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Omarama: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Omarama is a crossroads village of a few hundred people where the road from Christchurch meets the road over the Lindis to Central Otago. Around it is open high country: tussock, merino sheep, huge skies and almost constant wind off the Alps. This route starts with the gliders, goes out to the clay pinnacles, and follows the cycle trail country to Lake Ohau. Half a day by car, with gravel at the cliffs; end in a hot tub under the stars.

Omarama

A short history of Omarama

Omarama is a small village at a road junction in the Mackenzie Basin, and its Māori name is understood to mean 'place of light'. The dry air and the rising currents off the Southern Alps have made it one of the best places in the world for gliding, and in 1995 it hosted the World Gliding Championships. Large sheep stations spread out around it, and near the village stand clay cliffs worn into sharp shapes.

The ten best sights in Omarama

  1. Quailburn Woolshed
    1
    Quailburn Woolshed

    An old high-country woolshed on the road to Lake Ohau

  2. Waitaki Dam
    2
    Waitaki Dam

    The first dam on the river, built in the 1930s; lookout over the wall

  3. Benmore Dam
    3
    Benmore Dam

    Drive across the top of a huge earth dam; lookouts on both sides

  4. Clay Cliffs
    4
    Clay Cliffs

    Pinnacles and gullies on private land; small fee at the gate, gravel road

  5. 5
    Hot Tubs Omarama

    Private wood-fired tubs with mountain views; book a time slot

  6. Lake Benmore
    6
    Lake Benmore

    Big hydro lake for boating and fishing, 15 minutes east

  7. Sailors Cutting
    7
    Sailors Cutting

    Lakeside camping and swimming on an arm of Lake Benmore

  8. 8
    Lake Aviemore Lookout

    Viewpoint over the next lake down the Waitaki chain

  9. Lake Ōhau
    9
    Lake Ōhau

    Quiet glacier lake under the Ben Ohau range, 30 minutes north

  10. Ahuriri Valley
    10
    Ahuriri Valley

    Wide tussock valley with braided river; good for a picnic and fishing

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What is an audio walk?

Tours in Omarama →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Omarama:

Gliders, cliffs and the Ohau road

Free walking tours in Omarama

Gliders, cliffs and the Ohau road

Omarama is a crossroads village of a few hundred people where the road from Christchurch meets the road over the Lindis to Central Otago. Around it is open high country: tussock, merino sheep, huge skies and almost constant wind off the Alps. This route starts with the gliders, goes out to the clay pinnacles, and follows the cycle trail country to Lake Ohau. Half a day by car, with gravel at the cliffs; end in a hot tub under the stars.

  1. Omarama Glider Airport · North-west winds blowing over the Southern Alps create standing waves of rising air, and gliders here can climb to great heights and fly hundreds of kilometres. The World Gliding Championships were held at Omarama in 1995.
  2. Clay Cliffs · The cliffs are layers of gravel and silt pushed up along the Ostler Fault and then cut into pinnacles by rain and wind. They stand on a private station, and the owners ask a small fee at the gate.
  3. Quailburn Woolshed · Woolsheds were the heart of every high-country station, where the shearing gangs worked through the summer. The merino wool of the Mackenzie and Waitaki country is among the finest in New Zealand.
  4. Lake Ōhau Alpine Village · In October 2020 a wildfire swept through this small village at night and destroyed most of its houses; no one was killed. New homes are going up among the burned slopes.
  5. Lake Ōhau Lodge · The Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail, about 300 km from Aoraki to the sea at Oamaru, passes the lodge along the lake shore. Riders often stay here between the Mackenzie basin and Omarama.
  6. Hot Tubs Omarama · Each tub is heated by its own wood fire, so the bath stays hot while the mountain air cools around you. Omarama is far from any city lights, and on a clear night the Milky Way is overhead.

Down the hydro lakes

The Waitaki River was dammed again and again in the 20th century, and each dam made a lake: Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki, one after another down the valley. The road follows the chain east through brown hills and blue water. Stop at the dam lookouts and the old workers' town, then turn back or carry on to the coast. Half a day by car on sealed roads.

  1. Sailors Cutting · This sheltered arm of Lake Benmore is where Omarama goes to swim, fish and camp in summer. The lake water is fed by the snow and glaciers of the Alps, so it stays fresh even in January.
  2. Benmore Dam · Benmore is an earth-fill dam, a mountain of packed gravel and clay rather than concrete, and the largest of its kind in New Zealand. It was finished in 1965, and the lake behind it is the country's biggest artificial lake.
  3. Otematata · Otematata was built in the late 1950s to house the thousands of workers who built Benmore Dam. When the work ended many houses were sold as holiday homes, and the village fills up again every summer.
  4. Lake Aviemore Lookout · Aviemore is the middle lake of the chain, held back by a dam that is part concrete and part earth. Along its north shore are simple lakeside campsites that Kiwi families return to year after year.
  5. Aviemore Dam · The road crosses the river on top of the dam wall, with the power station below. Together the Waitaki dams produce a large share of New Zealand's electricity.
  6. Waitaki Dam · The Waitaki Dam was the first on the river, built between 1928 and 1935 largely by hand, with picks, shovels and wheelbarrows. It was one of the last big dams in New Zealand built that way.

The Lindis and the canals

Two directions from Omarama show two faces of the high country. South-west, the road climbs through empty tussock hills to the Lindis Pass; north, it runs to Twizel and the turquoise canals of the hydro scheme, where salmon are farmed. The Ahuriri valley lies between them, a river that has kept its natural course. A full day for both ends, or pick one.

  1. Lindis Pass · At 971 metres the Lindis is one of the highest points on New Zealand's state highways, linking the Mackenzie and Waitaki country to Central Otago. In winter it can close with snow, so check the road before you go.
  2. Ahuriri Valley · Unlike most rivers in the Waitaki system, the Ahuriri has no dams, and its braided bed is protected. Trout anglers come from abroad for it, and endangered birds nest on its gravels.
  3. Twizel · Twizel was built in 1968 as a temporary town for the workers of the Upper Waitaki power scheme, and it was meant to be removed afterwards. The residents fought to keep it, and today it is the main town of the basin.
  4. Lake Ruataniwha · The lake was created by the hydro scheme, and its long, sheltered straight became a rowing course. New Zealand's big secondary-school regatta, the Maadi Cup, is often held here.
  5. High Country Salmon · Salmon are farmed in the fast, cold water of the hydro canals, where they swim against a constant current. At the farm shop you can feed the fish and buy them fresh or smoked.
  6. Ōhau Canal · The canal carries water from Lake Ōhau to the power stations, a straight turquoise channel across the brown plain. The road along it is a favourite of cyclists on the Alps 2 Ocean trail.
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Getting to Omarama and getting around

  • Omarama Glider Airport · Home of the gliders; trial flights with an instructor when the weather is right
  • Omarama Coach Stop · Coaches between Christchurch, Mount Cook and Queenstown stop on the main road

Cheap eats in Omarama

Omarama is a fuel-and-food stop for people crossing the island, and it eats like one: big cafés with cabinets of pies, slices and sandwiches, and lamb on the dinner menus. Everything is on the short main road. Places close early, especially in winter, so plan dinner before 8. For anything more, Twizel is half an hour away.

  • The Oasis · Café on the main road, coffee and toasties about NZ$6-15
  • Merino Country Cafe · Cabinet food and big breakfasts, about NZ$8-22
  • The Wrinkly Rams · Café and restaurant at the junction, lunch about NZ$15-28
  • Four Square Omarama · Bread, cheese and fruit for a lakeside picnic, about NZ$15-25
  • High Country Salmon · Salmon sashimi or smoked salmon near Twizel, about NZ$15-30

Museums in Omarama

  • Quailburn Woolshed · Historic woolshed you can walk into
  • Benmore Dam · Earth dam and power station; lookouts and info boards
  • Otematata · The hydro workers' town by the lake
  • Waitaki Dam · The hand-built 1930s dam
  • Twizel · The town that refused to be demolished

Nature and day trips near Omarama

  • Clay Cliffs · Walk up the gully between the pinnacles; 30-60 minutes
  • Ahuriri Valley · Wide, empty valley with a free-flowing river
  • Lindis Pass · Tussock hills that glow gold in late light
  • Lake Ōhau · Glacier lake and mountain views, rarely crowded
  • Lake Benmore · Boating, fishing and swimming

Things to do in Omarama with kids

  • Hot Tubs Omarama · Family tubs; book ahead in school holidays
  • Clay Cliffs · A natural maze of gullies to explore
  • Sailors Cutting · Lake beach for a summer swim
  • Lake Ruataniwha · Calm water and a playground by Twizel
  • High Country Salmon · Feed the salmon from the pontoon

Where to eat in Omarama

  • Boots and Jandals Hotel · Pub dinner and a beer on the main road
  • Heritage Gateway Hotel · Hotel restaurant with set dinners
  • Countrytime Hotel · Hotel dining at the edge of the village
  • The Wrinkly Rams · Lamb and hearty mains at the junction
  • High Country Salmon · Salmon dishes near Twizel; lunch more than dinner
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Frequently asked questions about Omarama

What is there to see in Omarama?

The top sights in Omarama are Quailburn Woolshed, Waitaki Dam and Benmore Dam. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Omarama?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Omarama without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Omarama?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Omarama, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Gliders, cliffs and the Ohau road.

How do you get to Omarama and get around?

The main ways are Omarama Glider Airport and Omarama Coach Stop. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Omarama, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Omarama that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

Looking for a hotel in Omarama for your dates?

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