New Zealand is home to heaps of interesting native birds, and the best place to see them in New Zealand (on the South Island at least) is at Orokonui Ecosanctuary. It’s high on the hills above Dunedin (a 25-minute drive from town) and, as you might expect, is full of birds enjoying the predator free … Read more
Purakaunui Beach is one of the best and most isolated beaches in Dunedin. Chances are it’ll be quiet when you visit and there are some cool things to see nearby, including a Maori pa (fortified village) with great views, another couple of beaches, the “Arches” and the calm waters of Purakaunui Inlet. Purakaunui Beach This … Read more
Billed as New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle is a nice place to visit if you want to add some history into your Dunedin explorations. It’s one of the country’s nicest old buildings and is fun to explore – plus you’ll get some great views of the Otago Harbour from the gardens surrounding the castle. … Read more
Dunedin, the South Island’s second biggest city, is full of historic sights, beautiful beaches and interesting scenery. It’s easily New Zealand’s best city and you should spend at least a couple of days there before moving onto more iconic places like Queenstown and Fiordland. There are so many fun things to do in Dunedin, both … Read more
Looking for something different to do in Dunedin? The Taieri Gorge Railway trip takes you through the outskirts of Dunedin and out to the stunning vistas of the Taieri Gorge. A lot of this area can’t be reached by car, so the train really is your only option – and it’s a beautiful (and quite … Read more
The Pineapple Track is a great option if you want to see some stunning views of Dunedin and get a bit of a workout. The Pineapple Track, part of which in the Flagstaff Nature Reserve, is one of the most well-known hiking trails in Dunedin and the views over the city, harbour, coastline and green … Read more
It took us 18 months of living in Dunedin for us to get to Boulder Beach — there are so many beaches close to the city and this is definitely one of the least popular ones. Lack of popularity doesn’t always equal lack of quality though, and Boulder Beach is easily as good as many … Read more
One of many wild, rugged and beautiful beaches on the Otago Peninsula, Allans Beach draws people in with its wildlife, scenic headlands and surf breaks. You can also get a great view of the beach from the Sandymount Recreation Reserve — combine the two for a fun day out in Dunedin. Seals Just before reaching … Read more
You can see Smails Beach from the series of car parks on Tomahawk Road, but if you’re keen for a hike and want to see this stretch of coastline from a different perspective the Karetai Track is a great option. Walking from Smails Beach up the hill to Karetai Road takes around 75 minutes return … Read more
Hiking the Harbour Cone Track is one of the best things you can do on a trip to the Otago Peninsula. The views of the harbour and the green hills surrounding it are spectacular and you can also see over Hoopers Inlet and some of the Peninsula’s rugged ocean coastline. You can start at the … Read more