Omarama
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Its world famous gliding centre, where scenic glider flights into the Southern Alps are available, as well as a pilot training school, is 30 km south of Twizel and 100 km south of Mount Cook.
Get in
By car
- Omarama is at the junction of State Highway 8 between Twizel and Cromwell, and SH83 from Oamaru. Drive times are one hour from Wanaka, 2 hours from Queenstown and 4 hours from Christchurch.
By (powered) plane
- Christchurch has the nearest international airport.
- Queenstown has the nearest major domestic airport.
By bus
Intercity (Newmans Coach Lines) have one coach per day from Christchurch and one from Queenstown.See
-
phone: +64 3 438-9751address: 24-30 Omarama Ave (Twizel-Omarama Rd)An informative show about New Zealand's high country sheep shearing, with a live sheep shorn on stage. Shows last 30–45 min, which includes a 10-min movie 'Micron Magic'. Also a demonstration of an eye dog, a sheepdog herding sheep by its stare. A must-see in Omarama. Don't forget your camera. Has a cafe, winebar, and a gift shop whose stock includes clothing made from ultra-fine merino wool and delicious honey.
- Clay Cliffs, $5. 15min drive through a natural heritage protected site looking at natural erosion that has occurred due to the Ostler fault.
Do
Gliding between September and April:
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phone: +64 3 438-9555address: 30 Airport Road, OmaramaFlight times range from 20min to several hours. Also offer training courses.
Omarama Gliding ClubOperate from the airfield.
- Canterbury Gliding Club operate from the airfield during January.
- Hang Gliding, 0800 02 45433. Take an at least 20 minute flight over Omarama.
Learn
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phone: +64 3 438-9555Soaring school with introductory and advanced level courses.
Eat
- Kahu Café on the airfield, between the camping ground and the hangars. Coffee and meals.
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address: 1 Pinot Noir CourtVineyard restaurant with extensive grounds, kids playground, fish feeding and a walking trail leading to a lookout giving the best views of Omarama and the surrounding area. Advance booking required.
- The Wrinkly Rams Café. Omarama's best food and coffee. More info in the "See" section above.
Sleep
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phone: +64 3 438 9805address: State Highway 898 rooms
Countrytime Hotel50 rooms.
Sierra Motels
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Ahuriri Motel
phone: +64 3 438-9451address: State Highway 8314 rooms Omarama Hotel
Go next
- South-west on Highway 8 to Wanaka and Cromwell in the Queenstown-Lakes district
- North on Highway 8 to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Lake Tekapo
- East on Highway 83 to Oamaru on the coast
