Omarama

Omarama is a small town in the Mackenzie Country of New Zealand's South Island that has more gliders parked in hangars than families tucked up safe at home. That's because it's one of the best places on the planet for setting sailplane records.

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.

By car

 * Omarama is at the junction of State Highway 8 between Twizel and Cromwell, and SH83 from Oamaru. Drive times are 1.5 hours from Wanaka, 2.5 hours from Queenstown and 4.5 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

 * Clay Cliffs, $5 per vehicle. 15-min drive through a natural heritage protected site looking at natural erosion that has occurred due to the Ostler fault.
 * Clay Cliffs, $5 per vehicle. 15-min 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:
 * Canterbury Gliding Club operate from the airfield during January.
 * Hang Gliding, 0800 02 45433. Take an at least 20 minute flight over Omarama.
 * Canterbury Gliding Club operate from the airfield during January.
 * Hang Gliding, 0800 02 45433. Take an at least 20 minute flight over Omarama.

Eat

 * Kahu Café on the airfield, between the camping ground and the hangars. Coffee and meals.
 * The Wrinkly Rams Café. Omarama's best food and coffee. More info in the "See" section above.
 * The Wrinkly Rams Café. Omarama's best food and coffee. More info in the "See" section above.

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