Dunedin - Regional
Information
Dunedin was founded in 1848 by Scottish migrants
and the city still contains many Scottish relics. A statue
to the Scottish bard Robbie Burns has pride of place in
the Octagon, the eight sided heart of the central city.
Shops stocking Scottish goods can be found and the Haggis
Ceremony has regular performances.
The orderly development of the town was rapidly
accelerated in the early 1860's with the discovery of gold
in the Otago hinterland which sparked an influx of fortune
seekers from around the world. Dunedin quickly became the
largest and most prosperous center in the country.
What To See
The heritage from the golden years has endured,
resulting in an architectural wealth of grand and private
buildings, and a reputation as one of the best preserved
Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere.
Olveston House, featuring superb examples of 19th
century craftsmanship has regular guided tours.
Glenfalloch Gardens and historic Larnach Castle complete
with battlements and a fairytale ballroom are also both
open to the public and are situated on the Otago
Peninsula.
The Otago Museum specializes in the natural history of
southern New Zealand and Maori heritage. The Otago Early
Settlers Museum exhibits memorabilia of the colonial days,
and the Otago Public Art Gallery are all open seven days.
Otago Peninsula is home to wildlife colonies of
international significance. Taiaroa Head is the only place
in the world where the magnificent Royal Albatross bird
nests so close to civilization. As well, there are
Southern Fur Seals, shags, cormorants and the rare
Yellow-Eyed Penguin which can be closely observed. Several
nature tour companies offer tours to these fascinating
colonies.
Other attractions in Dunedin include the Taieri Gorge
Railway Excursion, New Zealand's oldest Botanic Gardens
and tours of the Speights Brewery.
Fifty minutes north of Dunedin are the Moeraki
Boulders. These unique, intriguing boulders are best seen
at low tide by a short stroll down the beach. Weighing up
to 4 tons and approximately 4 million years old, they were
formed on an ancient seabed through a complicated chemical
reaction.
Touring Information
Dunedin is included in several of our motor coach
tours. In addition, you can travel to Dunedin on an
independent basis with several of our Resort Connection
packages.
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