Dunedin
The Edinburgh of the South
What's on
in Dunedin
DUNEDIN
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Hotels
and Accommodation in Dunedin
Dunedin
Tours
By
Richard Moore
Dunedin
is one of New Zealand's most beautiful cities with magnificent old
buildings that boast of its rich past.
The
Victorian stonework is exceptional and gives Dunedin a feeling of
belonging to old Europe. This is due to the wealth created in the
new colony by the discovery of gold in the Otago region that sparked
one of the world's greatest gold rushes.
The
city's heritage is Scottish and there is a prominent statue to the
great Scots poet Robbie Burns in its centre.
But
Dunedin is a modern city too with plenty of cafes and restaurants
within its centre city area known as the Octagon and its main street,
George Street, is heaven for shoppers wanting the latest designer
brands.
It
has a population of some 110,000 people that is boosted by more
than 20,000 students attending Otago University, New Zealand's first
university.
Attractions
within Dunedin include the superb Otago Museum, the Otago Settlers
Museum and the Willy Wonka-esque Cadbury chocolate factory that
produces almost 90% of New Zealand's supply of that treat. Also
take a look at the Dunedin Botanic Gardens, the Speights Brewery
and make an effort to get to Baldwin St - officially the world's
steepest street. It's about two kilometres north of the city centre
and has a gradient of 1:266.
A
must-see is the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, which mixes New Zealand
artists and their works, plus some superb pieces by Monet, Goldie
and Turner.
Outside
Dunedin on the Otago Peninsula one of the extraordinary things you
can visit is the world's only mainland colony of royal albatross.
The
giant birds arrive during September, find a mate and have their
eggs in October and November and there is an incubation period until
about January when the young chicks arrive. From March through to
September the young are pretty much only visited by their parents
for food drops.
Access
to the colony is via the Royal Albatross Centre ($25 for adults,
$12 for children and $65 for families) and it has some superb exhibits
on albatrosses and local wildlife.
Nearby
is Fort Taiaroa where military enthusiasts can see a special 150mm
Armstrong Disappearing Gun, artillery piece that was designed to
retract into a bunker. While at the fort there are some great tunnels
to check out by you or the children.
Also
on the Otago Peninsula is a private conservation area for the rare
yellow-eyed penguin and a seal colony.
New
Zealand's only castle, Larnach Castle, is midway between the albatrosses
and Dunedin and was built by a wealthy businessman for his French
wife at a modern day cost of around $25 million.
Train
buffs must use a spare day to see the Taieri Gorge Railway that
many rate as one of the great train journeys of the world.
The
Central Otago region is the hub of the goldfields and is dotted
with old works and small hgistoric towns.
There
is Alexandra, Clyde and the amazing Cromwell which had its old section
taken down and relocated when they had to be removed to increase
the size of the nearby Dunstan Dam.
As
you can see there are plenty of things to do and see in Dunedin,
the Edinburgh of the South.
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