Dunedin, New Zealand: travel guide
A Scottish-heritage university city on the Otago coast, with Edwardian architecture, the world's steepest street, a Victorian railway station and wildlife-rich Otago Peninsula (albatross, penguins, sea lions).
- Country
- New Zealand
- Currency
- NZD
- Time zone
- Pacific/Auckland
- Nearest airport
- DUD
Top places to visit in Dunedin
Baldwin Street
Viewpoint · about 0.8 h
The Guinness-record steepest residential street in the world, a lung-busting 35% gradient climb.
Dunedin Railway Station
Heritage · about 1 h
A flamboyant 1906 Flemish-Renaissance railway station of dark basalt and Oamaru stone, NZ's most photographed building.
Larnach Castle
Heritage · about 2 h
New Zealand's only castle, a lavish 1871 mansion on the Otago Peninsula with turrets, ballroom and award-winning gardens.
Royal Albatross Centre
Wildlife · about 2 h
The world's only mainland northern royal albatross colony, at windswept Taiaroa Head with guided viewing.
Tunnel Beach
Beach · about 1.5 h
A short, steep clifftop walk to a hand-carved 1870s tunnel leading down to a dramatic sandstone-arch beach.
Otago Museum
Museum · about 1.5 h
A grand museum of Otago's nature and Pacific cultures, with a tropical butterfly forest and hands-on science centre.
Olveston Historic Home
Heritage · about 1.5 h
A perfectly preserved 1906 Jacobean-style townhouse, its rooms filled with the original family's art and treasures.
St Clair Beach
Beach · about 1.5 h
Dunedin's premier surf beach with an Edwardian saltwater pool, an esplanade and popular cafes.
Toitu Otago Settlers Museum
Museum · about 1.5 h
An award-winning social-history museum tracing Otago's peoples from Maori to Scottish settlers, with vintage trains and cars.
Signal Hill Lookout
Viewpoint · about 0.8 h
A hilltop lookout with a centennial monument and sweeping views over the city, harbour and peninsula.
Speight's Brewery
Activity · about 1.5 h
The 'Pride of the South' brewery since 1876, offering guided tours and tastings of its famous ales.
Dunedin Botanic Garden
Nature · about 1.5 h
New Zealand's first botanic garden, rising from riverside lawns to a hillside rhododendron dell and aviary.
Things to do
- Otago Peninsula Wildlife Tour Nature · 6 h · from NZD 145 per person
- Royal Albatross Centre Tour Nature · 1.5 h · from NZD 55 per person
- Taieri Gorge Rail Excursion Cultural · 4 h · from NZD 109 per person
- Larnach Castle & Gardens Cultural · 2 h · from NZD 38 per person
- Speight's Brewery Tour Food · 1.5 h · from NZD 32 per person
- Monarch Wildlife Harbour Cruise Nature · 1 h · from NZD 65 per person
Day trips and tours
- Otago Peninsula Wildlife & Scenery Day 6 h · from NZD 175
Where to stay in Dunedin
- Dunedin CBD & The Octagon about NZD 210 per night
The heritage city centre around the Octagon, walkable to the railway station, museums and dining.
- North Dunedin & University about NZD 180 per night
A lively student quarter near the university, the Botanic Garden and Otago Museum, with good-value stays.
Hotels
- Bluestone on George 4.5-star · NZD 220 to NZD 360 per night
- St Clair Beach Resort 4.5-star · NZD 260 to NZD 420 per night
- Fable Dunedin 4.5-star · NZD 210 to NZD 350 per night
- Distinction Dunedin Hotel 4.5-star · NZD 220 to NZD 360 per night
- Hogwartz Backpackers 2-star · NZD 38 to NZD 130 per night
- 858 George Street Motel 3.5-star · NZD 150 to NZD 240 per night
Where to eat
- Plato Seafood, Eclectic · about NZD 60 per person
- No.7 Balmac Modern New Zealand, Bistro · about NZD 85 per person
- Etrusco at the Savoy Italian · about NZD 50 per person
- Vault 21 Bistro, Modern New Zealand · about NZD 50 per person
- The Perc Cafe Cafe · about NZD 25 per person
- Best Cafe Fish and Chips, New Zealand · about NZD 25 per person
- Emerson's Brewery Brewery, Pub · about NZD 45 per person
- Ombrellos Kitchen & Bar Modern New Zealand · about NZD 50 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Wildlife-tour doorstep touts
Otago Peninsula viewing areas
Rare unofficial operators charge for access to penguin or sea-lion viewing on private land.
How to avoid it: Book peninsula wildlife tours through licensed operators who fund conservation.