When the Ōamaru town plan was laid out in the 1850s, provision was made for a public reserve along Ōamaru Creek, west of Severn Street (also State Highway 1 today). The reserve was subsequently developed as the Ōamaru Public Gardens, which opened in 1876. This is one of the oldest such gardens in NZ, hence the good number of mature exotics that can be found around the gardens.
The gardens are very pretty, with paths that run east to west alongside the creek and on the south perimeter. There are several small ponds and lagoons, as well as several small attractive dells with a wide range of flowering plants. In early spring, this includes an extraordinary number of daffodils.
Particular features include a rhododendron dell, an azalea lawn, a native fernery and a Chinese garden. The latter is connected to a bright red bridge over the creek. On the south side, there is an aviary with some exotic birds.
Another feature of the garden is the ornamental sculptures. An ornate Italian marble fountain as a lawn centrepiece can be found near the east entrance. Further west is the Wonderland sculpture. This was created by a Scottish sculptor and gifted to the Gardens in 1926.
The gardens are about 800 metres long by 200 metres at the widest point. From the south end of Thames Street, turn left into Itchen Street and walk 300 metres to Severn Street (State Highway 1). You will see the entrance to the right of the intersection. Also, check out the Art Deco-style Whitestone RSA building on Itchen Street and the attractive small war memorial garden opposite the entrance.
The gardens are rated as a 5-star ‘Garden of Significance’, and the main path is a section of the Alps2Ocean Cycle Trail.
