Grandy and Adam's Guidebook for Dunedin
Favorite HIkes and Nature
Here are some of our favorite hikes and outdoor experiences here in town.
Mt Flagstaff is a very easy hike (~40-60 minute return) and offers a stunning panoramic view of Dunedin, the harbour, and even the airport. It a quick 10 minute drive from York Pl.
Grandy and I recently woke up before dawn to watch the sunrise here with a cup of tea. Very romantic!
Flagstaff-Whare Flat Road
Flagstaff-Whare Flat RoadMt Flagstaff is a very easy hike (~40-60 minute return) and offers a stunning panoramic view of Dunedin, the harbour, and even the airport. It a quick 10 minute drive from York Pl.
Grandy and I recently woke up before dawn to watch the sunrise here with a cup of tea. Very romantic!
Fancy a local snack? Cockles or clams as American's would call them are here in Blueskin bay by the bucket full. I've taken all my out of town visitors here. Go at or near low tide and you'll find millions of cockles here just under the sand. You can keep 50 per person! No license or registration required. Just go! You can cook them right there on the beach or bring them back to have with some cream, pasta, and white wine.
If you're interested in going, let me know and I can give you a more detailed description of where to go.
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Doctor's Point Reserve
231 Doctors Point RdFancy a local snack? Cockles or clams as American's would call them are here in Blueskin bay by the bucket full. I've taken all my out of town visitors here. Go at or near low tide and you'll find millions of cockles here just under the sand. You can keep 50 per person! No license or registration required. Just go! You can cook them right there on the beach or bring them back to have with some cream, pasta, and white wine.
If you're interested in going, let me know and I can give you a more detailed description of where to go.
Another great little hike just out of town. You'll take a pretty steep hike up for the first bit but then you'll be rewarded with a relatively flat rest of the hike to the Organ Pipes. The Organ Pipes get their name from the columnar basalt that forms them. Once you reach the Organ Pipes you can enjoy the view or scramble up a bit more on the rugged terrain for an even better vantage point. I would recommend some sturdy shoes if you elect for the scramble.
If you want to head to Mt Cargill you can reach it from here too.
The Organ Pipes
Another great little hike just out of town. You'll take a pretty steep hike up for the first bit but then you'll be rewarded with a relatively flat rest of the hike to the Organ Pipes. The Organ Pipes get their name from the columnar basalt that forms them. Once you reach the Organ Pipes you can enjoy the view or scramble up a bit more on the rugged terrain for an even better vantage point. I would recommend some sturdy shoes if you elect for the scramble.
If you want to head to Mt Cargill you can reach it from here too.
We never knew that Albatross could be so big. It's not guaranteed to see Albatross, but the drive out is so spectacular it's worth it either way.
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Royal Albatross Centre
1259 Harington Point RdWe never knew that Albatross could be so big. It's not guaranteed to see Albatross, but the drive out is so spectacular it's worth it either way.
Sightseeing
What a view. This a premier location to view the Otago Harbour. If you're feeling adventurous, there is an EXCELLENT side track off a gravel road east of here leading past a radio tower and then into THE BEST view the Harbour the city has to offer.
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Signal Hill Lookout
Signal Hill RoadWhat a view. This a premier location to view the Otago Harbour. If you're feeling adventurous, there is an EXCELLENT side track off a gravel road east of here leading past a radio tower and then into THE BEST view the Harbour the city has to offer.
When my mom traveled from the USA to visit me here in New Zealand, the first place we went was to the beach at Aramoana. It's a lovely, rustic, romantic beach. Often you'll see windsurfers there riding the waves. You'll be certain to find HEAPS of seashells. Keep your eyes open for oystercatchers, you can't miss their gorgeous neon-orange beaks.
There are a few great hikes nearby with various length and difficulty. A perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon.
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Aramoana
When my mom traveled from the USA to visit me here in New Zealand, the first place we went was to the beach at Aramoana. It's a lovely, rustic, romantic beach. Often you'll see windsurfers there riding the waves. You'll be certain to find HEAPS of seashells. Keep your eyes open for oystercatchers, you can't miss their gorgeous neon-orange beaks.
There are a few great hikes nearby with various length and difficulty. A perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon.
The Dunedin Railway Station is the MOST photographed building on the South Island, and it's well deserved. "Gingerbread George" has an gorgeous exterior of dark basalt and light Oamaru limestone. The interior features an intricate mosaic of Minton tiles.
You can book day rail trips here to sightsee the Taieri Gorge but our absolute favourite thing is to visit the Otago Farmer's Market (here every Saturday 8:30 - 12). You'll really feel like a local picking up some Blueskin Bay honey or central Otago stonefruit.
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Dunedin Railway Station
The Dunedin Railway Station is the MOST photographed building on the South Island, and it's well deserved. "Gingerbread George" has an gorgeous exterior of dark basalt and light Oamaru limestone. The interior features an intricate mosaic of Minton tiles.
You can book day rail trips here to sightsee the Taieri Gorge but our absolute favourite thing is to visit the Otago Farmer's Market (here every Saturday 8:30 - 12). You'll really feel like a local picking up some Blueskin Bay honey or central Otago stonefruit.
No trip Dunedin is complete without a visit to Tunnel Beach. Dunedin has a lot of great beaches and each of them has their own unique thing to offer. The great thing about Tunnel Beach is, like the name suggests, it has an actual tunnel. I almost missed the tunnel the first time I visited. You descend through the dark stairway carved into rock and arrive at the end to a small beach cathedral surrounded by walls of sandstone.
It's worth checking the tide before you go because the lower beach is only accessible at low tide. But honestly it's still great with out going to the lower beach.
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Tunnel Beach Walk
25 Tunnel Beach RdNo trip Dunedin is complete without a visit to Tunnel Beach. Dunedin has a lot of great beaches and each of them has their own unique thing to offer. The great thing about Tunnel Beach is, like the name suggests, it has an actual tunnel. I almost missed the tunnel the first time I visited. You descend through the dark stairway carved into rock and arrive at the end to a small beach cathedral surrounded by walls of sandstone.
It's worth checking the tide before you go because the lower beach is only accessible at low tide. But honestly it's still great with out going to the lower beach.
Need some more info and someone to talk to? the i-SITE is a great place to get more info.
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Dunedin i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Need some more info and someone to talk to? the i-SITE is a great place to get more info.
Food Scene
Zucchini Bros has nice selection of wood fired pizzas and craft beers and wines.
A wonderful romantic Japanese style restaurant with a great menu and wonderful atmosphere. The soft-shelled crab here are our favourite.
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Izakaya Yuki
29 Bath StA wonderful romantic Japanese style restaurant with a great menu and wonderful atmosphere. The soft-shelled crab here are our favourite.
Our ABSOLUTE favorite Chinese Restaurant in Dunedin. The owners here are delightful and will probably come by to say hello and have a chat with you. This place is very authentic and has a great selection for local wines. Do yourself a favor and call ahead (a day in advance) and order the crispy chicken, it's amazingly delicious!
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Manor Restaurant
2 Manor PlaceOur ABSOLUTE favorite Chinese Restaurant in Dunedin. The owners here are delightful and will probably come by to say hello and have a chat with you. This place is very authentic and has a great selection for local wines. Do yourself a favor and call ahead (a day in advance) and order the crispy chicken, it's amazingly delicious!
This gem of a coffee shop is tucked away just off of the octagon on Moray Pl. By day, this coffee is a great place to relax, have a strong long black and do a little bit of reading or work on your laptop to a tasty homemade sandwich. By night, The Dog With Two Tails serves tasty Emerson's beers and often has an eclectic selection of live music. A great place to live like a local.
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Dog With Two Tails Cafe & Bar
25 Moray PlThis gem of a coffee shop is tucked away just off of the octagon on Moray Pl. By day, this coffee is a great place to relax, have a strong long black and do a little bit of reading or work on your laptop to a tasty homemade sandwich. By night, The Dog With Two Tails serves tasty Emerson's beers and often has an eclectic selection of live music. A great place to live like a local.
Emerson's is know around New Zealand for producing top quality craft ales. As a bit of an Northwest-American beer snob myself, I'm continuously wowed by the creativity offered by Emerson's. The restaurant is top quality, with a fine selection of New Zealand favourites, and a great place to bring a group. Like most Dunedin restaurants, I'd recommend making a reservation.
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Emerson's Brewery
70 Anzac AveEmerson's is know around New Zealand for producing top quality craft ales. As a bit of an Northwest-American beer snob myself, I'm continuously wowed by the creativity offered by Emerson's. The restaurant is top quality, with a fine selection of New Zealand favourites, and a great place to bring a group. Like most Dunedin restaurants, I'd recommend making a reservation.
This is a fantastic little upstairs Korean restaurant. If you're looking for authentic Korean, I recommend this place. The Bibimbap is my personal favourite.
Korea House Restaurant
450 George StThis is a fantastic little upstairs Korean restaurant. If you're looking for authentic Korean, I recommend this place. The Bibimbap is my personal favourite.
Thai Hanoi is a nice little Thai restaurant right in the Octagon. It's got a pretty chill vibe and can serve up some reasonably spicy dishes (if that's your thing).
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Thai Hanoi
24 Moray PlThai Hanoi is a nice little Thai restaurant right in the Octagon. It's got a pretty chill vibe and can serve up some reasonably spicy dishes (if that's your thing).
This lunch counter serves the best Mexican food in Dunedin. If you're craving some southern and Texas-influenced Mexican dishes, this is the place to go. If you have a North American accent the owner will probably poke his head out of the kitchen to have a quick chat with you.
Johnnie's Southern Kitchen
167 Rattray StThis lunch counter serves the best Mexican food in Dunedin. If you're craving some southern and Texas-influenced Mexican dishes, this is the place to go. If you have a North American accent the owner will probably poke his head out of the kitchen to have a quick chat with you.
Zucchini Bros
286 Princes StEntertainment & Activities
This is such a fun escape room. Grandy and I went with some friends and to escape from the prison. I won't spoil the surprises but it straight out of a 60's spy movie. Being in the prison adds so much the aura. I play a lot of escape games on my computer and I found this one quite challenging.
Escape Dunedin at Dunedin Prison
2 Castle StThis is such a fun escape room. Grandy and I went with some friends and to escape from the prison. I won't spoil the surprises but it straight out of a 60's spy movie. Being in the prison adds so much the aura. I play a lot of escape games on my computer and I found this one quite challenging.
Essentials
If you're in need a grocery store to buy most your items, countdown is a good choice that's nearby. Beer and wine can both be purchased here with ID (18+).
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Countdown Dunedin Central
309 Cumberland StIf you're in need a grocery store to buy most your items, countdown is a good choice that's nearby. Beer and wine can both be purchased here with ID (18+).
The Dunedin Hospital is the place for all your emergency needs.
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Dunedin Public Hospital station
The Dunedin Hospital is the place for all your emergency needs.
If you have an urgent, non-emergency medical matter, this is the place to go.
Dunedin Urgent Doctors & Accident Centre
18 Filleul StIf you have an urgent, non-emergency medical matter, this is the place to go.
A nice library with free WiFi is a favorite place for traveled to recoup while downtown.
Dunedin City Library
230 Moray PlA nice library with free WiFi is a favorite place for traveled to recoup while downtown.
Arts & Culture
Toitu offers a look back at the history of the Otago region. You'll find information of original Maori, the Otago gold rush and the progression of Otago and Dunedin. We both really love the recreation of the steerage quarters aboard an immigrant sailing ship bound for Otago.
The Otago Museum is a GREAT museum. I could easily spend 4 hours here and not see everything I wanted to see. The Polynesian exhibits are great, you can learn a ton about local biology and geology, oh and did I mention there is an actually Egyptian mummy? Yeah!
Wanna gross yourself out? Head all the way upstairs to the animal attic. I'll leave the surprise for you.
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Otago
The Otago Museum is a GREAT museum. I could easily spend 4 hours here and not see everything I wanted to see. The Polynesian exhibits are great, you can learn a ton about local biology and geology, oh and did I mention there is an actually Egyptian mummy? Yeah!
Wanna gross yourself out? Head all the way upstairs to the animal attic. I'll leave the surprise for you.
This art gallery has a little bit of everything, modern and classic, static and interactive, big and small. I can't think of a better place in Dunedin to spend a rainy afternoon. It's deceptively big so give yourself lots of time to explore.
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The Dunedin Art Gallery
127 Stuart StThis art gallery has a little bit of everything, modern and classic, static and interactive, big and small. I can't think of a better place in Dunedin to spend a rainy afternoon. It's deceptively big so give yourself lots of time to explore.
Toitu Otago Settlers Museum
31 Queens GardensDrinks & Nightlife
Fancy a good pint or a strong whiskey on a cold, damp night? Albar might be for you. Even though Albar is in the Octagon, it's about as far from an Octagon bar as possible. This is the kind of place to have a late-night discussions with friends and strangers.
Live music on occasion. And a selection of hand-pumped beers.
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Albar
135 Stuart StFancy a good pint or a strong whiskey on a cold, damp night? Albar might be for you. Even though Albar is in the Octagon, it's about as far from an Octagon bar as possible. This is the kind of place to have a late-night discussions with friends and strangers.
Live music on occasion. And a selection of hand-pumped beers.
This quirky little bar packs a huge punch with its gin collection. It's a favorite little place to enjoy a cocktail or two with locals.
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Zanzibar
311 George StThis quirky little bar packs a huge punch with its gin collection. It's a favorite little place to enjoy a cocktail or two with locals.