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624 George St, Dunedin, South Island, 9021, New Zealand
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of people enjoy staying here
6 Opinions
Otago boy's high school
Twin bedroom with wardrobe and drawer chest.
View of the Dunedin Chinese Garden
Always a refreshing walk home in Dunedin
coming on princess cruise to dunedin december how far to dunedin tourist centre
can you recommend cheaper excursions than offered by the cruise line
How long will you spend in Dunedin? What time do you arrive? What sort of excursion are they offering and how much are they charging? You need to balance the cost of the excursions offered against the convenience of being picked up and returned to the ship.
The distance from Port Chalmers where your cruise ship arrives to the city centre of Dunedin is about 13 kilometres. There is public bus transport but there are also shuttles provided by the cruise company.
If you have a look at the transportation tips on my Dunedin page you will find a lot of information how to organise your own thing instead of booking shore excursion with your cruise company.
I would seriously consider hiring a car in Dunedin, this would give you time to explore Otago Peninsula at your own pace. (And you could share it with others, so the cost would even get lower.) The only other cost that may occur would be the admission to the Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head (and there is no public bus going that far out) and Larnach Castle and Gardens. I cannot recommend penguin tours during day time. If you have a car you can visit the best beaches and watch NZ fur seals and sea lions, and if you are lucky, you might spot penguins - but it is not the norm during daytime.
After your tour of the peninsula you could return the car and do sightseeing in the city centre, this is compact and easy walking. Places for which a car would be handy are Baldwin Street (the world's steepest street) and the Botanical Gardens (a bit of a walk but also serviced by bus).
Another activity offered on cruises is the Taieri Gorge Railway. For that you have to compare the prices on their website and what the cruise company would charge.
http://www.taieri.co.nz/
The Octagon is the central "square" [actually and obviously an octagon] in the centre of the city. It is well laid out with a nice covered walkway alongside the road thru the middle. A variety of people hang out here, from students, to vagrants to diners and tourists. There are a few eateries around the perimeter, cafés and restaurants and lunchbars and even an Irish pub. Something for everyone. Also the main Information Office is found conveniently in the Octagon.
Waipapa Point is one of several places along the Catlins Coast where it is possible to see Hooker’s Sea Lions. These endangered animals are found mostly at the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands, but a few live on the Otago Peninsula, the Catlins Coast, and on and around Stewart Island. Much larger and more aggressive than the shy New Zealand Fur Seal, these animals require a wide berth. Although they look lazy and harmless as they lounge in the sand, they can move astonishingly fast when necessary and you should never get between them and the ocean. The Catlins also is home to New Zealand Fur Seals, Yellow-eyed and Little Penguins, and scores of other marine animals.
One of the horses has a foal in the night and we walk over to have alook the next morning. A beautiful little baby, he is very unsteady on his feet - mind you, he is really just three hours old or so old at this stage. Ahhhhh
I come from a railway family background - steam enthusiasts mainly but of course all with an appreciation for a scenic rail journey. New Zealand has some real corkers, and the Taieri Gorge Railway, now privately owned, takes you through some spectacularly wild scenery. Construction began in 1879 but the depression of the time meant it was a full 10 years before the first section of the line opened. It eventually reached across Central Otago to Alexandra in 1906, although sadly parts of the line no longer exist.
I made my journey from Dunedin to Pukerangi and back on a wet day, ending up with a sodden camera, but happy. The poor weather didn't detract from the beauty of the Gorge, and it meant there were fewer of us on the train so we could switch seats for better views and generally enjoy ourselves with there being less of a crowd. The highlight of my trip? Being invited to ride the journey home in the drivers cab - what a fantastic experience!
You board the train at Dunedin's elaborate masterpiece of a railway station (see separate tip). The traditional carriages are a pleasure to ride in and the windows reach over into the roof space giving excellent views. Some are refurbished 1920's stock, whilst others have been built especially for the Railway. You can stand outside to the rear of each carriage, a real thrill as you clatter over viaducts through the Gorge.
The first part of the trip takes you through a rather industrial part of Dunedin, past Carisbrook Stadium, and briefly stopping at Hindon before moving off through rolling hills and heading for the wilder scenery of the Gorge itself. As the scenery changes, you realise you are following the path of a river, the Taieri, and the journey to Pukerangi takes you through 10 tunnels and over several viaducts. The train makes brief photo stops along the way, and there is a running commentary given over the trains speakers.
By the way, if you are a souvenir hunter, DO buy them on the train rather than at the station - prices are a little cheaper.
The city's Town Hall is another impressive building and it is located just next to another famous landmark, St Paul's Cathedral at the Octagon. The city's information centre is located at the basement of the Town Hall, which offers very good information and brochures of the city and surrounding attractions.
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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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