Oamaru

We arrived in Oamaru by midmorning and were pleasantly surprised to be able to check in early at the campsite we had booked in advance. Once the camper was settled in its spot, we set off to explore the town and hunt for a cozy lunch spot. Though we didn’t find a place that caught our eye for lunch, we thoroughly enjoyed wandering through this charming little town. We browsed quirky boutique shops, Alma gave a unicycle displayed along the way a try, and after a quick stop at the tourist office, we stumbled upon a delightful surprise. Thanks to a helpful tip from the friendly lady at the tourist office, we discovered penguin chicks nestled in a hole in the wall beneath a bench just across the road. She had kindly mentioned this as an alternative since we were concerned that the nighttime penguin viewing might be too late for the girls while adjusting to New Zealand’s timezone. It was a magical little moment we hadn’t expected!

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony

After lunch, we headed in the opposite direction to visit the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony. While you can book seats to watch the penguins come ashore at night, we decided against it. Since the penguins only arrive after sunset, it would have disrupted the girls’ bedtime routine—a routine going remarkably well as they adjusted to the new time zone. Besides, we had heard that penguins often come ashore along the entire coastline near Oamaru, so there was a good chance we’d spot some right near our mobile home.

Despite skipping the nighttime viewing, the visit to the colony was still delightful. We learned fascinating facts about the Little Blue Penguins, caught a glimpse of a few chicks in their nesting boxes, and, of course, couldn’t resist buying a stuffed penguin from the gift shop. The proceeds support the penguins, and the girls can never have enough stuffed animals from our travels around the world.

Our walk to the colony was lovely. Along the way, we passed a sea lion lounging beside the path, admired the large penguin statue, and observed plenty of birds. The walk back was even sweeter, with the girls strolling hand in hand, carrying their new penguin toys and excitedly planning their playtime once we returned. To cap off the day, we stopped by the Steampunk Playground, conveniently located right next to our holiday park.

Harbour Tourist Park

Back at our motorhome, the girls entertained themselves with their stuffed penguins while Jonathan headed out to shop a few needed additions for dinner. I took the time to finish unpacking the rest of our belongings. Once Jonathan began cooking in the kitchen, the girls and I stayed in the campervan and got started on homeschooling— which is ofcourse an essential part of our routine during a 10-week journey.

That day, Alma began updating her travel journal, catching up on the memorable first few days in Singapore and the beginning of our adventure in New Zealand. Meanwhile, Luna dove into her “Animal of the Week” assignment (there were often two animals per week during our travels!). Naturally, the featured animal had to be the Little Blue Penguin. She created a drawing, we read through some fascinating facts from the brochure we had picked up at the Oamaru Penguin Colony earlier that day, and wrote a few sentences about the penguin. The highlight, of course, was noting that she now had her very own stuffed Little Blue Penguin.

(For more insights on homeschooling while traveling, check out my dedicated post under tips and tricks!)

Penguins after dark

After enjoying a nice and homely dinner in the motorhome, we all enjoyed a relaxing hot shower and then tucked the girls into bed. With the kids settled, we stepped outside to savor the evening, hoping we might catch a glimpse of some penguins. We waited patiently, the night stretching on, and just as I was about to give up and head to bed, something magical happened.

Across the street, penguins began sneaking ashore, darting between the small boats. Soon, the air was filled with the sound of their calls as chicks and parents reunited, calling out to one another in what turned into quite a noisy spectacle. As it turned out, there were nests right in the holiday park!

Finally, I decided to wake the girls, not wanting them to miss out on this incredible experience. Groggy but excited, they joined us outside and got to see the penguins up close, making the moment even more special. Afterward, we all headed to bed, ending the day on a truly unforgettable note.