The travel and adventure variety show, where celebrities embark on a treasure hunt and face puzzle challenges, adventure and cultural explorations, has just released YouTube episodes showcasing Oamaru and the Otago region, including Larnach Castle.
Oamaru has gained global exposure thanks to Taiwanese actors Huang Hsuan (stage name "Yellow"), Chen Po-lin and Greg Hsu Kuang-han, who alone has 2.5million followers on Instagram, as their travels showcase the town’s Victorian precinct, including taking part in a robot-building workshop at Buggyrobot Gallery.
Buggyrobot Gallery owner Martin Horspool said the actors were given clues and tasks in locations all over New Zealand.
The popular Taiwanese actors built their own one-of-a-kind retro robot at the gallery, where Welsh-born Mr Horspool crafts robots from vintage materials and industrial relics from the 1950s and ’60s.
"The actors were amazing and lots of fun to work with," Mr Horspool said.
A production crew member said they were as "thrilled as kids with new toys" with their creations.
"From shoe polish tins or parts from broken lamps, this upcycling process turning them into installation art. I think it’s super awesome," Greg Hsu Kuang-han said.
Another YouTube episode featuring Oamaru landed online yesterday with the trio riding penny farthings in Victorian costumes, then boarding a vintage train to solve a puzzle before viewing the penguins at Oamaru Penguins.
Mr Horspool said the show "definitely highlights the quirky character of Oamaru".
Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust chairman Richard Vinbrux said the recent filming in the heritage precinct was welcomed with enthusiasm.
"Each production brings new energy and attention to this remarkable part of Oamaru, helping to showcase it to different audiences around the world."
