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660 George Street, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Baldwin Street
Otago peninsula water house
Doesn"t look steep, does it?
Available for lease: the first doctor's house.
The Water of Leith flows through Otago University grounds past 120 year old buildings and new post-modern architecture.
Each year during 'OWeek', first-years are made to perform ancient rituals by second-years which often include a dip in the Leith.
Sadly this once majestic waterway is now reduced to a mere 10th of what it used to be.
Conservation efforts are now underway to restore its former glory.
Glenfalloch means 'peaceful valley' and this place is indeed just that. The gardens are free (donations welcome) and there is plenty of parking. They are only a short drive from Dunedin along the scenic coastal Portobello Road, that hugs the Otago Harbour. There is a cafe on site that serves nice coffee and muffins. The gardens are privately owned.
It was here that I first heard and saw bellbirds, one of NZ's most beautiful song birds. When I arrived, the valley was filled with their unusual bell like chimes and up by the pottery shop (yes, local pottery is sold here), I actually saw one. We don't have them in Auckland, so it was a treat. Later on, I began to see them a lot, especially in inland Otago... but this was special.
The centre of Dunedin is located around the Octagon, an area where the surrounding buildings have been built around an octagon shaped centre. It is an interesting place for a quick look or to obtain info from the information centre. You can also walk around town, as most of the town centre isn't very big. There are several historic churches you can look at and even go inside. The railway station, built in 1906, is an impressive looking building I unfortunately was unable to visit. The art gallery is quite good, however it had two floors of modern art, which I absolutely despise, and the nicer, older paintings were located on the bottom floor, in a place I had overlooked when entering the building and had spent almost an hour being disturbed by the modern art before noticing it.
The only way to visit the Otago Peninsula is to take one of the tours proposed by different companies. You can either choose a boat tour, a walking tour or a 8-wheel drive! Because of the stormy weather we went for the 8-wheel drive tour, but we booked it from the Dunedin I-Site (tourist board), to be sure to find a place, even though we ended up to be almost alone, the weather was really horrible! After a milk tea and a couple of wonderful home-made cinnamon and apple muffins, we started our 8-wheel drive in the mud!!! The crew gave us some mantles, but our "jeep" was already full of water and mud and the mantles were almost useless! The ride was definitely exciting, our drivers scared us with high speed and puddle jumping, but it was part of the fun :)
We stopped several time, and bumped into some fur seals resting on a path close to our parking area, and we were very lucky to see a yellow-eyed penguin in the early afternoon (they usually come ashore in the evening). On the way to the yellow-penguin beach, we had the chance to see some little blue penguin chicks in their nest... priceless!
We really enjoyed the tour, and cannot imagine how beautiful it would be with sunshine!
The tour costs 50NZ$ per person.
Established in 1876, Speight’s Brewery is a unique gravity fed brewery – one of only a few in the world. A gravity fed brewery is where the raw ingredients arriving at the top of the building to the finished product at ground level. Visitors follow this process on the tour. You’ll get to smell rich malt and hop aromas filled air, see, touch and taste the ingredients that make Speight’s the “Pride of the South” as well learn about the many fascinating stories behind Speight’s role in Dunedin over the years.
The Speight’s Tour is an informative and interactive experience that would fascinate boh the young and the old. All tours finish with a great tasting session in the private Heritage Speight’s Bar - to sample a selection of Speight's beers!!
Tours run daily except Christmas Day. Tour takes about 1.5 hours and report 10-15 minutes prior to tour departure. Bookings are essential.
Monday to Thursday 10am 12pm 2pm 7pm
Friday 10am 12pm 2pm
Saturday to Sunday 10am 12pm 2pm 4pm
Prices: (Check website for other tour options)
NZD$15 Adult
NZD$5 Child (5 - 15 years)
NZD$15 Senior
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Q: Royal Albatross Centre "Is it possible to see the albatrosses flying about without joining the tour?"
A: "Yes you can view them flying the cliffs, from the lookout points outside of the Albatross centre. You can drive there. But this is at the far end of the Otago Peninsula,..."
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