Things to do with kids in Dunedin

Things to do with kids in Dunedin

1. See

   Cargill's Castle

   The ruins of Cargill's Castle stand on a promontory overlooking the sea. This Italianate mansion was built for Edward Cargill, eighth child of city founder William Cargill. Called The Cliffs by its owner it was designed by the young architect Francis Petre. While designing the house, Petre fell in love with Cargill's daughter Margaret. After a difficult courtship (due to Petre's staunch Catholicism and the Cargill family's equally staunch Presbyterianism) the couple were eventually permitted to marry. It now lies in ruins and while plans have been made on several occasions to restore the building to its former glory, but none have yet borne fruit. There is no public access to the site and it cannot be accessed until stabilization of the site has been completed.

2. See

   Fletcher House

   This typical Edwardian villa was built in 1909 by Sir James Fletcher, founder of Fletcher Construction Company Ltd for Hubert Green and his wife. The double bay windowed villa with return verandah has views over Turnbull Bay. In December 1990 Fletcher Challenge decided to restore the Fletcher House and after restoration opened it to the public in 1992, making it the first villa in New Zealand to be opened for all to enjoy. It has been fully restored to its former glory and has been furnished in the style of the period by the Otago Settlers Museum.

   11AM-4PM for guided tours·10 adults, accompanied children free

3. See

   Fort Taiaroa

   This Armstrong disappearing gun at Fort Taiaroa was installed in May 1889 and was recommissioned during World War II. It is still in its original gun pit. Coastal fortifications were constructed in New Zealand in two main waves. The first wave occurred around 1885 and was a response to fears of an attack by Russia. The second wave occurred during World War II and was due to fears of invasion by the Japanese. The fortifications were built from British designs adapted to New Zealand conditions. The only public access to the fort is by a 30-minute guided tour.

   10:15AM to dusk·The Fort Taiaroa tour (adult $26, child $10, family $62) or the Unique Taiaroa Experience (adult $62, child $20, family $134) include the guns and the birds

4. See

   Larnach Castle

   Billed as "the only castle" in New Zealand, it's very pretty but it's actually a manor house. Lanarch Castle has a rich and interesting but rather unhappy history. It was built by wealthy businessman William Larnach and later cabinet minister in the New Zealand Government, holding various portfolios, over a period of 25 years. He took his own life in the New Zealand Parliament Buildings in 1898. After the home was sold by the family it became first a lunatic asylum, then a hospital for shell-shocked soldiers and a nuns' retreat. In 1967 it was purchased by new owners and restored.

   Castle Oct-Mar 8AM-6PM, to Apr-Sep 9AM-5PM. Garden Oct-Mar 9AM-7PM, to Apr-Sep 9AM-5PM·Castle, gardens & grounds adult $34, child (aged 5 - 14) $12, family (2 adults and up to 4 children) $80. Early bird special 8—9:30AM (Oct-Mar) adult $25.50, child (aged 5 - 14) $9, family $60. Gardens & grounds only adult $17, child $5. Guided tours $125

5. See

   Ocho Chocolate

   Ocho import their fermented and dried cacao beans from farmers in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Fiji. They then make the chocolate from scratch, roasting, grinding, conching and tempering the chocolate before molding it into bars. The beans are roasted and processed in small batches so some variations are possible from batch to batch. Unlike big industrial chocolate makers they use simple equipment and their processes are very hands-on because none of their equipment is automated. One hour guided tours are available of the factory during which visitors taste 15 different chocolates or compounds.

   Guided tours Mon-Sat at 11AM and 2PM·Guided tours cost $25 for adults, $15 for children and $70 for a family

6. See

   Olveston

   Olveston homestead provided the Theomin family with the perfect setting to entertain both professional and personal friends. Seven servants were employed to service the 35 rooms of the home and to manicure the acre of beautiful garden. The home is sited in the inner city and is within walking distance from the city centre.

   The gardens are open 9:30AM to 5PM. The house can only be entered on a 1-hour guided tour. These occur daily at 9:30AM, 10:45AM, noon, 1:30PM, 2:45PM and 4PM·Guided tour of the house adults $23, concessions $22, Dunedin residents $18, school age children $13, infants free. Entry to the garden is free

7. See

   Royal Albatross colony

   The only mainland albatross nesting site in the world. It is an hour's drive along the western coast of Otago Peninsula on a road that skirts the water for most of its length without any guardrail. In places, the city buses which frequent the road are wider than the lanes (the local traffic is used to this, and drives very carefully), so if you don't trust your driving reflexes, take a coach instead. Albatrosses may be seen during the summer months, as well as other wildlife at all times of the year. Guided tours of the colony and the old fortifications on and under the headland are conducted daily.

   10:15AM to dusk·The Albatross Classic tour (adult $52, child $15, family $115). The Unique Taiaroa Experience tour (adult $62, child $20, family $134)

8. See

   Speight's Brewery

   Children under 15 require adult supervision. The brewery has been a Dunedin landmark since its founding in 1876. The guided tour takes you through the Speight's brewery, sharing the heritage and culture of beer, from the Babylonians to today. The tour's finale is a 25-minute beer tasting. You must be 18 years or over to join in on the tasting, and you must wear flat closed shoes for the tour. There is a tap on the wall of the brewery which provides free water from the spring used by the brewery.

   Shop hours: Mon-Thu 9:30AM-7PM, Fri-Sun 9:30AM-5PM. Tours daily at noon, 2PM, 4PM (Oct-Mar also at 5PM, 6PM, 7PM). Closed Christmas Day, Good Fri, Easter Sat and Sun, and shortened hours on ANZAC day·Tour $45, tour with lunch $79

9. See

   The Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery

   This is a small private museum and gallery spread over three rooms of an old central city villa which is the home of Dunedin mural artist and sculptor, Bruce Mahalski. It houses biological curiosities, skulls, bones, ethnological art and unusual cultural artefacts. They include the bones of many different species of animal (including humans), 200 skulls, pinned butterfly collections, vintage books (especially medical texts), etc. The museum also contains a gallery where Mahalski exhibits his bone art and paintings for sale. Please be aware that the museum is part of a private house and entry is strictly at the discretion of the owner.

   Fri noon to 5PM, Sat 10AM to 5PM, Sun 10AM-5PM·Adult $10, children & students: $5, free for children under 6

10. See

    Tunnel beach

    Often called the most romantic spot in Dunedin. In the 1870s local politician John Cargill excavated a tunnel down to a secluded beach so that the extended Cargill families could bathe in privacy away from the prying eyes of St Clair. The beach is sheltered by fossil filled cliffs, with massive sandstone boulders, mysterious graffiti carved into the cliffs and a dangerous rip that sadly drowned Cargill's youngest daughter. The 72 concrete steps through the tunnel is dimly naturally lit, while the path down to the tunnel is steep and can be very slippery following wet weather. The best time to visit is at low tide. To get there by private vehicle proceed to the car park at the end of Tunnel Beach Road, which is signposted off Blackhead Road in the south of Dunedin. From the car park it is easy 20-minute walk via a track through private farm land to the tunnel and beach. The track is open year-round except during the spring lambing season. Otherwise take the No 33 bus in the direction of Corstorphine and get off at the corner of Middleton Road and Stenhope Crescent. It is approximately 30 minutes’ walk from there to the start of the track.

    Closed for lambing 1 Aug – 31 Oct

11. Do Not mapped

    Taieri Gorge Railway

    A sightseeing train trip travelling through spectacular scenery. It departs from the historic Dunedin Railway Station in central Dunedin and ends at the small village of Middlemarch. Departing daily it takes you on a journey through the rugged and spectacular Taieri River Gorge, across wrought iron viaducts and through tunnels carved by hand more than 100 years ago. Take your camera and lots of memory. The same company runs trips on the Christchurch line as far as Palmerston, about 2 hours away. These go about twice a week in the summer.

    Office Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM, Sat Sun 8:30AM- 3PM·Pukerangi $91-99, Middlemarch $113. Students get a 20% discount. One child (ages 3-17)per adult travel travels for free with additional children charged $28

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Dunedin (CC BY-SA 4.0).