Oamaru Fishing Port. North Otago. South Is. New Zealand. - Commercial Fishing Ports on Waymarking.com

Oamaru is situated on the shores of a small bay immediately north of Cape Wanbrow on the coast of North Otago. An artificial harbour, protected by a breakwater extending northward from the bluff of Cape Wanbrow, provides port facilities.

Oamaru is the chief town and port of North Otago. Town industrial activities include the manufacture of butter, flour and cereal products, confectionery, medicine, stock foods, woollen goods, clothing, joinery and furniture, household appliances, space-heating systems, coal gas and coal tar, and concrete products; cheese, bacon and ham processing; sawmilling; engineering; and motor-body building. Oamaru is also a base for commercial marine fisheries along the coast.

Oamaru, having a comparatively sheltered landing place in southerly weather, was frequented by sealers and whalers between the end of the eighteenth century and the 1840s. Oamaru began to develop as a town and port in the early 1860s. Construction of the breakwater commenced in 1871 and, by 1884, there was a safe artificial harbour. With the rail link to Dunedin being completed on 7 September 1878, produce could be sent quickly to the big city.

A colony of little blue penguins lives in a disused quarry on the harbour not far from the historic Victorian precinct. This was cared for and developed by volunteers and today the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is Oamaru's largest tourist attraction, receiving over 75,000 visitors annually. They come and go freely, catching fish for their offspring, and it is a delight to watch them coming ashore after a days fishing, and returning to their nests.

The fishing boats are close by, in Friendly Bay, moored alongside the historic wharves.
The Port of Oamaru performed a major part in the towns’ prosperity and rapid growth, and whilst no longer an international port of call, the harbour is still a working safe haven for fishing boats and yachts along with the Penguin colonies. The mooring area is dredged regularly to keep it deep and safe for the local fishing fleet.

Fish caught in this area include Blue cod, groper, elephant fish, terakihi, gurnard, crayfish, flounder and sole.
Blue cod are one of the best eating fish in the sea. They have firm pinkish white fillets. Smoked blue cod are a southern New Zealand delicacy!

Fishing Types: Blue cod, groper, elephant fish, terakihi, gurnard, crayfish, flounder and sole Fishing method: Nets fishing season: All year, weather permitting. Mémorial: Seafarers Memorial. Waymark Code: WM7PN5 Situated at the Lookout at the end of Tamar Street, this memorial plaque and rock is dedicated to all seafarers, recreational or professional, who sailed from the Port of Oamaru. History: Historic Port and Working Fishing Port. Harbor tour: Not Listed Sale of fish: Not Listed Fish market: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
Proof of your visit is required.
Post TWO photos: One of a sign with the name of the port, and one of the fishing boats/activity.
Describe your visit.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   09/28/2016 Punga and Paua visited it