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    Dunedin

    New Zealand

    Dunedin

    CityCulture

    Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island and a university city with Scottish roots.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. New Zealand
    7. Otago
    9. Dunedin
    Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island and a university city with Scottish roots. Victorian buildings, the 1906 railway station, and the Otago Peninsula with albatrosses and penguins right on the city's doorstep make it a unique destination on the east coast.

    Sights in Dunedin

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Toitū Otago Settlers Museum

    1Toitū Otago Settlers Museum

    The City Museum next to the station tells the history of Otago, from the Māori and Scottish settlers to the present day. Admission is free; its portrait gallery of early settlers and old vehicles are among the most renowned exhibits.
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    Signal Hill Lookout

    2Signal Hill Lookout

    The viewpoint northeast of the centre offers a wide view over the city, harbour, and Otago Peninsula. A monument commemorates the province's centenary. You can reach it by car in about ten minutes.
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    Olveston Historic Home

    3Olveston Historic Home

    The townhouse of a wealthy merchant family from the early 20th century is preserved with original furniture, art, and household items. Guided tours only; reservations are recommended.
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    Speight's Brewery

    4Speight's Brewery

    The brewery on Rattray Street has been brewing since 1876. Guided tours explore the historic brewery, ending with a tasting. Outside, locals draw free spring water.
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    Dunedin Railway Station

    5Dunedin Railway Station

    The 1906 station, with its basalt and limestone facade and mosaic floor in the ticket hall, is Dunedin's most famous building. From here, Dunedin Railways' excursion trains depart, and the Otago Art Society exhibits upstairs.
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    Baldwin Street

    6Baldwin Street

    The residential street in North East Valley is the world's steepest, according to Guinness, with an incline of up to 35 percent. The walk up takes about ten minutes.
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    City walks in Dunedin

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Dunedin on Foot: From Victorian Splendour to Lively Street Art

    Explore Dunedin, New Zealand's charming Scottish city, on this two-hour walk. We discover impressive Victorian architecture, dive into the pulsating life of the Octagon and admire colourful street art before visiting the picturesque university campus. A perfect mix of history, culture and urban flair!

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (6)

    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Impression Restaurant

    Chinese restaurant south of the center featuring dishes from various Chinese regions.
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    2

    Etrusco at the Savoy

    Italian restaurant with pizza and pasta in the historic Savoy building near the Octagon.
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    3

    The Perc Cafe

    Café on Stuart Street for breakfast and lunch, just a few steps from the Octagon.
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    4

    Governor's Cafe

    Café on North George Street near the University with breakfast, pastries, and coffee.
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    5

    Dunedin Noodle House

    Simple noodle restaurant in Hanover Street with Asian noodle and rice dishes, fast and affordable.
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    6

    The Good Oil Cafe

    Cafe on George Street with coffee, brunch, and cake, a meeting point for students and locals.
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    7

    The Speight's Ale House Dunedin

    Gastropub next to Speight's Brewery, with draught beer and hearty dishes like lamb, steak, and fish and chips.
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    8

    The Flying Squid

    Fish and chips shop in the university district with freshly fried fish, also for takeaway.
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    9

    The Black Dog Kitchen & Bar

    Restaurant and bar on Princes Street with modern New Zealand cuisine, open for lunch and dinner.
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    Food and Drink in Dunedin

    The student city has many affordable eateries and a vibrant café culture, plus fresh fish from the harbor.

    Coffee and Brunch

    Around George Street and in the Warehouse Precinct, you'll find many independent cafés, many roasting their own beans.

    Beer from Dunedin

    Besides Speight's, the city has several small breweries whose beers are poured in pubs on the Octagon.

    Otago Farmers Market

    Every Saturday morning, producers sell regional fruit, vegetables, cheese, baked goods, and street food at the station.

    Culture and History

    Dunedin was founded in 1848 as a settlement of the Free Church of Scotland; its name is the Gaelic form of Edinburgh. With the Otago gold rush starting in 1861, the city became the wealthiest in the country for several decades, evidenced by Victorian and Edwardian buildings like the 1906 railway station in Flemish Renaissance style.University CityFounded in 1869, the University of Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and, with thousands of students, shapes city life. For the Kāi Tahu, the area around Otago Harbour had been a settlement for centuries; the Toitū Museum showcases the history of Māori and settlers.

    Nightlife

    Dunedin's nightlife primarily centers around The Octagon, offering a mix of student hangouts and more upscale bars. Here you'll find casual pubs like The Duke of Wellington as well as specialized cocktail bars like Pequeño Mixology. The atmosphere is generally relaxed and sociable.
    1

    The Duke of Wellington

    Traditional pub by Queens Gardens with a great selection of draught beers.
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    2

    Bowey's Pool Lounge & Bar

    Billiards and cocktail bar on Crawford Street with a relaxed atmosphere.
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    3

    Pequeño Mixology

    Cosy cocktail bar on Princes Street, a short walk from the Octagon.
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    4

    Bacchus Wine Bar & Restaurant

    First-floor wine bar at the Octagon overlooking the square, with many open New Zealand wines and small dishes.
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    5

    The Poolhouse Cafe & Bar

    Billiards lounge and bar on Filleul Street with several tables, drinks, and snacks.
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    6

    XYZ Bar Dunedin

    Bar on Princes Street with karaoke, also a café during the day.
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    7

    Luna Bar and Restaurant

    Bar and restaurant in the Roslyn district on the hill above the city, with views over Dunedin and the harbour.
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    8

    The Baaa Sports Bar & Grill

    Sports bar with grill north of the university, with live broadcasts on large screens.
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    9

    Residency Octagon

    Bar and nightclub directly on the Octagon, open until late on weekends.
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    10

    Vault 21

    Bar with kitchen at the Octagon, evenings with cocktails and music.
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    Out and About in Dunedin

    Explore the Octagon and George Street area on foot. Orbus buses connect the city centre, St Clair, and suburbs, with Bee Card payments being cheapest. A bus service goes to Portobello on the Otago Peninsula; the Albatross Centre requires a car or tour.The airport is roughly 30 kilometres southwest; shuttles and taxis take about 30 minutes to the centreIntercity buses stop downtown, with connections to Christchurch, Queenstown, and Te AnauBe prepared for inclines; some streets are very steep

    Accommodations in Dunedin

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    Plan your trip to Dunedin

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      Trip to Dunedin

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      • 1Toitū Otago Settlers Museum3 days
      • 2Signal Hill Lookout4 days
      • 3Olveston Historic Home5 days
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    Nearby

    Otago

    Otago

    Otago stretches from the Pacific coast near Dunedin to the lakes and peaks of the Southern Alps around Queenstown and Wanaka. In between lie the dry, golden highlands of Central Otago with its vineyards and the wild coast of the Catlins.
    Otago Peninsula

    Otago Peninsula

    The Otago Peninsula extends about 20 km northeast from Dunedin's outskirts. A compact area here is home to Royal Albatrosses, Yellow-eyed and Little Penguins, sea lions, and fur seals, along with Larnach Castle and secluded Pacific beaches.
    The Catlins

    The Catlins

    The Catlins are a sparsely populated coastal region in the southeast of the South Island between Invercargill and Balclutha. The Southern Scenic Route passes by waterfalls like the Purakaunui Falls, the rugged coastline of Nugget Point, and the petrified forest of Curio Bay, where Yellow-eyed penguins and Hector's dolphins live.
    Central Otago

    Central Otago

    Central Otago is the dry highland in the South Island's interior, between Cromwell, Alexandra, and Clyde. Rugged schist hills, orchards, and vineyards shape the landscape, with gold rush traces dotting almost every valley.
    Arrowtown

    Arrowtown

    Founded in 1862 during the gold rush on the Arrow River, Arrowtown has largely preserved its main street with wooden and stone houses from that era. The restored Chinese Settlement commemorates the Chinese gold miners, and in autumn, the valley's deciduous trees turn a brilliant yellow. Queenstown is located about 20 kilometers away.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI