Timeline
05:36
Walk 10 minutes SSE from the gallery to the foreshore. Find the ToRoA 1989 sculpture by Peter Nicholls. Stand back and watch the sky change colour as the sun breaks the horizon over Otago Harbour. The sculpture faces the light, making it a striking silhouette in the early dawn.
06:21
Return to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. The building is open from 10 AM, but the exterior and grounds are accessible. Use this time to rest your legs and take in the modern architecture that houses New Zealand’s first art gallery. The morning light here is soft and quiet.
07:06
Walk 2 minutes to Mazagran Espresso on Moray Place. Order a coffee to warm up. It is widely considered the best in Dunedin and the perfect reward after a cold morning walk. Sit inside or on the street and watch the city begin to stir.
Local tip
The walk to ToRoA is along the harbour edge and can be breezy. Bring a jacket. Mazagran Espresso has no listed hours, so if it is closed, try the nearby Hard to Find bookshop or check for other open cafés nearby.
Check before you go
- The gallery is open Daily 10AM–5PM except 25 Dec.
- Sunrise is at 06:06 on 15 January.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Dunedin (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).