Visit Dunedin

Amazing Historic Architecture , Attractions and Wildlife Experiences!

When you visit Dunedin you will find a small city of 122,000. Centred around “The Octagon”Dunedin in Otago, is a university town with distinctive Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Otago University attracts a wide selection of students about 20,000 in all from all over New Zealand.



Partly because some courses can only be done here, partly because it is seen as the ultimate university experience....read social experience...by the young people or “scarfies” as they are called.

You can experience something of the student atmosphere when you visit Dunedin by trying their pubs The Captain Cooks Tavern and cafes......... or if you happen to be in town.......seeing any of the many ritual annual events.

Until 1900 Dunedin was New Zealand’s largest city with the nearby gold rush bringing settlers and money to the region.

The Scottish Influence

Burns Night is a fixture in this city, and in winter you will see the Otago locals “curling” – a Scottish sport now included in the Olympic games..........throwing large flat bowls of granite stone along the ice.

Dunedin's Climate

Being so far south, Dunedin’s climate is more like a European temperate climate than more northern cities, with cold, snowy winters and sometimes hot summers.When you visit Dunedin you do need to take the likely weather into account as it will impact on your holiday.

Visit Dunedin Attractions

The Otago Peninsula is a beautiful area with the Albatross Colony, Yellow Eyed Penguin Colony and Lanarch Castle attracting tourists.

LANARCH CASTLE

Built by William Lanarch the current owners have spent 40 years restoring this neo-gothic building.............. New Zealand's only real castle.

With rooms set out as they were in their heyday, you can view a unique collection of New Zealand antiques. As was usual for the day, the castle features immaculate craftsmanship, especially the hand carved ceilings done by European craftsmen.

With stunning views over the Otago Peninsula and Otago Harbour and 9 gardens to wander, there is much to keep you interested here......including the rather sad story of the Lanarch family. So allow plenty of time to view the castle, wander the gardens and take tea or lunch in the stunning ballroom..

It is possible to stay in accommodation at Lanarch Lodge. Budget accommodation is in the stables.

ALBATROSS COLONY

Unique ..............the Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head located on the tip of the Otago Peninsula, is the only mainland breeding colony for any albatross species found in the Southern Hemisphere.

With interpretative wildlife displays and views out to the Albatross nesting from the Observatory you can enjoy these magnificent birds close up. 60 minute guided tours give you the

• Life cycle of the Albatross
• History of the area
• View a David Attenborough video
• A visit to Fort Taiaroa through the underground tunnels

There are also many other marine birds and animals on Taiaroa Heads... Blue Penguins, Fur Seals, Sea Lions, and the rare Stewart Island Shag are all found here.

CADBURY WORLD CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Dunedin is home to Cadbury’s chocolate factory Cadbury's being an iconic New Zealand brand. You can do day tours through the factory.

Located in the city centre you can take the guided tour through the factory and find out the history of chocolate making, the ins and outs of chocolate production........ see the 5 stories high Chocolate Fall..........!

With samples to taste along the way and plenty of chocolate and souvenir items to buy.... this is a chocoholics paradise!

Tours: Seven days a week – 9.00am – 3.15pm

OLVESTON HOUSE
42 Royal Tce, Dunedin

This beautiful Jacobean style historic house is an intriguing look into the lifestyle of a well off family, a century ago. Olveston was designed for David Theomin by Sir Ernest George (1839-1922) a London architect, and built between 1904 and 1906. Some unusual features include the service lift linking all four storys.

The house was centrally heated and had an internal telephone system..........it is hard to believe this home had such advanced mod cons! The home really sets the scene for the family lifestyle. I loved the kitchen.

Allow an hour to tour the house and wander around the 1 acre gardens.

Opening Times: 9.30 and 10.45 am, 12 noon, 1.30, 2.45 and 4 pm daily . Bookings are essential. – Ph: 0800 100 880 (only within NZ) toll free to book or book online.

WILDLIFE CRUISES

The marine and bird wildlife around Taiaroa Heads is amazing.........

blue penguins
• yellow eyed penguins
• dolphins
• whales
• Fur seals and their pups in season
• Shags

You can take a cruise to see this wonderfully diverse range of marine wildlife in their natural habitat.

SPEIGHTS BREWERY

Established in 1876 Speight’s Brewery is an iconic , popular New Zealand beer brand. Especially in the South! They have won many awards over the years.

There are 90 minute tours several times daily through the Brewery which include tasting and beer appreciation information. It is also possible to do a lunch or dinner package.

Visit Dunedin - Historic Rail Experiences!

Even if you aren’t going anywhere you should pop in when you visit Dunedin and have a look at this fascinating building - the large square tower on its south-western corner with three large clocks facing the city, and the Royal Doulton mosaic tiles and intricate stained-glass windows.

TAIERI GORGE RAILWAY

Leaving from Dunedin Railway Station, this historic railway takes you through some stunning country You can make the return journey to Pukerangi, or Middlemarch, or use the train as one leg of your trip to or from Queenstown and Central Otago on the `Track & Trail' coach which connects with the train.

You will travel through the Taieri Gorge, across old viaducts and through tunnels handcarved over a century ago.This was once the connecting railway to the Gold Fields in the lates 1800’s.

The main tour covers 77 kilometres of countryside.

October 27-29th celebrates 130 years since the line was first started.

THE SEASIDER

The Seasider – is another beautiful train trip along the coast to Palmerston and back.

Dunedin Sightseeing-Take a Tour

The university students have an annual Jaffa competition where they roll thousands of these New Zealand specialties down the hill(A Jaffa is a round sweet..........chocolate inside with a hard orange flavoured coating on the outside.)

RUGBY

If you are a rugby fan..........you will definitely want to see some rugby when you visit Dunedin. Many games are played at the well known Carisbrook Stadium.

You could well be in the city at the right time to attend an important game......or an All Black game. Dunedin is about to build a new “state of the art” stadium.

OTAGO MUSEUM

Otago Museum has an interactive Discovery Centre with a Tropical Forest.....including hundreds of butterflies, a Science Kiosk and Great Science Shows.The children will love this museum when you visit Dunedin. You can also see displays on

• Maori History
• Pacific Cultures
• People of the World
• Nature
Maritime
• Animal Attic

Originally intended to be a memorial to the Chinese who first came to Otago during the 1860's Gold Rush and stayed to establish some of the city's businesses....... the garden took eight years to complete.

It was built in prefabricated pieces in Shanghai on a site the same size for its final structure, then dismantled and transported to Dunedin. It is one of a very few authentic Chinese gardens outside of China and the only one in New Zealand. It opened in July 2008 and is a unique garden experience when you visit Dunedin.

Open: 10 am to 5 pm - 7 days a week 7pm to 9pm - Wednesdays.

DUNEDIN BOTANIC GARDEN

The oldest Botanic garden in New Zealand you can do guided walking tours, take a small Train ride with commentary, or do Guided Horticultural Tours.There are over 200 birds in aviaries in the Gardens.

OTAGO SETTLERS MUSEUM

Located in Queens Gardens you will be able to explore the history of Otago and its people at this small historic museum established in 1898.

The Museum also does Guided one or two hour walks of the city Visit Dunedin Visitor's Centre to book your tour.

OTAGO RAIL TRAIL

If you are feeling energetic and love to cycle, the Otago Rail Trail has become high on many New Zealander’s list as a bike ride they want to do.

Starting from the end of the Taeri Gorge Rail Route at Pukerangi, or Middlemarch.......... The Otago Central Rail Trail, redeveloped by DoC has transformed the old railroad into a 150 kilometre-long recreational Rail Trail suitable for hiking, horse riding and mountain biking.

Getting Around When You Visit Dunedin

TRACKNET

Tracknet provides buses to all the major tourist areas in the region.............Queenstown, Te Anau, Fox and Franz Glaciers, Greymouth, Milford Sound, and Invercargill. They also connect to all Southern New Zealand's walking tracks including Milford, Routeburn, Kepler and Stewart Island's Rakiura Track.

DUNEDIN SHOPPING

Dunedin may be small but it has it's share of top class Fashion Designers and the Fashion Show attracts plenty of attention in Australasia.

You will find a good selection of shopping including fashion, art and jewellery designer stores, antiques, china and book shops.George Street is the main shopping street.

RESTAURANTS AND EATING OUT

With over 150 restaurants to choose from, with a range of ethnic restaurants, wine bars and cafes there are eating places to suit alll tastes and pockets throughout the city.

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