I had a bit of an issue with the dashcam recording on this one so the first part of the trip is missing. I detoured from the motel to head past my alma mater – Lincoln University. It’s been over 20 years since I was last there, but what little I saw of it looked more or less the same.
With a quick stop in Timaru for a photo of the Sacred Heart Basilica, it was on to Oamaru, where I checked out an automobile museum, took a ride on a train, watched hundreds of little blue penguins return from the ocean to their burrows, and visited Steampunk HQ.
Steampunk HQ
Oamaru is a quirky town, made so in no small part by Steampunk HQ, a museum dedicated to the steampunk style – a mix of Victorian-era style and “steam-powered” technology inspired by the time period. Unlike a traditional museum, visitors are encouraged to interact with the exhibits, which include a playable pipe organ, creatures created from spare parts, and an experience known as The Portal. Open 7 days and with admission only $10 for adults ($2 for kids under 16) the museum is well worth a visit.
