Top places to visit in Dunedin

• Baldwin Street

  world's steepest street · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Guinness-record steepest residential street in the world, a lung-busting 35% gradient climb.

• Dunedin Railway Station

  Edwardian station · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A flamboyant 1906 Flemish-Renaissance railway station of dark basalt and Oamaru stone, NZ's most photographed building.

• Larnach Castle

  Victorian castle · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  New Zealand's only castle, a lavish 1871 mansion on the Otago Peninsula with turrets, ballroom and award-winning gardens.

• Royal Albatross Centre

  albatross colony · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's only mainland northern royal albatross colony, at windswept Taiaroa Head with guided viewing.

• Tunnel Beach

  sea-cliff walk · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A short, steep clifftop walk to a hand-carved 1870s tunnel leading down to a dramatic sandstone-arch beach.

• Otago Museum

  natural & cultural history · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A grand museum of Otago's nature and Pacific cultures, with a tropical butterfly forest and hands-on science centre.

• Olveston Historic Home

  Edwardian mansion · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A perfectly preserved 1906 Jacobean-style townhouse, its rooms filled with the original family's art and treasures.

• St Clair Beach

  surf beach · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Dunedin's premier surf beach with an Edwardian saltwater pool, an esplanade and popular cafes.

• Toitu Otago Settlers Museum

  social history · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  An award-winning social-history museum tracing Otago's peoples from Maori to Scottish settlers, with vintage trains and cars.

• Signal Hill Lookout

  city lookout · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A hilltop lookout with a centennial monument and sweeping views over the city, harbour and peninsula.

• Speight's Brewery

  heritage brewery · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The 'Pride of the South' brewery since 1876, offering guided tours and tastings of its famous ales.

• Dunedin Botanic Garden

  botanic garden · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 to Dunedin

Airport: Dunedin (DUD)

How visitors arrive in Dunedin

• Flight into Dunedin Airport By air from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch · common

  Dunedin Airport has direct flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and is well outside the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Drive via State Highway 1 By road from Christchurch / Invercargill · common

  State Highway 1 runs through Dunedin from Christchurch to the north and Invercargill to the south. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• InterCity and regional coaches By road from Christchurch / Queenstown / Wanaka · common

  Coach services link Dunedin with Christchurch, Invercargill, Wanaka and Queenstown. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Cruise ship at Port Chalmers By ferry from Cruise itineraries · possible

  Cruise ships dock at Port Chalmers during the summer season. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Shared airport shuttles

  Shuttle vans wait outside the terminal for arriving flights; operators include Airport Shuttles Dunedin, Kiwi Shuttles and SuperShuttle. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from the airport

  Taxis wait outside the terminal. There is no scheduled public bus to the airport, which is a long way from the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Intercity coaches to central Dunedin

  Most coaches stop at the Dunedin Bus Hub on Great King Street or at Intercity stops on Moray Place; the agency is at the Octagon i-SITE. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  Orbus buses leave from the Central City Bus Hub on Great King Street and serve the suburbs and nearby towns, including routes past the university and Botanic Garden.

  Orbus Dunedin bus services

• Car Rental Self

  Buses to the Otago Peninsula do not reach Larnach Castle or Taiaroa Head, so some visitors rent a car or take a coach tour.

• Walking

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.

Best time to visit Dunedin

• Jan 19°C
• Feb 19°C
• Mar 18°C
• Apr 15°C
• May 13°C
• Jun 11°C
• Jul 10°C
• Aug 11°C
• Sep 13°C
• Oct 15°C
• Nov 16°C
• Dec 18°C

More in New Zealand

• Queenstown
• Auckland
• Rotorua
• Wellington
• Christchurch
• Wanaka

Frequently asked questions about Dunedin

What are the main places to visit in Dunedin?

Places covered in our Dunedin guide include Baldwin Street, Dunedin Railway Station, Larnach Castle, Royal Albatross Centre, Tunnel Beach.

Where should I stay in Dunedin?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Dunedin: Dunedin CBD & The Octagon, North Dunedin & University.

How do I get around Dunedin?

Ways to get around Dunedin covered in our guide: City bus, Self-drive car, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Dunedin?

Scams reported to us for Dunedin include Wildlife-tour doorstep touts. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Dunedin?

Average daytime highs in Dunedin run from 10°C in Jul to 19°C in Jan.

Which airport is nearest to Dunedin?

The nearest airport to Dunedin has the code DUD.