The story behind my song, “Penguins Crossing (Oamaru)”
My 2023 single “Penguins Crossing (Oamaru)” came out one year ago tomorrow, so I thought I’d share a bit about the song’s background. I never would have predicted that I’d write a song about penguins, but when inspiration takes hold, you just go with it.
It started with a trip to Oamaru with my mom, to visit our family friend in 2021. Oamaru is a town in the Otago Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is 120 km north of Dunedin, roughly 1.5 hours away.
Oamaru is a quirky and quaint town, with gorgeous harbour views and plenty to see and do. It is also the “Steampunk Capital of New Zealand,” with an annual Steampunk festival and many Steampunk-themed attractions.
Penguins of Oamaru
Oamaru Harbour is home to a penguin colony. Each morning, the little blue penguins leave their nests to spend the day fishing at sea. Around sunset, they return to their nests and homes. These short windows in the morning and evening offer a chance to glimpse these people-shy animals. During our visit, we went down to the harbour around sunset every night, and sat quietly to watch them come in. It became one of my favourite activities.
To observe penguins, you need patience, persistence and a bit of luck. And most importantly: utmost respect. Penguins scare easily, and will freeze or hide until the coast is clear. We don’t want to hinder their journey home after a long day at sea.
Oamaru locals are accustomed to sharing the harbour with their penguin neighbours, and try to protect them and educate out-of-towners on proper penguin etiquette. There are several “Penguins Crossing” road signs urging people to slow down while driving in the harbour. These signs became the inspiration for the title and cover for my single.
Little blue penguins really are funny little creatures – they are clumsy and comical when on land. They stole my heart, and I couldn’t help but feel protective of how vulnerable they are. After I returned home, I wrote the song “Penguins Crossing (Oamaru)” to capture the impression they and Oamaru had made upon me. To experience Oamaru to a experience a unique town where penguins and seals are locals. As I say in the song, there’s something about that place that’s left its trace on my mind.
I recorded the song at Stebbing Recording Centre, a beautiful space to record, and I was fortunate to have great musicians work on the song.
I returned to Oamaru in 2022 to photograph and film for the music video, below. The video contains footage of Oamaru and some footage of penguins (though they are tricky to film in the darkness).
You can listen to the song here:
Penguin Conservation
At the far end of Oamaru Harbour is the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony. The tourist operation has nightly paid viewings of penguins, a good option to learn about the penguins and support their conservation work.
In their own words:
“The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony provides visitors with an opportunity to see little penguins in their natural environment. In the evening, visitors are captivated by watching the nightly arrival of penguins from their days’ fishing at sea.
The Colony is a tourism operation with a strong research and conservation focus. At the core of the operation is a long-term conservation programme that ensures the penguins are protected and that the population achieves long-term stability.”
To learn more about the work Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony do, check out their website.
Planning a trip to Oamaru?
Here are links to activities/attractions in and around area that I recommend:
In Oamaru:
Victorian Precinct
Steampunk HQ – Museum
Grainstore Gallery (pictured)
Oamaru Public Gardens
Oamaru Harbour Look-out
Oamaru Steampunk Playground
Near to Oamaru:
Riverstone Castle
Ōmarama Clay Cliffs (pictured)
Moeraki Boulders
Seals at Shag Point
Waitaki River
If you do some penguin spotting in Oamaru, please follow penguin etiquette. Respect their space by keeping your distance, stay quiet, and please don’t shine torch or phone lights into their eyes. After all, they are just trying to go about their day.
Wishing you a wonderful week,
Sarah
READ(S) OF THE WEEK
Here I share a book/audiobook or two that I am currently reading:
BOOK: “Outer Order, Inner Calm” by Gretchen Rubin
AUDIOBOOK: “Bittersweet” by Susan Cain
IMAGE OF THE WEEK
A photo taken on road, I think somewhere between Oamaru and the Ōmarama Clay Cliffs.
UPDATES / NEWS
- I’ll be performing music at Howick Village Market on Saturday 3rd February.
SARAHVZMUSIC 
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