Dunedin is one of our favourite cities in New Zealand, it took us four trips to finally visit, but it definitely won’t take as many for us to return.
It may be primarily known for having the steepest street in the world, but Dunedin has so much more to offer than that, including: phenomenal beaches which are never crowded, incredible wildlife, waterfalls, world class museums, New Zealand’s only castle and a truly fantastic cafe scene. Even driving between activities is a pleasure due to the spectacular scenery.
It doesn’t seem to have the same international appeal that other South Island destinations have, but all I can say is that they are missing out!
Here are 21 fun things to do in Dunedin to help you plan the perfect trip.
Fun things to do in Dunedin
Here are 21 fun things to do in Dunedin:
1. Meet the rarest sea lions in the world
Whilst Dunedin’s spectacular beaches might be blissfully free of human crowds, they certainly aren’t empty of other residents!
The short 800m walk (each way) down to the spectacular Sandfly Bay offers the chance to observe the rarest sea lions in the world - the Hooker’s sea lion - right on the beach.
Sandfly Bay is stunning and even without the sea lions would be a must visit, but when you add in this wildlife spectacle, it becomes one of the best things to do in Dunedin. We happened to luck out with a particularly raucous gathering which was just incredible to witness.
Just remember to always stay 20m away as they can move quickly! The walk to the beach is easy, but it’s all uphill on the way back and on soft sand which slows you down a bit.
2. Delight in the unexpected at the Museum of Natural Mystery
As soon as I saw the name of this museum I knew I had to go! Bruce Mahalski dreamed of one day working in a museum and now he has his own!
The Museum of Natural Mystery is unlike any museum we’ve ever visited. Tucked away on a suburban street in a private home it houses an eclectic collection of unique items from all over the world.
The items are reflective of Bruce’s interest in unique animals, cultures and items from historic events, which means there’s always something vying for your attention. It’s the sort of place you could walk through a dozen times and still find something you missed.
Expect to find a huge array of skeletons, ethnological art, sculptures and a random assortment of things that need to be seen to be believed.
I was particularly surprised to see items like the deck of cards used to identify Iraqi officials from the second Gulf War and smashed cameras from the January 6th riots in the US Capitol!
3. Marvel at Dunedin’s very own glow worm colony
That’s right, you can visit a spectacular glow worm galaxy just outside Dunedin city centre! Viewing glow worms in the bush as opposed to caves can be a bit hit and miss, but happily in Dunedin it’s a major hit.
The glow worms are in huge numbers and completely surround you, giving the feeling of standing in a glow worm amphitheatre.
It’s a truly magical experience to stand and watch all the little twinkling blue lights. The longer you stand, the more you’ll see - although you can see hundreds immediately - just make sure you turn your torch off and let your eyes adjust.
The walk to reach the glow worms takes just five minutes along a well maintained gravel path. You can read all the details on the Nichols Creek Waterfall and glow worm colony in this post.
Remember to protect the glow worms by never shining your torch on them.
4. Step back in time at the excellent Toitu Otago Settlers Museum
I’ll fully admit that I didn’t think a settlers museum sounded that interesting, but I decided to check it out anyway. I’m so glad I did because it turned out to be one of my favourite museums in New Zealand!
The museum tells the stories of Dunedin’s early settlers from Maoris to Europeans, and the key thing is that it’s stories. It’s not one of those museums that overwhelms you with dry facts, but instead captures the imagination with tales and bite size chunks of information that leave you feeling informed but also entertained.
I especially loved the recreation of one of the early ships that brought Europeans over to NZ, you walk into the dimly lit ship, which is decked out just as it would have been - even down to the sound effects of rolling waves and creaking floorboards.
The museum is free of charge but donations are welcome.
5. Catch a sunrise at St Clair Beach
We were lucky enough to witness the best sunrise of our whole trip at St Clair Beach.
It’s an incredible place to watch the sun come up and as you can drive right up to the beach you don’t need to get out of bed overly early!
There are a couple of reasons why St Clair Beach is a wonderful sunrise spot, the first is those forlorn wooden poles which jut out of the sand and create such atmospheric photos.
Although their numbers are dwindling, the few that are left are still well worth seeing if you love photography. Low tide is the time to visit, or there can actually be very little sand remaining on the beach!
The second special thing about St Clair Beach is the way that the water creates perfect reflections in the sand, so you feel like you’re almost walking on the clouds. It really is the best way to start another big day exploring.
6. Visit New Zealand’s only castle
Built in 1871, New Zealand’s only castle offers a fascinating insight into two families’ history. The first is the Larnachs: the original owners of the castle, who despite being very wealthy had more than their share of misfortune. The second is the the current owners: the Barker Family.
Although the early history was really interesting, I loved hearing about how the Barkers decided to purchase and restore the crumbling castle after happening upon it on their honeymoon.
The building has been lovingly restored, though a few rooms are still a work in progress. You can explore the castle which retains much of the original furniture, following efforts made to locate items and bring them back to their original home.
It’s a really welcoming place, where even rooms undergoing restoration are still open to the public, and rather than having things roped off, you are reminded not to sit on fragile furniture by pine cones set on the chairs!
If you generally enjoy lots of information about individual items in the rooms, then I’d recommend taking a guided tour as there wasn’t much in the way of detailed info room by room.
As well as the castle, there are also beautiful grounds to wander and some truly spectacular views, which can also be seen from the tower at the top of the castle.
7. Explore the picturesque Doctors Point sea caves
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches in Dunedin, but Doctors Point is definitely a stand out.
Not only is the huge beach perfect for a leisurely stroll, but you’ll also find some fantastic easy to access sea caves.
The caves are just a five minute walk (turning right from the car park) and you’re able to walk right through the two giant archways, which make for great photo ops. The caves are best visited at low tide when walking through is a breeze.
The great thing about the caves is that they are pretty quiet, you’ll likely spot the odd dog walker, but we were the only ones exploring the caves, despite visiting on a weekend.
8. Enjoy a tasting at the home of South Island brewing
Speight’s brewery is a South Island institution and has been brewing in Dunedin since 1876.
You can visit the brewery on a guided tour - which finishes with a tasting - or simply head into the ale house if you’re more keen on the tasting than the making.
The ale house offers a huge array of beers on tap, and you can buy by the glass, or by the paddle. A paddle of 6 is $18 or you can go all in and try 8 for $22.
There’s a good atmosphere inside and also a variety of food options.
9. Observe the world's only mainland Royal albatross colony
When David Attenborough describes an area as a ‘unique and special place’ then you know you have to visit!
Taiaroa Head is home to the penguin experience that we mention later in this post, as well as the world’s only mainland Royal albatross colony, which you can visit as part of a guided tour.
You will be taken on a short (couple of minutes) uphill walk to a large observatory that looks directly over the headland where the albatrosses nest. How many you will see varies according to time of year. I visited in July and saw six chicks who were pretty adorable.
I didn’t see any adults come in to feed the chicks, but the earlier tours had. The absolute best time for viewing adults feeding chicks is in May and June, when they are younger and require more regular feeding.
Between mid September and mid November, 20% of tours will not see albatross, so it’s worth bearing that in mind if visiting at that time. The tour fee goes towards conservation of the albatross though, so you could always look at it as a charitable donation if you don’t get lucky.
You can also take an extended tour and visit Fort Taiaroa which takes the tour time from the standard 60 minutes to 90 minutes. If visiting during school holidays you can also take a shorter 30 minute tour.
10. Walk the tunnel to Dunedin’s most famous beach
The short 1.6km return walk to Tunnel Beach is definitely steep, but it’s well worth puffing up the hill for.
You’ll have gorgeous ocean views almost the entire way and also pass by a very picturesque sea arch as you make your way towards the beach. The highlight for most is passing through the unusual tunnel which was hewn into the cliffs in the 1870’s.
You’ll pop out the tunnel onto a rocky beach, which at low tide extends to a long sandy beach. Make sure you visit during a very low tide for access to the beach.
We went an hour before low tide and couldn’t see any sand at all!
11. Feed your curiosity at the Tūhura Science Centre
The science centre is a whole lot of fun for adults and kids alike. Absolutely everything is interactive and you’ll find yourself stopping to try out all the different exhibits and then wondering where the morning went!
There’s a three-storey indoor slide (and yes adults are encouraged to use it too!), a bike-riding skeleton and even a light show spectacle reminiscent of the one at Steampunk HQ in Oamaru.
As well as all that, there’s an indoor rainforest, known as the hottest place in Dunedin! When you step into the humid air surrounded by tropical plants, butterflies and an indoor waterfall, you can close your eyes and really feel like you’ve been transported to another world.
The Tūhura Science Centre is located inside the Otago Museum; if you plan on having a good look around both, then allow half a day. The science centre is ticketed and at time of writing is $15 for adults and $10 for children.
12. Have a paddle in the inner city waterfall
Not many cities boast a waterfall as pretty as Ross Creek Falls just a stone’s throw from the CBD. The pretty waterfall cascades into a small pool, which is the perfect place to have a paddle on a warm day - it’s way too shallow for an actual swim though.
The waterfall is reached via a short 540m return walk through a lovely stretch of forest. It’s a well maintained path, which is predominantly downhill on the way and then you’ll have a brief climb on the way back up.
A few minutes beyond the waterfall we noticed a gorgeous looking jungle pool which looked great for a swim, but as our visit was in winter we didn’t dare - note the access was down a slippery trail, unlike the main path to the falls.
There’s no official car park for Ross Creek Waterfall, but you can find a spot on Burma Road.
13. Scale the organ pipes
It’s clear from the photos that we did not pick the best day to scale the organ pipes, but if you choose more wisely than us you will be in for a treat. Whilst the walk to the top of the pipes is short at just 1km each way, it is a fairly constant uphill grind.
The trail starts through forest before you arrive at the crumbling rock formations known as the organ pipes.
From here you will be scaling the rocks (watch out in wet weather as they get very slippery) until you reach the last few remaining upright pillars and a great view out over miles and miles of rolling hills (or plenty of white cloud if you’re us!).
If you want to extend the walk you can continue to the summit of Mount Cargill.
14. Check out the steepest street in the world
On my very first visit to New Zealand this was the only fact I knew about Dunedin! Whilst I don’t think it’s by any means a major drawcard, it is still worth popping over to take a look. Baldwin Street climbs 70m in elevation over just 300m and you can either take it on by foot, or in your car.
We’d recommend on foot because a car feels like cheating and also because every car we saw attempting it really struggled - the smell of burning rubber was real!
There’s a pavement you can walk up on and then a bench seat and a water fountain at the top. Watch out for the descent which felt even steeper than the way up!
15. Take a stroll along the spectacular Long Beach
Long Beach is the perfect place to go for a leisurely stroll. The sand is compact so walking is easy and it’s a breathtaking stretch of wild coastline.
The cliffs give is a dramatic feel and the water is relatively calm if you also fancy going for a dip.
From the car park you can head left along the sand for 1.3km until you come to a large cave at the end.
There’s not a whole lot to see in the cave during the day time, but after seeing hundreds of tiny prints we discovered it’s home to a colony of little blue penguins (please don’t take dogs to this end of the beach).
If you want to try and see the penguins, it’s best to visit around dusk and stay quiet and out of sight. It’s definitely on our list of things to do on our next Dunedin trip!
16. Explore the fascinating Otago Museum
Dunedin does museums so well and the Otago Museum is one of the best. It’s absolutely ginormous and in a few hours here we only really scratched the surface.
There are great exhibits on Maori and Pacific Islands artefacts, including some beautiful carvings, a huge waka taua (war canoe) and displays offering a look at the daily life of an early Southern Maori coastal village.
My personal favourite collection had to be the moa skeletons.
I’d heard a lot about moa before, but it was only when viewing the skeletons that I really understood just how giant they actually were.
If you want greater insight into the collections, you can also book guided tours. The Otago Museum is located in the same building as the science centre and planetarium.
17. Marvel at the water of Purakaunui inlet
We couldn’t believe the colour of the water in the inlet at Purakaunui Beach. It was such a beautiful bluey green that it took us immediately back to Emerald Lake in the Canadian Rockies.
It’s a sublime sheltered bay making it the perfect place for a dip on warmer days, or simply sit on the grass and admire the view with a picnic.
There’s not a lot of parking and it can be busy with surfers so you might want to come early if visiting on a sunny weekend.
18. Discover Dunedin’s Street Art Trail
When you think of Dunedin you probably don’t think of funky street art, but that’s exactly what you’ll find.
A number of renowned overseas and local artists have been commissioned to bring parts of the city to life like never before.
There’s a mix of beautiful murals, funky paintings and even some pieces that reminded us of Banksy. If you don’t want to walk the whole trail there’s a high concentration of art around Vogel Street, which is the area we chose to explore.
The location of all the art sites as well as a little detail on each one can be found on this map.
19. Be charmed by the antics of the adorable little blue penguins
Although little blue penguins come in to nest at many different beaches around Dunedin, the most reliable place and easiest viewing is on one of the tours run by the Royal Albatross Centre.
This is the only activity on this post we weren’t able to do personally (our photos are taken at St Kilda in Melbourne) as the penguins are nesting between the beginning of June and the end of October, which means tours don’t operate.
Outside of these times the little penguins come up from the sea in rafts and waddle along the beach to their burrows. The penguins come in to roost at dusk, so taking part in the tour allows you to see them clearly as warm light is used (which doesn’t affect the penguins but means you can see them well).
It’s a little more rustic than the experience at Oamaru as it’s a viewing platform rather than sheltered seating area, but you are allowed to take photos (without a flash) which is something we’d love to go back and do one day.
20. Grab brekkie at the Otago Farmers Market
If you’re in Dunedin on a Saturday morning then the Otago Farmers Market is the place to be. Bring some empty bags ready to stock up on all the local goodies including breads, nuts, cheese, honey, conserves, fruit and veg and a whole lot of baked goods.
There are also plenty of stalls selling food to eat on the go; including crepes, bagels, juice, lots of different Asian options and a delicious smelling Middle Eastern van.
There’s a great atmosphere with huge numbers of locals and visitors alike. We also loved the little cup stand which allows you to borrow a cup, grab a coffee, and then return it again, avoiding the need to use disposables. We’ve not seen it before and everyone was using it which was so great to see.
The market is located next to the Dunedin train station and operates every Saturday between 8am and 12.30pm.
21. Indulge in the local cafe scene
Dunedin has some of the best cafes in all of New Zealand. Excellent coffee and home baked goods were standard in most of the places we tried, but two stood out from the rest.
The first is Precinct Food which although on the pricey side was definitely worth it. We went many times and everything we tried was delicious, especially the homemade bagels.
The coffee is served with a side of caramel popcorn which was so good I bought a bag and wish I could order it online!
If you’re all about the coffee and you don’t need much in the way of food, then head to The Daily Coffee Company. The coffee is excellent and probably the best we had in Dunedin, the cups were on the smaller side, but you can’t complain when you taste it!
In terms of food there are a couple of sweet treats like banana cake, but no lunch or brekkie options.
Where to stay in Dunedin
Aria on Bank
We stayed in a superior loft suite at Aria on Bank and it was great for the price. The bed was comfy and the whole place was very cosy and clean. The downside was that there was no stove top in the kitchen so you couldn’t make dinner, but I think that was reflected in the price. It was centrally located, but still nice and quiet.
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
The Hydro Esplanade Apartments
If you’re after a full kitchen and some stunning sea views then check out the Hydro Esplanade Apartments. They are based opposite St Clair Beach so it’s perfect if you’re planning to catch a sunrise there.
You can check out the reviews and prices on:
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