Introducing Dunedin & Otago
Coastal Otago, and its one major city, Dunedin, has attractions both urban and rural, offering travellers a chance to escape the crowds of Queenstown, party down in the South Island’s coolest city, and get up close and personal with the island’s most accessible wildlife.
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The heart of Otago is Dunedin, long credited as New Zealand’s indie musical heartland and definitive student party town. With a plateful of fabulous restaurants and cafés, it’s also a great place to lay off the two-minute noodles and indulge your stomach. From its stately train station (one of many grand old Victorian buildings in town), you can catch the famous Taieri Gorge Railway inland, or continue further on NZ’s greatest bike trail, the Otago Central Rail Trail.
Those seeking quiet backcountry NZ, and noisy backcountry New Zealanders, will love the tiny towns of inland Otago: historical Clyde, sweet little St Bathans, Disney-cute Naseby – wonderful dots of humanity that don’t see a lot of tourist traffic. If you’re seeking wildlife, head to the Otago Peninsula, where penguins, albatross, sea lions and seals are easily sighted amid stunning views. Or visit seaside Oamaru, with its active historic district and resident penguin colonies.
Unhurried, and rife with picturesque scenery, Otago is generous to explorers who are after something a little less intense. The best part is, there are few crowds to share it with.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
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Our Top Picks For Dunedin & Otago
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1 Dunedin
Air guitaring to live music or wriggling to DJ sounds in the cool bars and clubs ofDunedin
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2 Otago Harbour and north coast
Discovering charm along the quiet northern shore of Otago Harbour and north coast
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3 Otago Peninsula
Peering at penguins, admiring albatross and staring at sea lions and fur seals on Otago Peninsula
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4 Otago Central Rail Trail
Cycling through lonely vistas of brown and gold along the Otago Central Rail Trail
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5 Oamaru and Historic Precinct
Reliving the days of the gold rush when the penny-farthing was king in the cobbled streets of the Oamaru Historic Precinct
Our favourite Dunedin & Otago Blogs (beta)
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Dunedin: To Otago we go!
Blog: 12FOOT3 - 15 December 2008
Note: We’re in Australia!…living in a MUCH smaller van for the next two weeks. This should be interesting… Please bear with us while we figure out our new routine! The next stop on our visit to the south island was Dunedin and its surroundings. Dunedin is pronounced dun-ee-den (not doon-uh-din, as I originally thought) and [...]
