Oamaru - Steampunk and Gardens

We started our second day in Oamaru by catching up on schoolwork, doing laundry, and tidying things up in our small space. 

Then, for the first time since we arrived, we split our group. Tom and the boys dropped Lucy and me off at the Oamaru Public gardens, while they went to the Steampunk Headquarters. 

The gardens were enchanting. We took so many lovely paths through flowers and trees and steams and ponds and bridges and fountains. There were peacocks in large cages and we chatted with a Cockatoo named “Jimmy.” 

Then we walked along a bike path to join the boys at the Steampunk Museum. I don’t think I fully understand SteamPunk, but the guidebook says it is a cultural genre that mixes science fiction with the steam-powered technology of the 19th century. There were whistling steams engines, bizarre sculptures, a room with lights and mirrors, a blimp that shot out fire, a missile you sat inside of that made you feel as if you were blasting off. It was very strange, quirky and a whole lot of fun. 

Afterwards, we spent a lot of time at the Steampunk inspired playground.