We look forward to hosting visitors from Seven Seas Voyager, recently voted #1 by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler. Get ready to step back in time folks on Feb 2nd….

Crystal Serenity at Sea: Photo courtesy Crystal Cruises

Oamaru takes another important step on its journey to becoming a recognized tourism destination when it hosts guests from the cruise ship Crystal Serenity next Saturday. 

 The visitors are traveling from Port Chalmers to Oamaru on a ‘living history extravaganza’, revolving around the town’s significant colonial past. They’ll take billy tea & scones with the swaggers at historic Totara Estate, before experiencing the dramatic stories of early Oamaru through the eyes of the Living History Players. A traditional Ploughman’s lunch will be served at Loan & Merc, with time on offer to ride a pennyfarthing, taste NZ whisky or shop for traditional hand-crafted items. 

Living History NZ Principal Scott Elliffe says it’s a ground breaking step for tourism in the District. “Tour operators I have spoken with tell me that cruise visitors on shore excursions are keen to experience a real ‘sense of place’. A key part of this is engaging with locals. Of course Oamaru delivers all of this in spades with its stunning Victorian townscape, its focus on bringing ‘heritage alive’ and the community’s willingness to dress in costume and celebrate its past.” 

Julian Barton of Pacific Journeys, the organiser of the visit, sees real possibility for more cruise visits to Oamaru. “Passengers to Dunedin are often on their second or third visit and are looking for new day tour options” he said “And there are real opportunities for visits through the port of Timaru in the next couple of years … and who knows, maybe Oamaru itself in the not too distant future.”   

Scott Elliffe feels Oamaru will become an increasingly attractive option for cruise business as ship sizes increase and Dunedin nears visitor capacity at many attractions. 

 Meanwhile the guests from Crystal Serenity will no doubt enjoy the added attention that comes with being among the first ‘pioneers’.

The secrets of old Oamaru are about to be spilled. It’s not exactly a cast of thousands, but thanks to a couple of hard working actors the characters and tales of 19th Century Oamaru are brought back to life.

There’s the return of Sir George Grey to what is a boom town. Then there’s the cautionary tale of the canny laird who gets one up on his whisky-prone gardener. And talking of old soaks, there’s a temperance lady on the bandwagon again, much to the despair of the town’s Irish larrikin. And there are many more tall tales and true, as part of the Living History project walking tour with a difference.

Mike Gourley takes the pledge in Oamaru’s whitestone precinct, where all the world’s a stage.

Fanny Worsdall of The Living History Players in Secrets of the Old Town – Oamaru’s Leading Heritage Attraction

We’ve had some hilarious happenings on our dramatic tours this season. Like the night… 

• the longest freight train in Oamaru history halted Thomas Forrester’s opening address for several minutes
• a good hearted Waitaki Guardian locked our Props Box on the railway platform & Mrs Atkinson was left to greet the Governor without her best hat and flag
• a New Year Reveller took our pre-laid tambourine as a party prop and left our Fanny Worsdall to denounce the demon drink without musical backing!
• a campervan stopped William Bee (ready & waiting to tell his story) for directions to the nearest Fish & Chip shop
• the Fire Dept performed a training drill & our tour became more of a paddle down Harbour St
• the Earl’s ‘hearse’ went  missing from Stables (lent for a wedding)
• Governor Grey got to deliver his ‘Oamaru speech’ from a real train

As sad as we are to lose Genevieve Scanlan back to her Theatre Studies at Otago University we are pleased to announce her replacement is none other than accomplished Dunedin based actor/director Hilary Norris.

Hilary is set to ‘alight’ the streets of the old quarter with ‘arresting’ performances as Fanny Worsdall of the esteemed Living History Players every Friday through Monday night until season end.

So there you are… another Secret is out!

Our tours continue to touch the hearts & minds of visitors. We thought we’d share just some of the comments penned in our Guest Book. 

“World class performance amongst a stunning back-drop” Local

“Wonderful tour through the history of Oamaru. Very funny and a good idea for visitors. Thank you” Germany

“A fine experience. Impressive!” Holland

“Professional, clever & entertaining” UK

“Excellent acting. Thank you for a memorable evening” India

“Great way of bringing streets to life” Wellington

“Wicked fun. Great actors” Local

“Thank you. Really brought history to life” UK

“What a wee sparkling drama it was!” Auckland

“What a great way to spend our only evening in Oamaru” Wellington

 Tours run nightly 7pm, Oamaru iSite. Bookings essential 0800 548344

Word of Oamaru’s unique dramatic tours continues to spread. We had a booking last night made at the Dunedin iSite from some great Australian visitors who linked our Lonely Planet mention with the article that appeared in this week’s ODT. Thanks Sue, Andrew, Bekki & Scottie…it was great hosting you and introducing you to the secrets of old Oamaru!

 http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/north-otago/88676/players-bringing-history-life

Oamaru’s very own Living History Players, who for the last two seasons have delivered the award winning town story ‘The Great Storm of 1868’, are back this summer with a difference!

They’re inviting visitors to ‘Step Inside Victorian Oamaru’ in a walking tour that takes them ‘behind the scenes’ as historic characters ‘come alive’ to reveal the old town’s secrets and treasures.

Acclaimed as the finest intact Victorian streetscape in the southern hemisphere, Oamaru’s whitestone buildings moved one 19^th century observer to describe her ‘as the modern Athens of the South’. Today the old town, now frozen in time, is brought alive again.

“Our aim is real people, telling real stories in real locations and in Oamaru’s colonial buildings we have no finer stage” says Living History’s Scott Elliffe.

As in past seasons the Living History Players comprise mainly young aspiring professional actors from New Zealand’s top drama schools. This fusion of the dramatic arts into tourism is pushing new and very exciting boundaries.