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
This two hour hike takes you to one of Dunedin’s most remote beaches as well as a couple of cone-shaped limestone hills known as the Pyramids. It’s also a good idea to drive up the hill in front of Papanui Inlet and Victory Beach for one of the best coastal views in Dunedin. The Pyramids … Read more
One of the most accessible beaches on the wild Otago Peninsula coast, Sandfly Bay should be close to the top of anyone’s Dunedin itinerary. The viewpoint above Sandfly Bay is breathtaking on a sunny day, and the dunes backing the beach not only look cool but also provide the perfect conditions for sand boarding. The … Read more
For amazing views of Otago Harbour you’ll want to experience the drive along the narrow hilltop roads of the Otago peninsula. Highcliff Road has to be one of New Zealand’s most scenic city roads — from there you can see right down the peninsula, harbour and various small suburbs (as well as parts of central … Read more
Tucked away between Doctors Point and Purakaunui Beach, Canoe Beach is one of Dunedin’s most hidden gems. Overlooking this small, calm bay is Mapoutahi Pa / Headland, affording stunning views over both Canoe Beach and Purakaunui Beach. Walking through the Arches to Canoe Beach One way to access Canoe Beach is to park up at … Read more
If you’re travelling in New Zealand (or planning a trip here) you’ve probably heard of Cathedral Cove on the Coromandal Peninsula. It’s one of New Zealand’s most famous beaches, appearing on countless Instagram feeds and travel blogs. It turns out Dunedin has something very similar (but way less well-known). Doctors Point, on Dunedin’s northern coast, … Read more
The coastline north of Dunedin is ripe for exploring. Deserted beaches, ocean views and rolling hills abound, but you’ll have to get off the main highway to see the best bits. Karitane, with its golden beach, overlooked by the rugged Huriawa Peninsula, is one of the highlights of this underrated region of New Zealand. Karitane … Read more
We walked down the windswept Warrington Beach, sand whistling past our ankles. It was anything but exotic, but we soon reached the end and made our way around to the back side of the beach. Away from the oppressive wind and the choppy ocean we found a slice of calm, almost tropical, paradise. The side … Read more
I lived a fair chunk of my life in Dunedin never knowing that School Creek Falls existed. How cool is the fact there’s an awesome waterfall amidst lush forest less than 10 minutes drive from the centre of the city? School Creek Falls is located in the Ross Creek area and is only five minutes’ … Read more