Funky Towns

‘Character,’ according to the dictionary, is the quality of being individual, typically in an interesting or unusual way. With that description in mind, we went in search of New Zealand towns with genuine character, towns with strong, distinct personalities.

Plenty of New Zealand towns are delightfully pretty, really friendly, try hard to attract visitors, or are in such beautiful locations they don’t even have to try. But those with genuine ‘character’ are, we believe, quite rare.

Here’s what we found.

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Funky Towns

Funky Towns - Oamaru

Oamaru’s heritage precinct is home to the weird & wonderful world of Steampunk – an imagined future where electricity fizzled out & steam remained king.

Funky Towns - Napier

Napier's Art Deco architecture sets the scene for a distinctive kind of town pride that journeys back to the Jazz Age.

Funky Towns - Gore

Country’s a working man’s music, so it makes sense that country music would appeal to the people of Gore.

Funky Towns - Akaroa

Akaroa is a time bubble of New Zealand’s French colonial history, with French street names, quaint cottages and its very own Town Crier.