Dunedin is a vibrant city surrounded by a giant outdoor playground. Walk, cycle, kayak or take a tour of the Otago Peninsula. Thirty minutes from the CBD the peninsula is concentrated with unique New Zealand wildlife. Here you will see yellow eyed penguins, the only mainland albatross breeding colony, New Zealand fur seals, sea lions and much more. Lonely Planet ranked the day cycling journey from the city meandering through the peninsula as number one in the world.
Dunedin is home to New Zealand’s largest University (University of Otago) and is packed with historic architecture, cafes, bars, art galleries and New Zealand designer fashion. A city tour ending at The Otago Settlers Museum will uncover the tales of those who settled in Dunedin from early Maori, Scottish pioneers and Chinese gold miners.
Check out Dunedin’s quirky annual events calendar including a nude rugby international match and a race of 30,000 Jaffas (hard coated candy balls) down the world’s steepest street during the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival. Baldwin Street, officially named the world’s steepest street by the Guinness Book of Records, is also home to the annual Gutbuster Challenge event where participants race to the top.
Dunedin is home to New Zealand’s only castle – Larnach Castle. The castle gardens and Dunedin’s Botanic Gardens are the South Island’s only garden’s of international significance. Garden lovers will enjoy the Rhododendron Dell at the Botanic Gardens and the annual Rhododendron Festival in October.
There are pubs and bars offering a quiet, relaxed, traditional atmosphere and nightclubs and student pubs for fun, lively surroundings.
Good food and plenty of it is standard fare at many of Dunedin’s pubs and bars, which offer everything from traditional hearty meals to contemporary al fresco dining.
The city’s main retail areas, centred around George and Princes Streets, are dotted with fashion boutiques including some of New Zealand’s most exclusive outlets.
The Octagon, a well-known meeting place in the city centre, with its many bars and cafés and statue of the Scottish bard, Robbie Burns, is the ideal place to relax after shopping.
The discerning visitor will discover all this and more . . . the Clock Tower at the University of Otago, New Zealand’s first university, stands as a reminder of the educational past, present and future, tolling the hours for generations of students who have graduated here and made their mark around the world. Other impressive architectural delights include the Dunedin Railway Station (arguably the most photographed building in New Zealand), the Municipal Chambers in the Octagon, St Paul’s Cathedral, First Church, Knox Church, St Joseph’s Cathedral and the terrace houses on upper Stuart Street.
