Museums and galleries in Dunedin

Museums and galleries in Dunedin

1. See

   Blue Oyster Art Project Space

   Playfully named after the Blue Oyster gay biker bar featured in the 1984 comedy film Police Academy, this not for profit gallery run by the Blue Oyster Arts Trust began its life in 1999 and since then has been supporting experimental and innovative art practices.

   See the website·All exhibitions and events are free to attend

2. See

   Dunedin Public Art Gallery

   This gallery displays both local and international work in a modern building. Established in 1884, the Gallery was New Zealand’s first Art Gallery and is renowned today for the richness of its historic collection. Historical works by renowned artists such as Turner, Gainsborough, Claude, and Machiavelli feature alongside the only Monet in a New Zealand collection and master works by Derain, Tissot, Burne-Jones and internationally acclaimed Dunedin artist Frances Hodgkins.

   Daily 10AM–5PM except 25 Dec·Free

3. 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

4. See

   Gasworks Museum

   This old coal gasworks operated from 1863 until 1987. At its peak in the 1970s coal gas was provided to over 18,000 customers in the city. Much of the facility was pulled down during the 1980s, though many of the Edwardian buildings of the complex were saved by a trust and it is one of only a handful of preserved gasworks museums in the world. The main part of the museum is housed in the engine house. Other buildings which are included in the museum include the boiler room, boiler house, chimney stack, fitting shop, and blacksmith's shop. The museum includes five stationary steam engines, some of which are in working full order. There are also displays of domestic and industrial gas appliances.

   every Sun of the month from noon until 4PM

5. Drink

   Nova

   Nova in the Octagon next to the art gallery has won best cafe in Dunedin for a number of years.

6. 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

7. See

   The Octagon

   In the city centre, it has an octagonal shape instead of the standard square and features a statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns. This statue was unveiled in 1887 and has been restored. It was cast by sculptor Sir John Steell of Edinburgh, Scotland, who made four other, nearly identical, statues, one of which stands in Central Park, New York. Several significant buildings are adjacent to the Octagon, including the Public Art Gallery, St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, the Town Hall and the Regent Theatre.

8. See

   Toitū Otago Settlers Museum

   First opened in 1908, this museum refurbished in 2013 is housed in the stunning, original Edwardian galleries and Dunedin's former art deco New Zealand Railways Road Services bus station next to the railway station. It focuses on the people and history of the region. The museum is a short walk from the Octagon and is between the Chinese Garden and the historic Railway Station, in the cultural heritage precinct. Wi-Fi is free throughout the museum and a free bag and coat check is available in the Josephine Foyer. A cafe is available in the entrance foyer.

   Daily except 25 Dec; Oct-Mar 10AM–5PM; Apr-Sep 10AM–4PM, open Thu until 8PM·Free

9. See

   Tūhura Otago Museum

   Was founded in 1868 and has a collection of over two million artefacts and specimens from the fields of natural history and ethnography. There is also a (paid entry) "Discovery World Tropical Forest". This features a variety of flora and fauna from around the globe, as well as many species of butterfly from Asia and South America. There are around 1,000 butterflies flying at any one time, and the Forest also has tarantulas, birds, fish, turtles and geckos.

   Daily 10AM-5PM·Free but donations welcomed. Charges for special exhibitions

10. Buy

    University Book Shop

    Across the road from the Otago Museum, this bookshop offers just about anything you’re likely to want to read with numerous Māori, Pacific and NZ titles in stock.

    Mon-Fri 9AM-5:30PM, Sat and Sun 10AM-4PM

11. See Not mapped

    Art Station

    Showcases work by members of the Otago Art Society, with changing temporary exhibitions in the main gallery and works for sale in the shop. Pieces donated by members over the course of the society's 140 years of existence are proudly displayed in the corridor connecting the two.

    10AM-4PM

12. See Not mapped

    New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame

    The New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1990 as part of the celebrations to mark New Zealand's 150 years of organized settlement. Generally, sports people need to have been retired for five years from active international competition to be eligible for induction. This small museum full of sporting memorabilia has been in Dunedin since 1999.

    Daily 10AM-4PM, closed Good Fri and Christmas Day·adult $6, concession $4, child $2

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