{"id":97186430,"date":"2017-03-21T20:08:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-21T20:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/?p=97186430"},"modified":"2019-10-09T19:57:54","modified_gmt":"2019-10-09T19:57:54","slug":"theres-a-town-in-new-zealand-dedicated-to-steampunk-that-you-can-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/theres-a-town-in-new-zealand-dedicated-to-steampunk-that-you-can-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"There’s a Town in New Zealand Dedicated to Steampunk That You Can Visit!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can you imagine what type of inventions the Victorians might have created for the modern world? If so, then you\u2019re well on the way to considering yourself a steampunk. For the uninitiated, steampunk is a subculture that revolves around the reimagining or, rebellion (punk) of the social and technological aspects of the 19th century (steam). Now, if only there was a place that was completely dedicated to it?<\/span><\/p>\n

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Inspiration for the subculture can be traced back to the early science fiction works of HG Wells and Jules Verne. But the term was\u00a0first used in 1987 by science fiction author K.W. Jeter.[\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n

Oamaru, three hours south of Christchurch, is the world’s unlikely capital of steampunk (it even won a Guinness World Record for the biggest gathering of these steam influenced punks in one place). Located on New Zealand\u2019s South Island, this humble farming town boasts the best-preserved collection of Victorian architecture in the country.<\/p>\n

\"Steampunks<\/a>

(Image via Flickr CC – Brian & Jeff<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n

In 2010, when Weta Workshop (a Wellington-based special effects and props company that worked on Lord of The Rings<\/em>) donated half a shipping container of artwork and statues for a steampunk exhibition in the town, the steampunk movement began to take hold. The tipping point came when local farmers (intrigued by the creative, outlandish inventions on display) began tinkering with their own steam-influenced contraptions that led the wider community to embrace their new steampunk home.<\/p>\n

Now thriving with oddballs, antiquarians, and bohemians of all sorts, Oamaru encapsulates the steampunk ethos with offbeat galleries, hip venues, dedicated festivals, one-of-a-kind museums, and an abundance of fascinating shops. So find the lowest airfare<\/a> to the Southern Hemisphere, unlock your potential for kookiness and start exploring the uniqueness of Oamaru\u2019s surviving Victorian streetscapes. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tally-ho, pip-pip and away we go!<\/span><\/p>\n

Steampunk HQ<\/h2>\n
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Steampunk HQ, a retro futuristic sci fi museum of art, sculpture, immersive light & sound. Steampunk HQ is a popular tourist experience located in Oamaru, a seaside town full of creatives working amidst beautifully restored Victorian buildings. This stunning image taken by @penybrynlodge #kiwipics #newzealandfinds #bestnewzealand #purenewzealand #destinationnz #newzealandvacations #gottalovenz #kiwi_photos<\/a><\/p>\n

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