Dunedin Things to Do

Purakaunui Inlet is about 18kms (25 minutes) north of the Dunedin CBD either accessible via the Port Chalmers Road or from Waitati by Blueskin Bay on the main highway north.

It is a gorgeous inlet, views out to sea and over the hills. Beautiful walks can be taken on the beaches or in the hills.

Nearby (8kms) is the Orokonui Ecosanctuary and Port Chalmers is a spectacular 15 minute drive away where you will find restaurants, cafés, supermarket, garage, ATM, chemist and boutiques & craft shops.

A great day or half day trip from Dunedin, but with lots of boutique places to stay to soak it all in.

The Dunedin Chinese Garden opened in July 2008 and is the only authentic Chinese Garden in New Zealand having been crafted by artisans and craftsmen from Dunedin's sister city of Shanghai.

Many local Chinese families and others made generous donations to make this construction possible.

The Dunedin Chinese Garden is an example of a late Ming, early Ching Dynasty Scholar's Garden, surrounded by a four metre perimeter wall. A Chinese Garden is more than just a garden in the European sense. The rocks, water plants and buildings are important, symbolic, elements.

The Garden features hand-made wooden buildings, hand-made tiles, bricks and lattice-work and hand-finished granite paving stones. It is open from 10 am to 5 pm, 7 days per week and 7pm to 9pm on Wednesdays.

I always advise people to visit the Visitor Centre, aka Information Office.
The one in Dunedin is excellent, and in order to make the most of your time here, take time to visit this place and get information about all the activities and places to see, so you can make a good personal decision how to spend your time. They also hold some nice souvenirs and great maps and brochures on the area.

This office also provides Bookings for Travel, Accommodation as well as Activities.
It is a member of the Visitor Information Network, and is linked to most of the country.
OPEN 7 DAYS

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Dunedin's Botanic Garden - the oldest in New Zealand and established in 1863 - is not as flat and easy to walk as the one in Christchurch but it is even more spectacular, with its several levels, the huge areas of rhododendron and azalea walks, more diverse plant collections, and aviaries with native birds including keas and kakas.

You can walk around on the 28 hectares the whole day and feel like after a little tramping tour afterwards.

The Lower Garden is flat and has very nice gardens with herbs, roseses and camellias, fountains and statues, and a pond with ducks. The centre piece is the Winter Garden Glasshouse, set along with a café and shop. Especially the orchids are very impressive.

Already at an elevated level is the rock garden with a lot of colourful ground covering plants.

Several pathways lead further up the hill to the Upper Garden and the aviaries. Some areas are really garden-like, with perfect lawns surrounded by azalea and magnolias, and also the Australian and New Zealand gardens. But there are also sections which look very naturalistic and forest-like, especially the rhododendron walk, which is called Rhododendron Dell.

The Botanic Garden is fabulous at all seasons. Even in winter there are a lot of blossoms to admire, for example the early flowering camellias. They also have free brochures and maps for all seasons, available at the shop. Entry free.

Every year in spring (end of October) the Rhododendron Festival is held in Dunedin.
More info about this:
http://www.rhododunedin.com/
Tel. (03) 474 5162

Botanic Garden websites:

http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/?page=bg_whats_on
http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/?page=bg_about_bg

Photo 2 shows the Wintergarden Glasshouse in the Lower Garden.

On photo 3 you see a brilliant example of the fantastic rhododendrons.

Olveston House was build in 1906 for the Theomin familty. A wealthy Dundedin familywho filled it with expensive art and collectables. The youngest daughter, Dorothy left the house to the city of Dundedin when she died in 1966.

Guided tours are provided daily and cost $14.50
Bookings are essential

There is one service out of Dunedin station, a tourist railway known as the Taieri Gorge Railway, which I would like to do in the future.

The Southerner (Christchurch-Invercargill) used to stop, however the service was discontinued some years ago, short-sightedly in my view.

In any case, it is a very attractive building.

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Out on Otago peninsula is Penguin Place, a private Penguin conservation reserve. They do a great job in supporting the yellow eyed penguin, a rare species. On the tour you get to have a good look at the penguins, although most of the adults were out at sea when we were there.

Tours cost $45 and it is more or less necessary to book in advance. Recommended.

Have you been putting on weight whilst on holidays and need a workout?
Walk up the World"s steepest street.

Baldwin Street is located 1.3ks from the Botanic Gardens. At its steepest section the gradient is 1 in 1.266. Each year, in February, the "Baldwin Gutbuster" is held. This is when Athletes run from the bottom to the top and back down again, about 1000 of them.
In July, a charity event is held, it involves rolling 10,000 Jaffas down the hill. Each Jaffa is sponsored, with a prize going to the winner.