction Hotel
Between Thursday 13 November 2025 and Saturday 15 November 2025
The 1879 Junction Hotel stands tall and proud at the southern entrance to Ōamaru, on the corner of Wansbeck and Towey Streets. Fully restored and fabulously furnished it is a 'must do' to visit this year.
Enjoy a tour of the Junction's 34 rooms and thoughtfully laid out gardens. Refreshments will be served.
The Junction Hotel
Ōamaru Noir Express
Thursday 13 November 2025
Step aboard the Ōamaru Noir Express for an unforgettable journey into the past.
Be transported to a time of elegance and refinement, and enjoy a dining experience reminiscent of what Victorian travellers once savoured in Ōamaru.
As you arrive, you'll be serenaded by live singers on the platform, then welcomed with a glass of bubbles before settling in for a delicious entree, main, and dessert. Seats are limited, so book early to secure your place aboard the Ōamaru Noir Express.
Harbourside Station
Heritage Buildings Guided Tour
Friday 14 November 2025
Explore Oamaru’s heritage precinct with the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust.
This guided walking tour offers a fascinating look into the history of the Trust and its vital role in preserving and restoring the town’s remarkable Victorian streetscape.
Learn how a group of locals transformed derelict buildings into a vibrant hub and local treasure — ensuring Oamaru’s architectural history continues to tell its stories.
Ticket sales help fund the work of the Trust.
Meet outside Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust, Harbour Board Building
The Devil’s Half Acre
Friday 14 November 2025
Dunedin had a 'dark side' even at its peak as New Zealand's leading city. The city's scrappy emergence from the original pioneer village was haphazard, with no provision of drainage, sewerage or sanitation systems until the 1900s. The jerry-built shanty housing run up during the gold rushes survived in key parts of the inner city, deteriorating into dank and rundown slums overdue for demolition. Here were clustered the poor and outcast of colonial society: prostitutes and derelicts, 'Asiatics' (Chinese and Lebanese) and criminals, waifs and strays of every description. Presented by Sean Brosnahan.
Ōamaru Repertory Theatre
The Language of Flowers and Fans at the Junction Hotel
Friday 14 November 2025
Discover the Victorian secret language of fans, flowers and making pot pourri.
The Junction Hotel
Enter the Shadows of Ōamaru's Old Cemetery Grounds
Between Friday 14 November 2025 and Saturday 15 November 2025
Join us on a haunting wander among the graves of those who came before. Beneath weathered stones and fading names lie stories of early settlers. Laid out in denominational blocks and sections, stories of individuals, family and district endeavour, live on through carved names and dates.
Receive a free CD with inscriptions for both the Old and Lawn cemeteries compiled by the Waitaki Society of Genealogists.
Tour led by Beryl Miller.
Ōamaru Old Cemetery, meet at Greta St Gate,
Victorian Garden Party - Ticket for Refreshments
Friday 14 November 2025
Enjoy the delightful elegance of the ever-popular Victorian Garden Party at the Ōamaru Public Gardens. Partake in light refreshments and entertainment while admiring the costumes.
Ōamaru Public Gardens
Dark Doings in Victorian Ōamaru
Friday 14 November 2025
What did naughty Ōamaruvians get up to after dark? What crimes did they commit? How did the not so respectable populous spend their time and where did they gather after the decent folk went home? Historian and archivist Kathleen Stringer will take us on a walk on the wild side, delving into some of the stories of our port town.
Ōamaru Repertory Theatre
Madame Blayde's Fashion Parade
Saturday 15 November 2025
This year’s fashion show will be a take on the Victorian silhouette, unveiling the darker side of Victorian elegance.
Here, fashion is mysterious, dramatic, secretive, and a little unconventional. Imagine crinolines rustling with hidden plots, bustles concealing whispered secrets, and the cutaway coat becoming a symbol of both grandeur and rebellion.
Scottish Hall
High Tea at the Junction Hotel
Saturday 15 November 2025
A time to relax before the festivities of the evening. Gentlemen may like to take a tour of the basement, but only for the adventurous.
The Junction Hotel
Tales from Darkest Ōamaru
Saturday 15 November 2025
Dunedin historian Gregor Campbell has walked the lines of local cemeteries and found stories of tragedy, mystery and pathos from bygone years. Join him to find that truth is truly stranger than fiction.
Ōamaru Repertory Theatre
Geologists Jostling in a Geopark
Saturday 15 November 2025
Geologists Jostling in a Geopark: Controversies in the Waitaki Rock Record
Controversies amongst early scientists about the geology of the Waitaki region, and the question: has the dust yet settled?
The characters, the drama, the scientific outcomes... come and hear some geo-gossip! Presented by Marcus Richards.
Ōamaru Repertory Theatre
Rascals Ruckus
Saturday 15 November 2025
We promise a fun night of Ceilidh dancing, so let your hair down and join us for a right ol' knees-up! Dunedin's Scottish Fiddle Orchestra will provide the music and call the dances to help you romp through the evening. Light supper included.
Cash/Eftpos Bar Scoundrels dress encouraged, but not required.
Scottish Hall
Do Ghosts Actually Exist?
Sunday 16 November 2025
Do Ghosts Actually Exist? An Historical Outlook from 1848-2025
The Victorian age was captivated by the dark and scandalous world of the supernatural, with ghosts widely discussed and debated. Join us for a compelling talk that delves into the fascinating history of the paranormal - from the intense interest in spirits that began in the Mid-19th century to the modern ways we investigate ghosts today. Presented by Bruce Mahalski from the Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery.
Ōamaru Repertory Theatre
