Explore the small town of Hampden offering a beach side camping ground, a popular cafe, a tavern and a renowned fish shop serving fresh blue cod.
Thirty minutes south of Oamaru lies a small coastal town, Hampden which offers a perfect camping ground by the beach and proximity to the famous Moeraki Boulders.
Grab those fish ‘n’ chips and a seriously giant ice-cream from the Hampden Store and enjoy them down at the beach where you’ll find a playground for the kids with pseudo-boulders and where hector’s dolphins are often spotted in the surf.
If you go for a walk on the beach you may be able to see the Moeraki Boulders in the distance. In fact, you can walk all the way there if the tide is low.
Near the beach you’ll find the Moeraki Boulders Kiwi Holiday Park with camping, motel and backpacker accommodations and back up the hill in town, the Moeraki Boulders Motel.
Don’t miss the popular antiques store on the main road – a great stop for collectors and vintage aficionados. Check out the Heritage Trail which takes you on a walking tour of various historic sites starting from the old Hampden Hotel and includes local churches, the cemetery, war memorial and more. Copies of the trail map are available from Vanessa’s Café or the Hampden Store.
