Oamaru's most significant feature is its abundance of whitestone buildings. This unique ‘Oamaru Stone' is quarried nearby and many of the town's original buildings, including grain and wool stores, were built in an ornate style using the stone. In the old Harbour/Tyne Historic Precinct many of these buildings still stand and some are still used for their original purpose. They also now house curious shops, gift stores, restaurants and a motoring museum. Just a little along the harbour front a little blue penguin colony attracts visitors at dusk to watch as they return to their burrows and along the coastline yellow eyed penguins can often be sighted.