Dunedin, New Zealand

City Guide

Introduction

The University clock tower

Nature lovers, Scottish historians and anyone searching for the world’s steepest street won’t want to bypass New Zealand’s southern most major city, Dunedin. Settled by Scottish immigrants in the 1880’s this coastal city retains a distinctly Scottish feel with stately homes, wonderful gardens and some splendid Victorian era architecture. Baldwin Street has claimed itself as the world’s steepest street and Otago University is the local centre of tertiary learning and from March until November, Dunedin boasts a lively student pub scene together with the obligatory collection of dodgy student flats. Dunedin is also a unique place for nature lovers to see Royal Albatross and the rare Yellow-eyed Penguins in their natural habitats, with a trip to Otago Peninsula a highlight for many visitors to the city.

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Attractions
Dunedin is a very pleasant city for a stroll and much of the inner city is relatively flat with a statue of Robbie Burns overlooking the centre of town, an area known as the “Octagon”. The Octagon is also the location of the Visitor Information Centre.

Otago Peninsula

Those with an interest in architecture will not want to miss the Dunedin Railway Station, an impressive basalt and limestone building completed in 1906 and today still the working rail station. Otago University is partially housed in the original slate-roofed bluestone buildings and the clock tower is a lovely piece of architecture. Olveston House is a much visited stately home featuring 35 rooms and a large collection of original paintings and furniture. New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle, is majestically located on the Otago Peninsula and visitors can walk through the castle and grounds and enjoy fabulous views of Dunedin’s Harbour.

Visitors with a thirst for history and art will enjoy some of the museums and galleries in Dunedin. In particular, Otago Museum houses an impressive collection of Maori and Pacific Island collections and is worth a couple of hours. The Otago Settlers Museum charts a social history of New Zealand including gold mining and whaling. Dunedin Public Art Gallery has a fine collection of New Zealand art including a few “master” works together with a large number of historical and more contemporary pieces.

Located in the centre of Dunedin are Cadbury World and the Speights Brewery, two commercial operations open to the public for guided tours. Many chocolate lovers will know the Cadbury name and can enjoy a tasting of chocolate at the end of their tour. The Speights Brewery is a local icon and visitors can see beer being brewed and enjoy a glass of the amber liquid at the end.

Sports fans may know Carisbrook to be the international cricket and rugby ground in Dunedin. Worth checking the local listings for live matches as you may get the chance to experience the local feel of this popular sports ground, students and all. Surfers can enjoy a few decent waves at the local beaches – St. Clair and St. Kilda beaches are each within 10 minutes drive of the city centre. Golf courses are easily accessed and hikers can follow a number of tracks up behind the city centre to lookout points including Flagstaff Mountain, Signal Hill and Mt. Cargill. The Taieri River offers jet boating, rafting and fishing with the sheltered Otago Harbour great for sea kayaking and sailing.

Dunedin is home to the oldest Botanic Gardens in the country and the 65 hectare Botanic Gardens feature native trees and plants together with an aviary. The Rhododendron Dell is celebrated each year during the third week of October. Glenfalloch Woodland Garden and Restaurant is located on Otago Peninsula and is a 30 acre harbourside garden featuring rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and fuchsias.

Yellow-eyed penguin

Otago Peninsula is a finger of land which forms the south-eastern shelter for the Otago Harbour and is home to some unique wildlife. Secluded beaches are great for a long walk and the head of the peninsula is the nesting ground for the Royal Albatross colony. The informative Royal Albatross Centre (40 minutes drive from the city centre) offers guided tours and information about these great birds. The rare and endangered Yellow-eyed Penguins are also found on the peninsula. Some visitors will catch a glimpse of these wee creatures by chance, but the best way is to join one of the few guided tours which ensure the safety of the animals and good viewing by visitors. Fur seals can be spotted around the peninsula together with other bird varieties including terns and cormorants. The peninsula offers the chance for kayaking, hiking and beach activities and there are woodland gardens and some sleepy townships including Portobello with shops, cafes, pubs and arts and crafts.

Port Chalmers is a 20-minute drive from the central city. The first point of arrival for many settlers to Dunedin, Port Chalmers was also a stopover for Antarctic explorers. Still operational as a port today, this quiet town has a few historic buildings, cafes and a couple of antique shops.

Odd but of interest to some is Baldwin Street, which claims to be the steepest street in the world! There’s not much to see here, but it is rather steep and is not a street you would want to climb every day!

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Entertainment and Eating Out

The Octagon

Dunedin has a fairly lively entertainment scene particularly during the University year of March to November. Pubs are popular with students and the area surrounding the Octagon, Stuart Street and Moray Place is where visitors will find pubs, cafes, and restaurants with some reasonably priced meals. Bell Pepper Blues in Princes Street has long been regarded as the premier restaurant in Dunedin and is popular with locals and visitors looking for quality dining. The Speights Brewery is good for a pint and meal, with the Dunedin Casino fun for those wanting to try their luck.

Capping week (May each year) is a busy week in Dunedin and is the week where university students return to graduate and celebrate. Parades (including a race with lounge sofas) and a general party feel dominate the week and visitors will enjoy the festive feel if in Dunedin at this time.

Several cinemas are located around the Octagon, with the Fortune Theatre, Regent Theatre and the Dunedin Town Hall all host to live theatre and musical performances.

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Shopping

Shopping in George Street

Dunedin is not known for its shopping, but George Street which runs through the centre of the city is definitely worth a stroll. There are a number of locally grown fashion designers with an increasing presence along this strip and many visitors will enjoy a browse for something a bit different. Specialty shops such as homeware retailers, antique dealers, art galleries and artist workshops are dotted around the George Street and Octagon area. Dunedin also has a number of suburban shopping centres, including shops at Mornington, The Gardens, Andersons Bay Road and Mosgiel.

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Cyber Dunedin
Being a student city, Dunedin has a good collection of internet cafes at reasonable prices. Have a look around the Octagon area and even try the Otago University.

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Getting From A to B
Once in Dunedin, getting around the central city is relatively easy if you avoid the hills up behind the city.

Taieri Gorge Railway

Many of the students in town never need to worry about a vehicle and walking is a popular choice for getting from A to B. There are quite good public bus services working the routes between the city and the suburbs, and if you have run out of legs on the rather long George Street, a bus back to your hotel can be a life saver!

Rental cars are available at the airport for pick up and drop off, and can also be arranged for inner city collection by hotel tour desks. Having a car is very handy for day trips out to the Otago Peninsula, Port Chalmers and to reach some of the out-of-the-way beaches and secluded spots.

Licensed meter taxis operate throughout the city, and can be telephoned, picked up from taxi stands or flagged down on the street.

Shuttle buses operate on airport routes, and can be picked up at the airport on arrival, or booked in advance on leaving town. Shuttles are great for groups, and those with large amounts of luggage.

The Dunedin Airport is located an easy 30 minutes drive from the centre of the city. Traffic congestion is rarely a problem in Dunedin making this a worry-free journey.

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Tours
There are a number of organised tours in and around Dunedin, and these can take the hard work out of getting to the highlights.

Cruising on the Otago Harbour

The Otago Explorer offers fully guided tours to Larnach Castle, Hop on Hop Off buses around town and evening wildlife tours during the summer. Tours depart from the Dunedin Visitor Centre and also provide hotel/motel pickups 15 minutes prior to departure.

The Taieri Gorge Railway will appeal to train enthusiasts. Starting at the historic Dunedin Railway Station, the train travels past gold mining relics and over steep ravines into the Taieri River Gorge, an area only accessible by train. The scenery is uniquely New Zealand, green and untouched, and this is a great day trip out of Dunedin.

Guided wildlife tours are available both on and off the water. There are a limited number of licensed tour guides able to take visitors to the penguins and these are very worthwhile trips. Boat cruises for wildlife spotting are a great way to get on the water and there are fishing charters available for the keen angler. Check the Visitor Information centre for available tours.

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Events
Dunedin has a number of events going on during the year. Most notable are the Dunedin Summer Festival (February), University Orientation (February/March) Otago Wine and Food Festival (February), University Capping (May), Cadbury's Chocolate Festival (July), Scottish Week (September), and the Rhododendron Festival (October). Also held bi-annually in Dunedin are the New Zealand Masters Games (February), the NZ International Science Festival (June) and the Otago Festival of Arts (October).

See www.cityofdunedin.com for details of events and daily listings or visit the Visitor Information Centre at the Octagon.

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