The story of Shrek the shaggy South Island merino has stirred up so much curiosity that even in the heart of sheep country he has got hundreds of locals flocking to see him.

Three weeks ago he was just a sheep lost in the hills, but his story has generated such interest around the world he now has fans in Canada, Australia and as far away as Mexico.

Mexico tourist Astrid Ochoa has made a special trip to see the woolly beast.

"My parents they are from Mexico City so they called me to see if I could come here to see Shrek," she says.

Shepherds found the merino sheep now known as Shrek wandering the high country after six years of evading the autumn muster.

An open day at Bendigo Station on Sunday was the first opportunity for the public to meet the celebrity sheep.

The Shrek theme park sprang up overnight, with enterprising locals making the most of their newfound attraction.

The area is temporarily boasting helicopter rides to the caves Shrek hid in during his years lost in the wilderness, 'catch the greasy pig' competitions and displays of farm workers' strength.

All proceeds are going to charity.

There is even an online auction for some of Shrek's famous fibres, with the monster fleece planned to come off on Wednesday.

World shearing champ David Fagan is flying in to do the honours and the fleece will then be weighed and measured to see if it will make a world record.

Meanwhile, there has been a dark reaction in Otago to claims from the North Island that two woolly monsters with fleece longer than Shrek's are roaming the local hills.

"I don't think there are many merinos up north anyway so they'll all be crossbreeds and there will be a total difference in the wool, nothing compared to what he is," musterer Danny Devine says.