The Baldwin Street sign, Dunedin, New Zealand

Walking up Baldwin Street, Dunedin: The World’s Steepest Street

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Last Updated on October 30, 2022 by Gia Kristel Algie

Baldwin Street, AKA the world’s steepest street, is a strange tourist attraction in suburban Dunedin. Walking up Baldwin Street isn’t too hard and it’s worth it to see an obscure world record. There are also good views of Dunedin’s green surrounds from the top.

The World’s Steepest Street

It looks like the word is well and truly out about Dunedin’s gradient based claim to fame. There were heaps of tourists trudging to the top when we visited, stopping for photos every now and then. It’s a weird scene and it must annoy the people who actually live on Baldwin Street. It’s good to see people enjoying it though — it’s a great example of the unique things on offer in Dunedin, all of which combine to make it New Zealand’s most interesting city.

Walking up Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand

Walking up (and back down) Baldwin Street only takes 10 – 15 minutes and there a few interesting things to look out for. One is this house (see the photo below, there are obviously others though) which, when photographed, shows how steep this street really is. At the top there’s a cool seat as well as a small plaque commemorating Iain Clark’s feat of rollerskating up Baldwin Street.

Did you know? They used to roll thousands of jaffas (chocolate-centred orange sweets) down Baldwin Street as part of the annual Cadbury  Chocolate Festival. 

READ MORE: 30 Stunning viewpoints in Dunedin

Is Baldwin Street Still the World’s Steepest Street?

Baldwin Street briefly lost its title in the Guinness World Records as the world’s steepest street (road) in 2019, when the when the record was awarded to Ffordd Pen Llech, in Harlech, Wales.

 

Kiwis don’t usually want to make a fuss about things but in this situation, it’s great that representatives of Baldwin Street made an appeal to make things right. So in  2020, the Guiness World Record was reinstated to Baldwin Street! 

A house on Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand -- the steepest street in the worldThe seat at the top of Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand

Is Baldwin Street Worth A Visit?

You may think that Baldwin Street will be just another street but the views, and the fact that you’ll probably never see a steeper street in your lifetime, make it well worth a visit. Oh, there’s also a café/ gift shop one street over — it’s a bit weird that it’s not actually on Baldwin Street but I guess you’d probably want a drink after all the walking. 

The walk up Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand -- the world's steepest street

RELATED POST: 18 of the Best Walks in Dunedin

Getting to Baldwin Street

If you’re coming from the centre of town head past the Dunedin Botanical Gardens and keep driving along North Road. Keep a look out on the right — you’ll probably notice the café and gift shop first. From Baldwin Street you could then drive to Mount Cargill and the other sights on the “other” side of the harbour, including Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Port Chalmers and Heyward Point.

Travelling to New Zealand? Get some tips in our South Island Travel Guide!

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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.