These animals can be observed up close in their natural habitat as part of nature tours. The Peninsula is indented with bays and offers many swimming and picnic sites. Its hills provide excellent walkways and views of the peninsula and harbour. Oamaru is a garden city in a sheltered area of the North Otago Coast. Farming is the areas major industry, along with the quarrying of limestone.
Coastal wildlife includes fur seals, yellow-eyed penguins and little blue penguins.
Dolphins can occasionally be seen near Kakanui. Palmerston is the gateway to the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trail. Queenstown, in Central Otago, is primarily a tourist centre. Queenstown's stunning scenery, wide open spaces, lakes and alpine setting entice visitors year round. In winter the magnet is skiing and the snow fields at the Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Cardrona.