Discover Owaka

Owaka invites you to discover regional culture and natural history through tangible exhibitions and memorials. The Owaka Museum focuses on the heritage of the Catlins on New Zealand’s South Island, rare photographs and documents, and interactive exhibitions. A Community Gallery displays works by local artists and craftspeople throughout the year. In town, a stainless-steel canoe sculpture also commemorates the town’s 150th anniversary. Another activity is offered by the Ōwaka Golf Club, with its 9-hole course on the banks of the Ōwaka River.

Catlins heritage at the Owaka Museum

The Owaka Museum preserves and presents the heritage of the Catlins region. Its subjects also include the region’s natural history. Rare photographs and documents offer a visual and documentary perspective, while the interactive exhibitions invite you to explore the displays firsthand. The regional focus gives your visit a clear theme if you’re interested in the history and natural history of the Catlins.

The Community Gallery offers a distinct focus. It displays works by local artists and craftspeople throughout the year. As well as regional heritage, local artistic and craft practice is therefore among Owaka’s cultural themes. If you’d like to explore both, you can see the museum and gallery as different ways to experience culture and creativity: the museum presents heritage and natural history, while the gallery showcases the works of local creatives.

A memorial and a sporting option

A stainless-steel canoe sculpture in Owaka commemorates the town’s 150th anniversary. The canoe and its material make the memorial a tangible feature, distinct from the photographs, documents and exhibitions in the museum. Owaka’s themes range from Catlins heritage to local art and crafts, as well as the town’s history. The sculpture marks the town’s 150th anniversary.

If you’d like to include golf in your travel plans alongside cultural activities, the Ōwaka Golf Club offers a clearly described option: the course has 9 holes and a par of 70, and is located on the banks of the Ōwaka River. The number of holes and par give you a concrete guide to the course, without indicating how long a round takes. The golf course offers a different focus from the museum, gallery and sculpture. Which of these interests matters most to your trip can help you decide whether Owaka is the right destination for your stay.

Discover Owaka in your own way

For a culture-focused trip, you can make the museum—with its interactive exhibitions, rare photographs and documents, and the natural history of the Catlins—the centrepiece. The Community Gallery complements this focus with works by local artists and craftspeople, displayed throughout the year. If you’d rather plan a sporting activity, the Ōwaka Golf Club’s 9-hole course offers another option. The stainless-steel canoe sculpture, in turn, commemorates the town’s history. These differences can help you choose what to focus on during your visit, without suggesting that the attractions form a single tour or follow a particular order. When looking for a holiday rental in Owaka, your interests in regional culture, local art or golf may help determine which destination is right for you.

Find more town pages here: Milton, Edievale, Balclutha, Kaka Point, Lawrence, Tarara, Tapanui, Kaitangata.

For the wider travel overview: Clutha District.