Dunedin

Known as the 'Edinburgh of the South', the evidence of the Dunedin’s Scottish settler heritage is highlighted by the abundance of ornate Victorian and Edwardian buildings, and Dunedin is also home to New Zealand’s only castle. Perched on the hills of the Otago Peninsula, Larnach Castle overlooks Otago Harbour. Further evidence of Dunedin’s heritage can be seen each November during the annual Scottish Week, which culminates in the Caledonian Society Highland Games. Established in 1862 by a meeting ‘of about forty gentlemen’, The Caledonian Society of Otago still keeps the old traditions alive, such as pipe band competitions and the Queen of Heather crowning.
 
The coast around Dunedin is renowned for beautiful beaches, including Tunnel Beach - said to be the most romantic spot in New Zealand. The beach can be accessed through a hand-cut tunnel, dug in the 1870s by a wealthy land owner for his daughters to access the beach unobserved.

Places in NZ South Island

City Centre

Historic architecture and eco-adventures await you in Dunedin. Watch the penguins surf into the beach after a successful day's fishing.

The city of Dunedin was built with the riches of the gold rush, and consequently has one of the best collections of Edwardian and Victorian architecture in the southern hemisphere. Gothic church spires, ornate mansions, swathes of native forest and magnificent views of the harbour make Dunedin very memorable. It is also the first and only city in New Zealand to be named a UNESCO Creative City of Literature - home to some of New Zealand’s most celebrated writers, including Janet Frame and poets Charles Brasch and Thomas Bracken - the author of the New Zealand national anthem.

Around the city you can visit historic homes, dip into the chocolate factory and browse the excellent museums. The resident student population keeps Dunedin lively.

 

Otago Peninsula

Flanking the southern edge of Dunedin's extensive harbour, Otago Peninsula is high and rugged on the ocean side; warm and sheltered on the harbour side. Volcanic in origin, the peninsula is part of the crater wall of a large, long-extinct volcano.

As a scenic drive, Otago Peninsula is spectacular. Beginning at Vauxhall, you can follow the coastal road past small settlements and beaches to Taiaroa Head, where there's an albatross colony. Other attractions near Taiaroa Head include the fur seals at Pilots Beach and sea lions on Te Rauone Beach.

The southern side of Otago Peninsula is high and rugged. Walking tracks lead to cliff lookouts, beaches, penguin-nesting areas and seal colonies. At Victory Beach there's an Egyptian-looking rock formation known locally as 'The Pyramids'; at Allans Beach you might see yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals and sea lions.

Otago Peninsula
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The Infinity Experience

Size Does Matter!
Dunedin is the world’s fifth largest city in geographical size, offering lots of leisure and recreational opportunities.

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Content & assistance provided by Tourism New Zealand.