Dunedin & Districts

An unforgettable blend of natural and human culture, a place of world-class wildlife encounters and beautiful historic architecture.

This is a region of remarkable natural beauty overlaid with a fascinating cultural history. Rich with elegant historic architecture – from the famously quirky highlight of Larnach Castle on the Otago Peninsula to the ornate beauty of the Dunedin Railway Station – and retaining strong links to the past, this region is the perfect place to explore New Zealand’s heritage. Highly regarded museums and galleries are another layer in the Dunedin story, while renowned local theatre and acclaimed artists and fashion designers add a contemporary chapter. Yet there is another side to this fascinating city. Heritage, in all its forms, is a backdrop to world-renowned wildlife experiences on the harbour and beyond, on the Otago Peninsula.

DO IT. Take a wildlife cruise on Otago Harbour, see the Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head, visit one of the region’s excellent museums, take a walking tour of Dunedin’s historic buildings, take a trip to Middlemarch on the historic Taieri Gorge Railway, catch the Otago Festival of the Arts in October.

Destinations

Dunedin Main city in Otago, famous for its heritage architecture.
Port Chalmers Quaint fishing port with charming colonial buildings.

Getting there and around

Air Dunedin Airport, 30 minutes from the city, offers domestic and trans-Tasman flights. Oamaru Airport has domestic services.
Road Dunedin is 5 hours, 10 minutes from Christchurch. Coach companies provide regular services.
Rail Taieri Gorge Railway connects Dunedin and Middlemarch.

Insider's tip

Visit Baldwin Street on the slopes of Dunedin’s North East Valley – it’s the steepest paved street in the world.

Scottish legacy

In the 1830s a whaling station was founded. By 1848 the area was settled by a predominantly Scottish population and Dunedin was given the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh. New Zealand’s first university was founded here in 1869, and the statue of Scottish bard Robbie Burns in The Octagon celebrates this heritage.