5 of the Best Things to Do in Broad Bay, Otago Peninsula

by

Broad Bay is a small harbourside settlement roughly halfway along the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin. It’s right in the middle of some incredible scenery, and luckily there are hills to climb where you’ll see it all unfold. Check out the best things to do in Broad Bay!

Harbour Cone

The Harbour Cone Track, one of the top walks on the Otago Peninsula, starts in Broad Bay. You’ll find the start of the track at the end of Bacon Street, although you can also park on Highcliff Road and skip the lower section.

You’ll get some spectacular views while walking up the Harbour Cone, and once at the top you’ll see right out over the northern end of the Otago Peninsula. Its one of our favourite views in Dunedin!

READ MORE: 30 Stunning Viewpoints in Dunedin

Camp Road Track to Larnach Castle

If driving to Larnach Castle from Dunedin you wouldn’t go through Broad Bay. The castle is directly above the bay though, and if you’re looking for an underrated walk you should consider doing the Camp Road Track. It takes around 90-minutes return to Larnach Castle and the views are beautiful — some of the best you’ll get on the harbourside of the Otago Peninsula.

Hang out at the Beach

There’s a small beach by the yacht club in Broad Bay. You’ll find some benches to sit on and some lawn areas for picnics. The water is shallow and clear — a good spot to bring the kids.

Cycle / Walk Around the Harbour

The Port-to-Port cycling track passes through Broad Bay. You can walk / cycle some sections or do the whole thing and then have a boat take you and your bike back across the harbour.

Fletcher House

You’ll see Fletcher House when driving over the hill just past the yacht club. Tours are available from 11am – 4pm on weekends and some public holidays.

Other Things to Do in Broad Bay

There’s a track between the Camp Road Track and Highcliff Road (by the stone wall in the photo below), meaning you can combine the Camp Road Track and Harbour Cone Track. There’s also another track (Smith-Larnach Track) which takes you down to Hoopers Inlet.

Where to Stay 

There are Airbnbs in Broad Bay, and more in Portobello which is a five minute drive away. There’s nowhere to eat and drink in Broad Bay,  again Portobello has you covered there. As you can see there’s enough to keep you busy for at least half a day in Broad Bay, and there are so many cool places a short drive away. The Otago Peninsula is one of the top natural wonders in New Zealand — try and explore as much of it as you can!

Getting There

Broad Bay sits on the shores of Otago Harbour, 15 km from central Dunedin. It takes around 20 minutes to drive there, or you can catch the 18 bus from the central bus hub in Dunedin.

Are you planning a trip to Dunedin? Check out our Dunedin itinerary — you’ll find heaps of hidden gems as well as the popular spots!

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Instagram profile

Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Instagram profile

Latest posts by Jon Algie (see all)