If you’re visiting Dunedin and want to hang out at a beautiful beach and eat and drink by the ocean then St Clair is your best bet. There are plenty of other things to do in St Clair too, including walks, a swimming pool and more.
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St Clair Beach
St Clair Beach is one of the top places to visit in Dunedin on a sunny day. It’s one long stretch of beach broken up into three sections (St Clair, Middle and St Kilda). St Clair is where you want to be if you’re looking for cafes, bars and places to sit with views of the water.
From the busy area around the St Clair Esplanade you can walk down some steps to the sand. The rocky part beneath the esplanade is good for a stroll at low tide, otherwise head past the surf club and walk down to the beach from there.
If you’re keen to avoid the more built-up part of St Clair Beach you could park around Moana Rua Road or John Wilson Ocean Drive. From there you’ll walk down the dunes onto the beach, or you could walk along John Wilson Ocean Drive or along one of the paths through the dunes for an elevated view.
Eating and Drinking
One of the most popular things to do in St Clair is to go to one of the cafés / bars and relax in the sun (or inside if you can’t get a seat). There are three right next to each other — the Esplanade, Star Fish and Salt. Outdoor tables go quick on nice days — it’s easy to see why as there are few better places to eat outside in Dunedin.
You’ve also got a couple of proper sit-down restaurants (Titi, Spirit House), cafés that are more family friendly (Zoo Café, Long Dog Café) and there are food trucks around sometimes.
St Kilda Beach
The St Kilda end of the beach is a bit wilder — you might even see some sea lions. You can walk down to the beach from a few places along John Wilson Ocean Drive, and the view from Lawyers Head looking back towards the city is one of my favourites.
READ MORE: 30 of the Best Viewpoints in Dunedin
John Wilson Ocean Drive
John Wilson Ocean Drive runs along the top of the St Kilda end of the beach and is a popular park-up spot for locals. Bring some takeaways and enjoy the views! The road runs all the way to Lawyers Head but it’s usually closed around half way along. From there it’s an easy walk to the end.
READ MORE: 30 of the Best Things to Do in Dunedin
The Dunes
There are some tracks along the dunes above St Clair / St Kilda Beach. You’ll find some quiet places to sit up there and enjoy the beach from above.
Second Beach
There’s a slightly hidden track above the Salt Water Pool that takes you around to Second Beach. It’s a very short walk to a secluded bay — a much different scene to the busy Esplanade area.
READ MORE: 26 of the Best Beaches in Dunedin
Sunrise at St Clair Beach
St Clair Beach is one of the best places to watch the sunrise in Dunedin. At that time of day you’ll get a park right by the beach, and it’s a short walk from there down to the sand. There should be a few other people around (on a good day) and some of the cafés open first thing in the morning.
Jacobs Ladder
This steep set of stairs takes you from the flat streets of St Clair up into the hills. If you’re keen for a bit of exercise I’d walk from St Clair Beach to Jacobs Ladder (Valpy Street, 5-mins walk from the beach) and once at the top continue up Ravenswood Road and then down Cliffs Road back to the beach. Some really nice views of St Clair Beach and the city. It should take around 40 minutes to walk all of that.
St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool
Dunedin ocean temperatures aren’t usually conducive to swimming, but luckily there’s a heated salt water pool. I’ve never swum there, looks like a cool spot though.
Surfing
St Clair Beach is one of the most popular surf spots in Dunedin. Get in touch with Esplanade Surf School if you’re interested in learning.
Other Things to Do in St Clair
There’s a place to get a massage as well as a couple of small shops by the beach. If you’re willing to walk for 5-10 minutes there’s a Four Square (big convenience store) and a fish and chip shop. There’s also a playground for the kids (close to the cafés) as well as another one, and a mini golf course, at the John Wilson Ocean Drive side. If you want to get an awesome view of St Clair Beach head up the Karetai Road Track — it’s fairly easy and starts at Smails Beach.
Where to Stay
Check out Hotel St Clair and The Hydro Esplanade Apartments if you’re looking for a hotel in St Clair — I reckon it’s one of the best areas to stay in Dunedin as there’s so much to do nearby and plenty of variety in terms of places to eat.
Are you planning a trip to Dunedin? Check out our Dunedin itinerary!
Jon Algie
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