OUT AND ABOUT IN OAMARU
We spent Saturday in a relaxed fashion catching up on blog and photo editing before heading into town. Our first stop in was the lovely and quite old (1876) Oamaru Public Gardens. Lots of mature trees, a stream, and little paths with stone steps and along stone walls leading to quiet nooks and crannies. Rhododendrons were in full bloom and several cherry trees were raining petals over the red arched bridge. Apparently, Oamaru at one point had the largest Chinese population in New Zealand, not so much any more.
Part of the garden called Wonderland is dedicated to children and there’s a playful sculpture of a boy and girl clambering on a rock. We easily spend an hour wandering, looking and savoring its peaceful greenness. 
Later we returned to the Victorian Precinct which had just gotten a cursory look the day before. The architecture here and along the main street is mostly all built of the native limestone called whitestone. Also now the name of the local cheese company. This is late 19th and early 20th century architecture at its most classical with straight lines, columns and simple decorative elements.
The shops in the historic district run the gamut from the quirky to the less quirky. There are a couple of mostly used bookstores, a number of cafes (pastries, cookies and pies are big here), coffee shops (you are never far from the next cup of java), and a host of jewelry, soap, art and craft and candy shops. Most have some connection to the Victorian theme. 
We had lunch in the oldest restaurant in the town and felt a part of the local culture as no one else looked to be a tourist. The Star & Garter has been the venue for many a wedding reception and the photos on the wall of brides and grooms go back more than 60 years. Lunch fare was a chicken enchilada (creamy with mushrooms, Oamaru style) and for me, panfried salmon with a green salad. Shortly after we ordered, I received the weekly Facetime call from our granddaughters. Quite amazing to be on the other side of the globe and talk as if they were only a few doors away!
We also popped into the Forrester Gallery briefly (see fossil of the animal moa above, a bird that existed in New Zealand until about 1500) and checked out the front of the public library (only open until 12:30 on Saturday). In fact, many stores close at 1:00 or 2:00 pm on Saturday, making me wonder what they do the rest of the weekend.
At dinner, we had the company of other guests, a young couple from Wellington on a weekend break (Monday is Labour Day). Sandra is from Liechtenstein and John from Fiji and we had fun learning more about their respective countries (actually L. is a principality with only 38,000 people and you can drive from one side to the other in half an hour!) and what it might be like to island hop in Fiji. 
The meal was another scrumptious affair : salmon salad with smoked eggplant puree and cherry tomatoes and other mini veggies; fried duck egg on top of little potatoes with black truffle vinaigrette; venison striploin with wheatberry pilaf, and asparagus on butternut puree, and lastly, a frozen chestnut parfait and white chocolate mousee with cocoa nibs and dark chocolate soil. I was leery about the venison, but it was farm-raised and tender and delicious! Most of the veggies were grown here at Pen-y-bryn Lodge. Chef James both cooks and plays host before dinner and always looks relaxed and never harried.
Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).
