Twizel and Elephant Rocks
Our trip took us south through Twizel, where the wide open plains and turquoise canals made for some beautiful stops along the way. Further on, we wandered through the quirky limestone formations at Elephant Rocks near Duntroon — a landscape straight out of a movie set, with huge boulders scattered across rolling farmland. These photos capture those little moments between towns: the big skies, the strange rock shapes, and the changing scenery as we carried on toward Waimate.
Waimate and Moeraki Boulders
We stopped for the night at Waimate and checked out the town’s famous silo art, and it was well worth the detour. The murals are huge, bright, and full of detail—you can’t help but stop and stare. Each piece tells a slice of Waimate’s story, from its rural heritage to its close-knit community. Standing beside the giant silos really shows just how impressive these artworks are, and the photos capture only a fraction of the scale. It’s one of those small-town surprises that ends up being a highlight of the trip.
After our stop in Waimate, we carried on toward the coast for one of my favourite quick detours — the Moeraki Boulders. Even when you’ve seen them before, there’s something magical about those perfectly round stones scattered along the sand like giant marbles left behind by ancient giants. We wandered down the beach, took a few photos, and just enjoyed the calm of the waves rolling in around them. We will stay here for a few days and explore the surrounds (including Oamaru)
Oamaru Steampunk Train & Shag Colony on the Pier
A visit to Oamaru is never complete without a wander through its wonderfully quirky Steampunk precinct, and this time we discovered something even better — the Steampunk Train. Sitting proudly near the precinct, the train looks like it has rolled straight out of a Victorian-era sci-fi novel, all rivets, pipes, gears and imagination. It’s one of those classic Oamaru moments where you’re not entirely sure if you’ve stepped back in time or into an alternate universe. Great fun to explore and a brilliant photo stop.
After soaking up the creativity of the Steampunk train, we went down to the harbour. At the end of the pier is the local shag (cormorant) colony, and it was in full swing. The birds were perched everywhere — drying their wings, diving for food, squabbling over space, and generally putting on a show. With the sea behind them and Oamaru’s historic backdrop nearby, it’s a surprisingly peaceful place to linger.
