Open home planner: Fancy living in the ‘quirkiest’ town in Aotearoa?

Saturday, 14 March 2026

They say you’ll never be the quirkiest person in Ōamaru. Here’s local David Wilson with his penny farthing 'Pioneer Spirit' at the town’s annual Steampunk Festival in 2025.

Each week, we bring you our favourite open homes to hit up. This week, our focus is on Ōamaru, in Otago. Whether you’re eager to buy, or simply a perpetual property peruser, you’ll find a home worth taking a peek at here each Saturday morning.

Locals say you will never be the weirdest person in Ōamaru. There will always be someone in this small Otago town of 14,300 residents who is quirkier and more creative.

You can sit in grandstands to watch Ōamaru’s little Blue Penguin Colony come home from the sea each night, a charming spectacle that will absolutely warm your heart.

Famous for its romantic castle, adorable penguins, and the ultimate quirky interest, steampunk, Ōamaru would give Wellington a run for its money in terms of good coffee (Tees Street Cafe is a particular favourite), and coastal vibes.

An hour and a half from Dunedin and one hour from Timaru, Ōamaru is perfectly located so you don't have to live in the city, but don’t have to go without city life completely.

“Within 20 minutes of Ōamaru you've got beautiful native bush, walks and mountain biking,” says The Good Guys estate agent James Symes. “The Waitaki lakes, which are stunning, they're three quarters of an hour up the road. So we're an outdoor enthusiast's paradise.'

This little bungalow in Ōamaru is in beautiful condition

The local housing market also gives pretty good bang for your buck. According to Opes Partners, the average house value in Ōamaru is just $438,550, which is incredibly accessible compared to the national average of $912,904.

The interior is homely and well thought out.

'We're still really, really good value down here,“ Syme says. 'Probably 85% of our market is below $550,000, still. So good quality housing is pretty well priced.'

When three-bed, two-bath new builds in the area can fetch around $750,000, it 'sets a bit of a ceiling' for prices of older homes. Character homes, however, are still in demand, and may be priced a little above the local average.

The lovingly restored and maintained 1920s-built bungalow at 20 Greta St, for example, is on the market for enquiries over $699,000. While the home has a modern kitchen and bathroom, the owner has retained and enhanced the home’s character charm.

There are a few vintage gems in the town.

Unlike many of the new builds, this home has a good-sized garden in front and back, which have been well landscaped to make the most of the space and minimise the amount of time you’ll need to put into upkeep.

There’s a patio for outdoor entertaining, and a terraced section that’s well fenced for kids and pets.

This vintage home at 11 Forth Street is ready for a new owner.

The garden’s other big feature is the sleepout/studio, perfect for an arty, crafty type or a work-from-home office.

The home is in a good neighbourhood that’s predominantly owner-occupiers.

This ranch style home has room for your extended family and more.

'It's a great spot there,' Symes says. 'It's right above the harbour and the historic precinct and everything that people think of when they think of Ōamaru. It's a three, four minute walk from there.“

Open home times: Saturday, March 14, 11.30am to 12pm

This home has four bedrooms and two living rooms. It's spacious.

Here are out top tips for getting the most out of an open home.

There are a few hidden architectural gems in Ōamaru. One of them is 46 Reed St, a seven-bed, three-bath home that is packed with unique period features, such as a three-storey kauri staircase, and attic bedrooms with quirky angular roofs.

According to the listing, Reed is one of the town's most sought-after streets. It’s a 15-minute walk from the heritage precinct and the coast.

With a CV of $570,000, the vendors are seeking enquiries over $570,000 for this home. The listing is with Stephen Robertson for LJ Hooker.

Open home times: Sunday, March 15, 12pm to 12.30pm

Built in a similar style and period to the Reed Street home, 11 Forth St is in original condition, and seems just waiting for someone to come along and give it some personality and a revamp.

The home is packed with period features, such as exposed beams, lead lights and native timber trims.

With a CV of $600,000, the vendors are seeking enquiries over $545,000. The listing is with Stephen Robertson for LJ Hooker.

Open home times: Sunday, March 15, 11.15am to 11.45am

Fans of more modern style homes need not miss out. The ranch-style late mid-century home at 157 Reservoir Rd is on the market after a refresh that includes a stunning new kitchen.

The home has the open ceilings and exposed beams that were popular in the 60s and 70s. In the main living room, a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and a quartet of arched windows onto the manicured garden dominate.

With a CV of $1,180,000, the vendors are seeking enquiries over $1,199,999 for the 370m² home on a 4314m² section. The listing is with Shona McMillan for Property Brokers Ōamaru.

Open home times: Sunday, March 15, 12.15pm to 1pm

CORRECTION: The drive time for the journeys from Oamaru to Timaru and Dunedin have been updated, with those taking about one hour and 1.5 hours, respectively.