Parks and the outdoors in Dunedin

Parks and the outdoors in Dunedin

1. See

   Baldwin Street

   Located in Dunedin's North East Valley suburb, it is recognised as the world's steepest street according to Guinness World Records with a centreline gradient of 34.8%. Take the ten-minute walk to the top to enjoy the view looking down! There is a drinking fountain at the top. Some people have tried, and a few have succeeded, cycling all the way up Baldwin Street – try it if you're a keen cyclist. That said, you will need to be careful coming back down – chances are the cycle's brakes will do little to slow a descent at such an incline! Only resident's cars are allowed to drive up the street.

2. See

   Dunedin Botanic Garden

   Occupying 30.4 hectares (75 acres) in the north end of the city; an excellent place to stroll for several hours. Has an aviary along with many themed garden areas such as Rhododendron, Azalea and Rose Gardens.

   Dawn to dusk every day of the year, except as follows: Information Centre and Shop 10AM-4PM, closed - Christmas Day and Good Friday. Winter Garden Glasshouse 10AM-4PM. Alpine House 9AM-4PM·Admission is free to all areas of the garden

3. See

   Dunedin Chinese Garden

   A piece of serenity in the city. Constructed in Shanghai then dismantled and reassembled in Dunedin, the Chinese Garden is an example of a late Ming, early Qing Dynasty scholar's garden, the only traditional Chinese garden in the Southern Hemisphere. Try some amazing dumplings and Chinese tea.

   Daily 10AM-5PM, closed Christmas Day·Adult $11, child under 13 free

4. See

   Glenfalloch Woodland Garden

   Glenfalloch, Gaelic for ‘hidden valley’ enjoys a microclimate that extends the seasons and nurtures growth. There are walking tracks meandering throughout 30 acres of lush, well-tended woodland gardens, filled with flowers and swaying mature trees, including a 1000-year-old matai that you can enjoy at your own pace or you can also take a guided tour. Glenfalloch has been classified as a Garden of National Significance. There's also a good restaurant on site.

   Daily 9AM-4PM·$3 adult, $1 child

5. 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

6. Do

   Moana Pool

   This is a public pool with water slide and spa, 5 minutes walk up Stuart Street from the Octagon.

   Mon-Fri 6AM-10PM, Sat Sun 7AM-7PM

7. Eat

   New World Supermarket

   Large supermarket. New World also have a near the Botanic Gardens at 6 North Road which closes at 9PM.

   daily 7:30AM-10PM

8. 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

9. Do

   St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool

   This heated outdoor pool sits on the western headland of St Clair Beach. The water is heated to 28°C and contains a mixture of salt and chlorinated water.

   1 Oct-31 Mar: Mon-Fri 6AM-7PM, Sat Sun 7AM-7PM·adult $6.70, child $3

10. 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.

11. See

    The Organ Pipes

    Small columnar rock formation set in a hillside with splendid views. Pleasant hike up a steep bush track from a car park about 5 km out of town along North Road. The track continues up from the Organ Pipes to the peak of Mount Cargill 676 m which gives panoramic views across the city, Otago Harbour and Peninsula, and the surrounding countryside.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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).