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.
Dunedin – Otago Capital
How to get there
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Aeroporto de Dunedin (DUD) Momona · 30 km
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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
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Morning
Historic centre
Visit the railway station, the Toitū museum and the Octagon on foot.
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Afternoon
Otago Peninsula
Head to Larnach Castle and then to Taiaroa Head, with the guided albatross visit.
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Late afternoon
Baldwin Street
On the return, stop by Baldwin Street and walk up the world’s steepest street.
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Evening
Dinner at the Octagon
Finish the day with dinner near the Octagon.
2 days in Dunedin
Day 1
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Evening
Centre at night
Dine near the Octagon, where many restaurants and bars are located.
Day 2
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
