Dunedin holidays

Dunedin was founded by settlers from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland in the 1840’s, and has a strong Scottish heritage. The architecture of the buildings is similar to that of Edinburgh, and the names of the streets include Princes Street and George Street. It is set on the hills of a harbour, with educational facilities including Otago University.

Explore Dunedin

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Top things to do in Dunedin

Otago wildlife

The coastline surrounding Dunedin is characterised by remarkable natural landscapes and a wealth of wildlife. A great way to view the diverse flora and fauna is to take a tour of different locations on the Otago Peninsula, which is home to sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins and royal albatrosses. At the Royal Albatross Centre there is a viewing area where it is possible to see albatross chicks (late January - September) and a wildlife cruise can be taken in search of the various seabirds found in this area.

Taieri Gorge railway

The Taieri Gorge Railway train is Dunedin’s prestige tourist train, which operates from the historic Dunedin Railway Station. Departing daily, the train travels through the rugged and spectacular Taieri River Gorge, across wrought iron viaducts and through tunnels carved by hand more than 100 years ago. The journey includes full commentary and photographic stops.

Visit Larnach Castle

Standing on the highest point of the Otago Peninsula, Larnach Castle was built in 1871 by William Larnach to impress his wife and is the only castle in the country. A tour can be taken of the castle and its grounds, introducing visitors to the triumphs and tragedies of the Larnach family and revealing the sheer decadence of their day. The surrounding landscaped gardens are considered some of the best kept in New Zealand.