Oamaru, New Zealand

Otago · New Zealand

Oamaru is a small city in Otago, New Zealand with a population of 13,700. Elevation: 39 ft (12 m). Average temperature: 51°F (11°C).

Population source: Wikidata (dated census and official estimates), GeoNames. Climate: WorldClim 2.1 normals (1970-2000), NASA POWER. Updated August 2026

13,700 Population 669/sq mi density

39 ft Elevation 12 meters

51°F Avg Temperature 11°C

21.6 in Annual Rain

Pacific / Auckland Timezone

Discover Oamaru, New Zealand

Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
Use the tabs and dropdown menus below to navigate every data point we track for this city.

Full City Profile

People

Population13,700

Density669/mi²

Climate

Avg Temp51°F (11°C)

Rain21.6 in/yr

Elevation39 ft (12 m)

Population	13,700
Population Density	669 / sq mi
Elevation	39 ft (12 m)
Coordinates	-45.0976°, 170.9709°
Timezone	Pacific/Auckland
Country	🇳🇿 New Zealand
State / Province	Otago
Average Temperature	51°F (11°C)
January Average	60°F (16°C)
July Average	42°F (6°C)
Annual Precipitation	21.6 inches (549 mm)
Annual Snowfall	0.0 inches (0 cm)

About Oamaru

Oamaru is a small city in New Zealand (Otago) with a population of 13,700. The city sits at an elevation of 39 feet (12 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 51°F (11°C). Temperatures range from 60°F in January to 42°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 21.6 inches. The timezone is Pacific/Auckland.

Climate in Oamaru

Oamaru has an average annual temperature of 11.9°C (53°F). The hottest month is Jan (15.5°C), the coldest is Jul (8.4°C). Average annual precipitation is 489 mm.

Month	Avg °C / °F	Min / Max °C	Rain (mm)
Jan	15.5°C / 60°F	10.7° / 23.4°	40.9
Feb	15.5°C / 60°F	10.2° / 23.5°	38.0
Mar	14.5°C / 58°F	10° / 22°	31.6
Apr	12.8°C / 55°F	8.4° / 19.1°	35.4
May	11.2°C / 52°F	6.9° / 17.4°	33.5
Jun	9.2°C / 49°F	5.8° / 14.2°	30.3
Jul	8.4°C / 47°F	5.3° / 13.7°	65.3
Aug	8.6°C / 48°F	4.6° / 14.1°	30.2
Sep	9.7°C / 49°F	4.9° / 15.6°	34.7
Oct	10.7°C / 51°F	5.5° / 17.4°	48.9
Nov	12.7°C / 55°F	7.8° / 21.3°	40.7
Dec	14.2°C / 57°F	9° / 22°	59.7

Oamaru experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 60°F in January while summers reach 42°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. Annual precipitation totals 21.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 39 feet, near sea level.

Temperature

60°F Jan (16°C) 42°F Jul (6°C)

Annual Average	51.4°F
	5% below New Zealand avg
January Average	60°F (16°C)
July Average	42°F (6°C)

Geography

Elevation	39 ft (12 m)
Area	20.5 sq mi (53.0 km²)
Population Density	669/sq mi
Coordinates	45.0976°S, 170.9709°E
Timezone	Pacific/Auckland

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 21.6"

43% below New Zealand avg

Snowfall 0.0"

Wettest Month (Dec) 2.36"

Driest Month (Sep) 1.26"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

41 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M5.1. Most recent: M4.0 on Feb 25, 2025.

Jul 6, 2015	56 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M5.1	127 km
Apr 2, 2005	67 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.9	119 km
Feb 8, 1998	42 km WNW of Oamaru, New Zealand	M4.8	42 km
Aug 19, 2004	43 km NW of Geraldine, New Zealand	M4.7	144 km
Apr 16, 2005	47 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.6	140 km
Feb 11, 2004	68 km WSW of Oamaru, New Zealand	M4.5	69 km
Apr 5, 2012	74 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.5	145 km
Mar 20, 2011	79 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.4	120 km
May 21, 1999	62 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.3	101 km
Mar 20, 2011	73 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.3	118 km
Mar 27, 2009	83 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.3	121 km
May 27, 2011	43 km WSW of Pleasant Point, New Zealand	M4.3	75 km
Sep 5, 2013	36 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.3	136 km
May 26, 2009	60 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.3	110 km
Jun 1, 2015	33 km WNW of Dunedin, New Zealand	M4.3	97 km
Feb 9, 1993	58 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.2	110 km
Mar 20, 2011	75 km ENE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.2	118 km
Aug 3, 2014	52 km NE of Wanaka, New Zealand	M4.2	133 km
Oct 7, 2013	88 km W of Pleasant Point, New Zealand	M4.2	127 km
Aug 10, 2021	24 km SW of Pleasant Point, New Zealand	M4.2	76 km

Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tsunami History

2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.0 m (3 ft).

Year	Location	Cause	Max Wave	Deaths	Distance
1856	S CANTERBURY PROVINCE, SOUTH ISLAND	Unknown	1.0 m	-	147 km
2002	ALBERT TOWN	Meteorological	-	-	146 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	60°F (16°C)	2.1 in	Warmest
February	60°F (15°C)	1.8 in
March	57°F (14°C)	2.1 in
April	53°F (11°C)	1.4 in
May	47°F (8°C)	1.8 in
June	43°F (6°C)	1.5 in
July	42°F (6°C)	2.0 in	Coldest
August	44°F (7°C)	1.7 in
September	48°F (9°C)	1.3 in	Driest
October	52°F (11°C)	2.0 in
November	54°F (12°C)	1.8 in
December	58°F (14°C)	2.4 in	Wettest

Oamaru has a seasonal temperature swing of 18°F / from 42°F in July to 60°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 21.6 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.4") and September the driest (1.3").

View full weather details →

Colleges & Universities in Oamaru

Institution	Type	Founded	Website
Ara Institute of Canterbury	College	-	Visit →

Schools in Oamaru

10 public schools (OpenStreetMap data).

School	Level	Enrollment	Teachers	Student/Teacher
Waitaki Boys' High School	-	-	-	-
Waitaki Girls' High School	-	-	-	-
Ardgowan School	-	-	-	-
Saint Kevin's College	-	-	-	-
Pembroke School	-	-	-	-
Saint Joseph's School	-	-	-	-
Oamaru North School	-	-	-	-
Fenwick Primary School	-	-	-	-
Oamaru Intermediate School	-	-	-	-
Kakanui School	-	-	-	-

View full schools details →

Radio Stations near Oamaru

0 stations within ~55 km.

Station	Genre	Quality

Museums in Oamaru

Name	Type	Address	Phone	Annual Revenue
Janet Frame's house
Livery Stables
North Otago Museum
Whitestone City

Libraries in Oamaru

Name	Address	Staff	Annual Visits	Circulation	Collection	Programs
Ōamaru Public Library		0.0

Farmers Markets in Oamaru

Name	Address	Season	Hours	Organic	Website
Farmers market

Hotels in Oamaru

7 hotels within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

1928 Cottage in Central Oamaru

Brydone Hotel Oamaru

Character home with sea &town views

Old Bones Lodge

Pen-y-bryn Lodge

Pen-y-bryn Luxury Lodge

Sunny South Hill

Restaurants in Oamaru

11 restaurants within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Bankok Recipe

Cucina

Del Mar

Filadelfio's Pizza Restaurant & Bar

Golden Dragon

Harbour Street Collective Cafe

Indian & Nepalese Kitchen

Lagonda Tearooms

Last Post

Star & Garter Restaurant

The Station

Cafes in Oamaru

11 cafes within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Badger & Mackerel Mess Hall Expresso

Coffee Supreme

Lagonda Tearooms

Steam

Tee Street

The Bridge

The Galley

The Roost

The Woolstore Café

Vinbrux Bakery

Whitestone Cheese

Cinemas in Oamaru

1 cinemas within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Limelight Cinema

Theatres in Oamaru

1 theatres within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Opera House

Castles in Oamaru

1 castles within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Riverstone Castle

Train Stations in Oamaru

3 train stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Harbourside

Ōamaru

Quarry Siding

Gas Stations in Oamaru

7 gas stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Caltex North End Motors

NPD

NZ #4134506616

NZ #4156738948

Banks in Oamaru

4 banks within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

ANZ

BNZ

Kiwibank

Westpac

Golf Courses in Oamaru

2 golf courses within city radius - OpenStreetMap data

Lower Waitaki Golf Course

Waitoa Park Golf Course

Breweries in Oamaru

Name	Type	Address	Phone	Website
Craftwork Brewery

Ski Resorts Near Oamaru

1 ski resorts within range.

Resort	Slopes (km)	Lifts	Peak (m)	Price	Season	Night	Park
Awakino Ski Area	0.0	-	-	$0	-	-	-

Airports Near Oamaru

4 airports within the area.

Airport	IATA	Type
Oamaru Airport	OAM	Medium Airport
Cattle Creek Airstrip	-	Small Airport
Glenshe Airstrip	-	Small Airport
Waimate Airport	-	Small Airport

Post Offices in Oamaru

1 post offices.

Post Office	Address
Post Oamaru

Churches & Religious Organizations in Oamaru

11 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).

Name	Address
Christian Life Centre Oamaru
Church
Oamaru Baptist Church
Oamaru Elim Church
Oamaru Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Saint Luke's Anglican Church
Saint Mary's
Saint Patrick's Basilica
Saint Paul's Presbyterian Church
Tongan Methodist Church of Oamaru (Oamaru Union Parish)
Waitaki Presbyterian Church

Explore Near Oamaru

UFO Sightings

Reported UFO sightings from the National UFO Reporting Center database

View all →

UFO Sightings Near Oamaru

1 UFO sighting reports from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) found near Oamaru.

Name	Year	Description
Oamaru (new zealand)	2009	flying car that person walked out of after crash

Quick Facts

Timezone

Pacific/Auckland

🇳🇿 About New Zealand

Capital	Wellington
Population	4,885,500
Area	268,680 km²
GDP (USD)	$255,194,972,673
GDP per capita	$49,076
HDI	0.939
Life expectancy	83.0 years
Internet users	96.2%
Urban population	83.9%
Currency	NZD (Dollar)
Languages	English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Calling code	+64
TLD	.nz
Driving side	left

Public Holidays in New Zealand

23 public holidays this year

Date	Holiday	Local Name
Jan 1	New Year's Day	New Year's Day
Jan 2	Day after New Year's Day	Day after New Year's Day
Jan 19	Wellington Anniversary Day	Wellington Anniversary Day
Jan 26	Auckland Anniversary Day	Auckland/Northland Anniversary Day
Feb 2	Nelson Anniversary Day	Nelson Anniversary Day
Feb 6	Waitangi Day	Waitangi Day
Mar 9	Taranaki Anniversary Day	Taranaki Anniversary Day
Mar 23	Otago Anniversary Day	Otago Anniversary Day
Apr 3	Good Friday	Good Friday
Apr 6	Easter Monday	Easter Monday
Apr 7	Southland Anniversary Day	Southland Anniversary Day
Apr 27	Anzac Day	Anzac Day
Jun 1	King's Birthday	King's Birthday
Jul 10	Matariki	Matariki
Sep 28	Canterbury (South) Anniversary Day	Dominion Day
Oct 23	Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day	Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day
Oct 26	Labour Day	Labour Day
Nov 2	Marlborough Anniversary Day	Marlborough Anniversary Day
Nov 13	Canterbury Anniversary Day	Canterbury (North & Central) Anniversary Day
Nov 30	Chatham Islands Anniversary Day	Chatham Islands Anniversary Day
Nov 30	Westland Anniversary Day	Westland Anniversary Day
Dec 25	Christmas Day	Christmas Day
Dec 28	Boxing Day	Boxing Day

Download Full City Report

Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for Oamaru.

Get Report

Frequently Asked Questions About Oamaru

What is the population of Oamaru?

Oamaru has a population of 13,700 residents and is located in New Zealand. The population density is 669 people per square mile, spread across 20.5 square miles.

What is the weather like in Oamaru?

Oamaru has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winter temperatures average 60°F in January, while summers reach an average of 42°F in July. Annual rainfall totals 21.6 inches.

Nearby Cities

Weston, F7 1,190 pop · 2.8 mi Waimate, E9 3,570 pop · 25.8 mi Waikouaiti, F7 1,250 pop · 37.3 mi Kensington, E9 1,640 pop · 49.3 mi Watlington, E9 2,420 pop · 50.0 mi Parkside, E9 2,530 pop · 50.0 mi Seaview, E9 2,370 pop · 50.2 mi Timaru, E9 28,700 pop · 50.4 mi West End, E9 2,880 pop · 50.5 mi Gleniti, E9 4,270 pop · 50.6 mi Glenwood, E9 1,930 pop · 50.8 mi Marchwiel, E9 3,750 pop · 51.3 mi Waimataitai, E9 2,210 pop · 51.4 mi Port Chalmers, F7 1,460 pop · 52.5 mi

Compare Oamaru with another city:

Want every data point for Oamaru?

The full profile puts all sections on one printable page, no tabs.