Otago Peninsula

Dunedin, New Zealand

Dunedin is a city rich in history, with unique landscapes and abundant wildlife. Visit Dunedin to see impressive architecture and stunning ornamental gardens. Walk the worlds steepest street, explore sea-carved sandstone cliffs, rock arches and caves. Get up-close to the rare yellow-eyed penguin, and watch sea lions hang out on the rocks on the Otago Peninsula boasting spectacular coastal views. Visit the country’s only castle or take a walk through the city and admire the historic buildings. Stay a while and explore all that Dunedin has to offer.

Dunedin's dramatic hills surround a long, natural harbour, which attracted Maori settlers to the site over four centuries ago. More recently the area was settled by whalers, gold miners and migrants from Scotland and China. Memorable for its historical architecture, Dunedin is one of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere. Guided daily tours of the city a suburbs are operated by experienced local guides.

Dunedin's largest industry is tertiary education. The city is home to the University of Otago, New Zealand's first university (1869), and the Otago Polytechnic.

Popular visitor attractions in Dunedin include the Speights Brewery - famous for its promotional branding based on being 'a real southern man' and being 'the pride of the south'. The Dunedin Chinese Garden and tea shop offers guided tours of the garden, and NZ Sports Hall of Fame displays and exhibits memorabilia that salutes the champions and their contributions to New Zealand's renowned sporting heritage.

The Otago Peninsula is home to the only mainland albatross colony in the Southern hemisphere or enjoy walks with spectacular coastal views and a chance to see wildlife. Visit Sandfly Bay Recreation Reserve – remarkable for its native fauna and flora and its spectacular views of the Otago Peninsula coastline and cliff tops. It has a significant colony of yellow-eyed penguins and seabirds such as spotted shags, sooty shearwaters and variable oystercatchers. New Zealand fur seals and New Zealand sea lions hang out on the rocks and beach and wallow in the sand.

If you're a big fan of ornamental and beautiful gardens, then Dunedin is a little piece of paradise with a huge selection of gardens to explore. The main 4 gardens to visit are: Dunedin Botanic Gardens, Larnach Castle Garden, Dunedin Chinese Garden and the Glenfalloch Gardens.

Accommodation in Dunedin consists of historic hotels, apartments and backpackers, well equipped motel complexes, Edwardian and Victorian bed & breakfast lodges, and New Zealand farmstay experiences.