Dunedin & Otago Archives

What’s so great about Kurow

Kurow there are plenty of things to do. Kurow, fascinating day trip destination 45 minutes from Oamaru is nestled ...

What’s so great about Palmerston

Palmerston there are plenty of things to do. Quiet unassuming, Palmerston has a rich history of human occupation. ...

What’s so great about Moeraki

Moeraki there are plenty of things to do. Moeraki is a small settlement with a world class selfie, photo hot spot. ...

17 Cheap Accommodation options in Dunedin

Dunedin is a great destination for travellers on a budget. With cheap accommodation options and stunning natural ...

Oamaru travel facts, Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs a theme park when visitors have Oamaru to pop onto their bucket list of New Zealand destinations. Uncover ...

Waitaki Valley wine trail in North Otago

Unearth and find boutique family owned wineries in one of New Zealand’s newest wine districts. Locate where award ...

Wildlife trail Oamaru, North Otago places to visit

Adorable, cute, waddling tiny penguins marching to their rhythm. Incredible wildlife viewing at the Oamaru Blue ...

Waitaki River, three dams, three lakes

Waitaki River is a braided river of 209 km flowing into the Pacific Ocean between Timaru and Oamaru. Waitaki River ...

Totara Estate, Heritage NZ place to visit

TOTARA ESTATE is where the New Zealand economy took off. Find out about NZ’s industrial heritage made fun with an ...

Maori Rock Art places to visit and what to do nearby

Pre-European Maori navigated the length of the Waitaki River and found shelter under the limestone cliffs at ...

Oamaru & Waitaki region family attractions, things to do with the kids

No trudging for hours promising the kids it’s going to be great. Oamaru’s Victorian precinct is compact, flat and ...

Oamaru Victorian precinct what to do, attractions

Intact Oamaru’s Victorian town precinct is a must-visit attraction for heritage fans with magnificent whitestone ...

Geological trails Oamaru and Waitaki Valley places to visit and where to go

GEOLOGICAL ODDITIES, State Highway 83 home to wineries, small villages tempts visitors to spend a day or more ...

Oamaru & Waitaki district heritage trails

Oamaru Victorian precinct is a trip highlight yet Oamaru & Waitaki district is a rich treasure trove of heritage ...

Central Otago attractions, things to do and places to go

Central Otago is a holiday destination away from the crowds of Queenstown. The wide open blue skies beckon the ...

Gold trails, heritage sites mining, story of Central Otago & West Coast prospectors

There’s gold in the’ hills … the lure of instant fortune. The rush was in full flood in 1861 with Gabriel’s Gully ...

Central Otago four cycling & walking trails attractions and things to do

Dedicated cyclists have must-go list with Central Otago cycle trails at the top of the bucket list. The cycle ...

A guide, where to go for fresh fruit and roadside stalls in Central Otago

Cherry red sweetness bursts onto the taste buds. The apricot with tangy sun ripened joy lingers on the palate. The ...

Roxburgh walks and things to do

Explore 19th century gold mining bridle paths to Butchers Point through Graveyard Gully, Clutha River gorge. Absorb ...

Roxburgh, 11 reasons to check out the place

Roxburg & Teviot Valley, People used to come here for the gold. Now they come for all the colours. The Teviot ...

Dunedin & Otago Peninsula where to go to view wildlife

Must-go hotspot for wildlife is the Otago Peninsula with several guided tour options to observe Royal Albatross, ...

Dunedin nightlife, lounge bars and where to grab a cocktail

For a small town Dunedin has a vibrant social life making it a great place to hang out and meet new people. Nothing ...

Royal Albatross Centre attractions & things to do

Royal Albatross gliding, seemingly floating above the Taiaroa Head are the world’s largest ocean birds. Royal ...

Baldwin street, steepest street in the world

Puff, huff and stagger up Baldwin St, Dunedin, the steepest street in the world. The ground rises a metre for every ...

Surf in cold water Bali, Dunedin where the waves reign

Tumultuous Southern Ocean roars its way into Dunedin’s surfing culture with swells from the south west to the north ...

Whareakeake beach (formerly known as Murdering Beach)

Dunedin Whareakeake beach historic Maori Pa sites, remote Otago Peninsula beach with a tragic past

Dunedin beaches things to do, attractions

Dunedin is surrounded by beaches, coastline and the Otago Harbour is the centreplace. Find a wetsuit and join the ...

Otago Peninsula top 11 things to do

Explore, experience and enjoy Otago Peninsula attractions. Relish the chance to get up front and personal with the ...

Dunedin historic prison things to do

Unlock stories of executions, illicit breweries and misdeeds that led to imprisonment in the former jail, Dunedin’s ...

What’s so great about Portobello

Portobello there are plenty of things to do. Portobello’s local pub is a chance to slow down after the winding ...

What’s so great about Aramoana

Aramoana there are plenty of things to do. Explore Aramoana, a stunning remote, largely holiday settlement on the ...

Dunedin romantic places, things to do for couples

Pack a beanie and a waterproof jacket and the best things in life are not always in sunshine. Dunedin has a ...

Dunedin gardens and parks attractions & things to do

Dunedin is a treasure for garden lovers, Dunedin Botanic Garden, Larnach Castle & Olveston Victorian & Edwardian ...

Lady Thorn Rhododendron Garden

Discover a quiet treat overlooking the busy Port Chalmers harbour. A converted quarry is now an outstanding garden ...

Lan Yuan Garden

Dunedin is home to a classic Chinese scholars garden, Lan Yuan. A fascinating glimpse into Asian garden fung shui ...

Tannock Glen Garden

Dunedin offers rhododendrons ideal growing conditions creating one of New Zealand’s glorious spring displays of ...

Glenfalloch Garden and Restaurant

Otago Peninsula Glenfalloch woodland garden is a beautiful example of how the harbour’s panoramic views have been ...

Dunedin attractions, things to do for free

The Best Bits are always free and Dunedin does not disappoint with walks, museums, galleries and gorgeous gardens ...

Dunedin, the odd, unusual, fascinating and weird things to do

Dunedin is a bucket list destination for the macabre, the odd skulls in mysterious museums and a piano longer than ...

Top 11 things to do in Dunedin & Otago Peninsula

Rejoice art and heritage buffs. Dunedin is home to an authentic castle complete with ghostly tales. Elaborate stone ...

Alexandra attractions and things to do

Alexandra visitor attractions range from outdoor adventures, absorbing the extraordinary beauty of the landscape of ...

Cycle your way through history and vineyards

For families where there are various degrees of fitness levels the Arrow River Bridges excursion is relaxing with ...

Southern Scenic Road Trip Guide Dunedin to Queenstown

What to do and see on the journey between Queenstown and Dunedin is covered in detail. The Southern Scenic Route ...

What’s so great about Milton

Milton there are plenty of things to do. In a small town, located on SH1 the elaborate art deco former post office ...

What’s so great about Lawrence

Lawrence there are plenty of things to do. The centre of the universe for gold mining fever in the mid-nineteenth ...

What’s so great about Balclutha

Balclutha there are plenty of things to do. The mighty Clutha River is the soul of the district with the well known ...

Aramoana Beach & Mole

Description: Aramoana Beach & saltmarsh walk. Isolated, pure white sand in contrast to dramatic imposing ...

St Kilda, St Clair beach

Brisk southern cool climate does not deter hardy surfers clad in wetsuits enjoying cold water Bali at St Clair or ...

Victory Beach and the pyramids what to see and do

The key highlight of Victory Beach are the basalt volcanic rock pyramids. The pyramids are named for their ...

Sandfly Bay attractions, wildlife viewing

Discover the large sand dunes of Sandfly Bay, Otago Peninsula and perhaps encounter the local inhabitants, sea ...

Dunedin Tunnel Beach Favourite Instagram spot

Low tide is the best time to visit as the high tide mark surges up to the cliff faces making access to the ...

Larnach Castle gardens

Description: Check out day trips around Otago Peninsula. Larnach Castle gardens are magnificent, especially the ...

Dunedin Botanic Garden

Dunedin Botanic Garden is New Zealand's first botanic garden and holds the status of six star Garden of ...

Olveston House

Explore a Dunedin heritage merchants home. “Opened as a historic house museum in 1967, Olveston is a time capsule ...

Dunedin & Otago Peninsula things to do

Dunedin is barely a blip on the Queenstown glitz and glamour of the New Zealand tourism poster. However Dunedin is ...

10 ideas for a slow trip through Cromwell

Cromwell’s historic district at the junction of the Kawarau and Clutha Rivers was swallowed by the lake in the late ...

11 family walks & birding hot spots of The Catlins

The Catlins is a superb location to introduce kids and urbanites to the wild. Wildlife, galore with plenty of ...

The Catlins guide, 10 waterfalls and caves

The Catlins are not on the tourist circuit. Waterfalls with easy family friendly tracks plus glorious displays of ...

Otago art and culture trail

Where to go to find an original fabulous art piece is the perpetual question facing culture lovers, art collectors ...

10 family walks to explore near Milton: best things to do

Milton is a town with a passionate local community which boasts some great independent shops ranging from a butcher ...

The Catlins travel guide: what to see and where to go

The Catlins are not on the tourist circuit. Wildlife adores the place with its access to rich feeding grounds in ...

Wanaka 7 glorious reasons to visit New Zealand’s lake district

Scenery, wild remote places where the only footprints are yours contrasted with the polished hospitality of a ...

6 Dunedin heritage places to visit with kids

Let’s get the kids yourself to places where there is something to engage young minds so that your holiday peace ...

Port Chalmers heritage trail, where to go and what to see

Dunedin’s port town offers visitors a wealth of quirky historical sites and places to visit. A mere 15 – 20 minutes ...

Lake Hawea 9 reasons for a lakeside holiday

From an exclusive fly fishing excursion complete with heli picnics in the remote wilderness to rock climbing or ...

Best short walks & picnic locations, Lake Hawea

Wanaka and Hawea are natural crossroads in the journey to the West Coast. The rivers offer bountiful fly fishing ...

What’s so great about Roxburgh

Roxburgh there are plenty of things to do. Roxburgh Dam car park has a short walk to the lower lookout or drive to ...

8 glorious monuments to visit in Dunedin

The choice of monuments and statues worth visiting in Dunedin is large. From contemporary public statements about ...

Dunedin street art: heritage buildings got a serious lick of new paint

It’s a brisk -10c in the sunshine (perhaps you better make sure you’ve a blunt umbrella in the backpack). It’s ...

Dunedin Heritage Walk 1

The best preserved Victorian / Edwardian cities in the Southern hemisphere Dunedin’s heritage trail is an easy ...

Dunedin day trip to Middlemarch

Scenery that inspires international acclaimed artists Extraordinary places where the bustle of the gold mining era ...

Dunedin an underrated heritage town, what to see and best things to do

Why go to Dunedin? Rather the question should be, ‘Don’t skip town without spending time exploring Dunedin’s ...

What’s so great about lake Hawea

Lake Hawea there are plenty of things to do. Flat land around the lake is at the southern end near its outflow to ...

Day trip to St Bathans

The stunning desolate high country of the gold mining towns of Naseby and St Bathans is a window into the past. The ...

What’s so great about Middlemarch

Middlemarch there are plenty of things to do. A town where welcomes are guaranteed. Visitors are appreciated for ...

What’s so great about Naseby

Naseby there are plenty of things to do. A snapshot of gold mining heritage complete with the Royal Hotel serving ...

Day trip Dunedin to Otago Peninsula heritage & culture

Wildlife is the top rated activity on the Otago Peninsula yet the intriguing lime kiln heritage site or an ...

Day trip Dunedin cycling from Port Chalmers to Aramoana spit

Port to Port ferry (Portobella wharf – Port Chalmers) 11 km bike ride in conjunction with Dunedin’s Bike rental in ...

Cromwell & Bannockburn 9 historical sites worth a slow wander

Ghost cottages, relics and abandoned machinery echoes of the gold rush days of the 1800’s make Cromwell a magical ...

What’s so great about Pukerangi

Pukerangi there are plenty of things to do. Take the side roads, slow down on the unsealed gravel road and absorb ...

What’s so great about Ranfurly

Ranfurly there are plenty of things to do. A pit stop leads into several hours exploring the byways of Ranfurly ...

What’s so great about St Bathans

St Bathans there are plenty of things to do. Gold mining, the ghost towns, the settlements where once thousands ...

What’s so great about Tuapeka

Tuapeka there are plenty of things to do. Punt across the river on the free ferry View the Tuapeka Mouth ...

Wanaka free things to do and see

Your holiday should not be about stressing about the cost of entertainment especially when families are involved. ...

What’s so great about Ophir

Ophir there are plenty of things to do. Ophir, Maniototo district Central Otago is a detour where the 19th century ...

What’s so great about Clyde

Clyde there are plenty of things to do. Explore the historic buildings, precinct and two museums. Linger in the ...

Cemeteries Central Otago: trip attractions, things to see

History buffs do not forget the treasure trove of information to be read on old gravestones. The reason for the ...

Wanaka culture is not forgotten and rainy days are sorted with lots of things to do

The rivers, the lakes and the snow is water in another form or other. Wanaka has lush sub-alpine and alpine scenery ...