Before you go

Your trip to Dunedin.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Dunedin – Otago Capital

How to get there

  • Aeroporto de Dunedin (DUD) Momona · 30 km
  • Estação ferroviária de Dunedin 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Dunedin Airport, at Momona about 30 km from the centre, has flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with transfers into town. Long-distance buses arrive from Christchurch, Queenstown and Invercargill. Cruise ships call at Port Chalmers in Otago Harbour.

How many days

Two to three days: one for the centre, the station, the museums and Baldwin Street; one for the Otago Peninsula; and one for Tunnel Beach and the botanical gardens.

When to go

From December to March, with long, mild days. The weather changes quickly in any season. In winter it is cold and windy, and the university town is busier during term time.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No for the centre and nearby neighbourhoods, with urban buses. For the peninsula, Taiaroa Head and Tunnel Beach, a car or an organised tour makes access easier.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Dunedin
  1. Morning
    Historic centre

    Visit the railway station, the Toitū museum and the Octagon on foot.

  2. Afternoon
    Otago Peninsula

    Head to Larnach Castle and then to Taiaroa Head, with the guided albatross visit.

  3. Late afternoon
    Baldwin Street

    On the return, stop by Baldwin Street and walk up the world’s steepest street.

  4. Evening
    Dinner at the Octagon

    Finish the day with dinner near the Octagon.

2 days in Dunedin

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Station and Toitū

    Start at the 1906 railway station, with the mosaic floor in the concourse, then go to the nearby Toitū museum, which has a Chinese garden at the back. On Saturdays the farmers’ market takes place beside the station.

  2. Afternoon
    Octagon and Otago Museum

    Go up to the Octagon, with the town hall, the art gallery and St Paul’s Cathedral, and walk down George Street to the Otago Museum and the university campus.

  3. Late afternoon
    Baldwin Street and botanical gardens

    Take a bus or car to Baldwin Street, about 3.5 km away, walk up the street and stop by the botanical gardens on the way back.

  4. Evening
    Centre at night

    Dine near the Octagon, where many restaurants and bars are located.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Larnach Castle

    Climb to the ridge of the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle, about 13 km from the centre, and tour the house and gardens.

  2. Afternoon
    Taiaroa Head

    Follow the road along the harbour to Taiaroa Head, at the tip of the peninsula, and do the guided tour of the albatross colony, with a reservation.

  3. Late afternoon
    Pilots Beach

    Stay at Taiaroa Head to see the little blue penguins that usually return at dusk to Pilots Beach on an organized tour, following the viewing rules.

  4. Evening
    Return via the peninsula

    Return slowly along the narrow road by the harbour, which has bends and little lighting, and have dinner in Portobello or in the centre.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What to do in Dunedin?

Visit the railway station, the Toitū museum, the Otago Museum and the Octagon, climb Baldwin Street, go to the botanical gardens, Tunnel Beach and, on the Otago Peninsula, to Larnach Castle and the Taiaroa Head albatross colony.

Is Baldwin Street really the steepest street in the world?

Yes, according to Guinness, which recognised it in 1987, passed the title to a street in Wales in 2019 and returned it in 2020 after reviewing the measurement method. the steepest section reaches about 35%.

How to get from Dunedin airport to the centre?

By shared transport, taxi or car, in about 30 minutes. The airport is at Momona, about 30 km away.

Is Dunedin a university town?

Yes. The University of Otago, founded in 1869, is the oldest in New Zealand, and students make up a large part of the population during term time.

Do tourist trains run from Dunedin?

Yes, from the railway station, towards the Taieri River gorge and the coast, for part of the year. Schedules and routes change; check before you go.

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