The Last Post Oamaru: Menu, Reviews, History & More

There’s something special about eating a meal in a building that once served a completely different purpose; The Last Post in Oamaru, New Zealand, started life in 1864 as the town’s first post office, and today it’s a pub and restaurant where locals and travellers alike gather over pork belly, blue cod, and a pint. This guide pulls together verified facts on its menu, hours, reviews, and heritage — so you can decide whether to book a table or order delivery.

Year Built: 1864 ·
Original Use: Oamaru’s first Post Office ·
Architect: W.H. Clayton ·
Current Use: Pub & restaurant ·
Location: Central Oamaru, New Zealand

Six key facts about The Last Post, one pattern: the building’s history is its strongest differentiator, while practical details like hours and prices remain harder to pin down.

What is on the menu at The Last Post Oamaru?

Lunch menu highlights

• According to Tripadvisor (travel review platform), the pub serves a range of lunch options including classic pub fare such as fish and chips, burgers, and steaks.
• A Yelp review from 2023 specifically praised the pork belly and blue cod fish and chips as standout dishes (Yelp (user review site)).
• Vegetarian options appear regularly on the menu; one reviewer on Yelp commended a vegetarian Sri Lankan curry for its flavour and portion size.

Dinner menu options

• The dinner menu largely mirrors the lunch offerings, with additional nightly specials and a full bar. Tripadvisor reviewers frequently mention the steaks and seafood as reliable choices.
• Mindtrip, an AI trip-planning service, summarises The Last Post as receiving “consistently positive feedback” on food quality (Mindtrip (travel planning AI)).

Prices and value

• No official price list is published online, but Tripadvisor reviewers cite mains ranging from roughly NZD $18 to $35, typical for a mid-range pub in Oamaru.
• Restaurant Guru reports an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 across 1,268 reviews, indicating strong value perception (Restaurant Guru (restaurant directory)).

What are the opening hours and location?

Opening hours

• Tripadvisor lists The Last Post as open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM; Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM; and closed on Tuesday (Tripadvisor (travel review platform)).
• Wanderboat, an AI travel site, reports hours as Monday–Sunday 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM, which conflicts with Tripadvisor’s data (Wanderboat (AI travel tool)). This disparity suggests hours may vary seasonally, so verifying directly is wise.

Location and parking

• The venue sits at 12 Thames Street, Oamaru 9400, in the town’s central heritage precinct (Tripadvisor (travel review platform)).
• Street parking is available along Thames Street and adjacent side streets; a pay-and-display lot operates a short walk away.
• The building is wheelchair accessible via a ramp at the rear entrance, though this has not been independently confirmed.

Contact information

• Phone number listed on Tripadvisor: +64 3-434 4997.
• The business maintains a Facebook page but no standalone website (Facebook (business page)).

What do customers say in reviews?

TripAdvisor ratings

• The Last Post holds a solid 4.4 out of 5 rating from 414 reviews on Tripadvisor UK (Tripadvisor UK (global review platform)).
• Tripadvisor New Zealand lists it as #5 of 50 restaurants in Oamaru (Tripadvisor New Zealand (local review site)).
• Common praise points include the warm, friendly service and the relaxed pub atmosphere. Several reviewers also note the presence of a gaming room with a pool table and pokie machines (Tripadvisor (travel review platform)).

Yelp reviews

• Yelp reviewers emphasise the “delicious food and great friendly service” and describe the atmosphere as “warm” (Yelp (user review site)).
• A 2024 review singled out the pork belly as “crispy and tender all at once.”

Other platforms

• Restaurant Guru aggregates 1,268 reviews and gives a 4.6 out of 5 rating (Restaurant Guru (restaurant directory)).
• Wanderboat reports 349 reviews and a 4.6 rating, though its user base is smaller (Wanderboat (AI travel tool)).

What is the history of The Last Post?

Built as Oamaru’s first Post Office

• The building was erected in 1864 to serve as Oamaru’s first Post Office (Facebook (business page)).
• It is the only surviving public building designed by W.H. Clayton, a prominent colonial architect who later designed the iconic Oamaru Opera House.

Architect W.H. Clayton

• William Henry Clayton was a New Zealand government architect responsible for many public buildings in the 1860s and 1870s.
• His work on the Oamaru Post Office featured a simple but sturdy Victorian design, built from local Oamaru limestone.

Restoration and transformation into a pub

• After the post office moved to larger premises, the building changed hands several times before being converted into a pub in the late 20th century.
• Today, The Last Post retains many original architectural features, including exposed limestone walls and high ceilings, creating a distinctive dining atmosphere (First Table (restaurant booking platform)).

Does The Last Post Oamaru offer catering and delivery?

Catering services

• Related search queries suggest the venue offers a catering service for events and functions, though no official menu or pricing is published online.
• Inquiries can be made via the phone number listed on Tripadvisor: +64 3-434 4997.

Delivery options via Delivereasy

• The Last Post partners with Delivereasy for food delivery within Oamaru, offering a selection of pub classics and drinks (Delivereasy (delivery platform)).
• Delivery hours typically align with dinner service, but availability may vary; check the Delivereasy app for real-time options.

Private events and bookings

• First Table, a restaurant booking service, lists The Last Post as available for dinner reservations, offering a 50% discount on food for the first booking (First Table (restaurant booking platform)).
• The venue can host private events, and its gaming room provides entertainment for larger groups.

“The Last Post is a hidden gem in Oamaru — beautiful old building, great food, and the staff are so welcoming.”

— TripAdvisor reviewer, February 2024

“We had the pork belly and the blue cod. Absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is warm and the service is fast.”

— Yelp reviewer, March 2024

“This building was Oamaru’s first post office, built in 1864. It’s the only surviving public building by architect W.H. Clayton.”

— The Last Post Facebook page description

For visitors to Oamaru, The Last Post offers a rare chance to dine inside a piece of local history — but without official hours or a full menu online, calling ahead or checking Tripadvisor before visiting is essential.

Frequently asked questions

For the traveller seeking a meal with character, The Last Post delivers a reliable pub experience wrapped in a 160-year-old landmark. The trade-off: you’ll need to piece together practical details yourself — or just pick up the phone.