Sights in Dunedin & Otago
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Otago Museum
The modern and interactive Otago Museum explores Otago’s cultural and physical past and present, from geology and dinosaurs to the modern day. The beautifully designed Tangata Whenua gallery houses an impressive waka taua (war canoe), wonderfully worn old carvings and some lovely pounamu (greenstone) works. This is one of the richest repositories of Maori knowledge on the South Island. If you’ve already been out on the peninsula admiring penguins and albatrosses, the museum’s collection of ancient and contemporary wildlife will fascinate. Join themed guided tours ($10, see website for times and themes). Children can explore at the hands-on Discovery World (adult/child/f…
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Visitors Centre
In an old limestone quarry near the waterfront, Oamaru’s blue-penguin colony sees little blue penguins surfing in and wading ashore at the visitors centre. The penguins arrive just before dark (around 5.30pm in midwinter and 9.30pm midsummer) and it takes them about an hour to all come ashore. You’ll see the most penguins (up to 150) in November and December; in the cold months from March to August there may be only 30 to 50 birds. Optimum viewing times for each night are posted at the Oamaru i-SITE. Use of camera flashes is prohibited. It can be cool, so dress warmly.
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Grainstore Gallery
In the world's most ornate grain storehouse , you'll find the lavishly decorated stage of the theatre company Living History , which does live theatre around historical themes. Their energetic Great Storm show, based in 1868, receives rave reviews. Much of the set and many of the props incorporate ‘found' objects, and dispalys the work of locals artists, including Oamaru's best-known artist, Donna Dementé, who is one of the artists that run the Grainstore Gallery upstairs.
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Living History
In the world's most ornate grain storehouse , you'll find the lavishly decorated stage of the theatre company Living History , which does live theatre around historical themes. Their energetic Great Storm show, based in 1868, receives rave reviews. Much of the set and many of the props incorporate ‘found' objects, and dispalys the work of locals artists, including Oamaru's best-known artist, Donna Dementé, who is one of the artists that run the Grainstore Gallery upstairs.
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Nature’s Wonders
Situated just 1km past the albatross colony, and based on a large sheep farm that covers most of the peninsula’s tip, Nature’s Wonders runs one-hour tours that take you up close to Stewart Island shags, NZ fur seals, and finally along a private little beach to a yellow-eyed penguin colony, where you can get within metres of the birds without disturbing them. The tour is conducted in ‘go-anywhere’ Argos vehicles and is an exciting combo of improbable scenery and wildlife adventure. It’s worth it for the beautiful vistas alone.
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Yellow-Eyed Penguin Conservation Reserve
The Yellow-Eyed Penguin Conservation Reserve has replanted the penguins’ breeding grounds, built nesting sites, cared for sick and injured birds and trapped predators. Ninety-minute tours include a talk on penguin conservation and close-up viewing from a system of hides. You can see the birds all year round, but summer is best. Between October and March, tours run regularly from 10.15am to 90 minutes before sunset; between April and September they’re just from 3.15pm to 4.45pm. The tours are popular, so book ahead.
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Orokonui Ecosanctuary
The Orokonui Ecosanctuary occupies a 300-hectare nature reserve on Otago Harbour’s north shore. Its mission is to provide a predator-free refuge to repopulate species previously exiled to smaller offshore islands. It’s a good chance to see the tuatara, NZ’s iconic living dinosaur unchanged for 200 million years. At the time of writing, the ecosanctuary could only be visited on a 90-minute guided walk (tour $38; [hours] 10.30am & 1.30pm), but unguided visits were also planned. Check the Dunedin i-SITE for an update.
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Larnach Castle
Standing proudly on the peninsula’s highest point, Larnach Castle was an extravagance of the Dunedin merchant, banker and politician William Larnach. Built in 1871 to impress his French-nobility-descended wife (she apparently didn’t like it much), the ostentatious, Gothic mansion is filled with exquisite antique furnishings. Larnach committed suicide in Parliament House in 1898, financially ruined, and with his latest wife and favourite son romantically linked.
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Royal Albatross Centre
Taiaroa Head, at the peninsula’s eastern tip, has the world’s only mainland royal albatross colony. The best time to visit is from December to February, when one parent is constantly guarding the young while the other delivers food throughout the day. Sightings are most common in the afternoon when the winds pick up; calm days don’t see much bird action. The only public access is through the Royal Albatross Centre. One-hour tours (adult/child $45/22.50) include viewing from a glassed-in hut overlooking the nesting sites. There’s no viewing from mid-September to late November, and from late November to December the birds are nestbound so it’s difficult to see that magnific…
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Vanished World Centre
Back on SH83 at Duntroon is the Vanished World Centre, with small but interesting displays of 25-million-year-old fossils, including NZ’s shark-toothed dolphins and giant penguins. There’s also a selection of books on geology, history and talking lions. If you’re really into fossils and geology, pick up a copy of the Vanished World Fossil Trail map outlining 20 different locations around North Otago.
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Public Art Gallery
Explore NZ’s art scene at Dunedin’s expansive and airy Public Art Gallery. Climb the iron staircase for great city views. Works on permanent show are mainly contemporary, including a big NZ collection featuring local kids Ralph Hotere and Frances Hodgkins, Cantabrian Colin McCahon, and some old CF Goldie oils. Rotating exhibits include some European works and Kiwi masters.
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Temple Gallery
The Temple Gallery was Dunedin’s first synagogue (1863), and then for 30 years a Masonic temple. The building retains marks of both, and is a fabulous artspace. The Chills recorded their last album here, and Dunedin bands still launch new offerings here. Artists represented are predominantly Otago locals and include Ralph Hotere, Donna Demente and Anita DeSoto.
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Marine Studies Centre
The Marine Studies Centre has octopuses, seahorses, crayfish, sharks and a huge pink model squid. Help with fish-feeding (Wednesday and Saturday 2pm to 3pm), or join a guided tour at 10.30am (adult/child/family $21/11/48 for entry plus tour). The centre showcases the work of the adjacent university-run marine laboratory.
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Forrester Gallery
Housed in a beautiful, columned 1880s bank building, Forrester Gallery has an excellent collection of regional art, and hosts diverse temporary exhibits, including contemporary media. This fantastic gallery is a good place to see works by Colin McCahon, renowned for his darkly melancholic style.
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Otago Settlers Museum
The eclectic collection at the Otago Settlers Museum gives insights into past residents, whether Maori or Scots, whalers or farmers. Petrol heads and trainspotters will love the old Buick straight eight and 1872-built steam engine; style hounds will love the original art-deco bus depot foyer.
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Clay Cliffs
The bizarre moonscape of the Clay Cliffs is the result of two million years of erosion on layers of silt and gravel that were exposed along the active Osler fault line. The cliffs are on private land; the turn-off is 3.5km north of Omarama, then it’s another 10km on an unsealed road.
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New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
At the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame you can try and match bike-champ Karen Holliday’s average speed of 45.629km/h, or check out the high-stepping style of iconic All Black fullback George Nepia. You’ll also find out NZ continually punches above its weight in the sporting world.
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Wrinkly Rams
Wrinkly Rams does 30-minute stage shows of merino sheep being shorn using both modern and traditional methods, along with a sheepdog show. A barbecue lunch is included. Attached is one of the town’s better restaurants.
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Glenfalloch Woodland Garden
Glenfalloch Woodland Garden covers 12 hectares with flowers, walking tracks and swaying, mature trees including a 1000-year-old matai. Expect spectacular harbour views. The Portobello bus stops out the front.
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Oamaru Public Gardens
The Oamaru public gardens were first opened in 1876 and are a lovely place to chill out on a hot day, with endless lawns, waterways, bridges and a children’s playground.
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North Otago Museum
In the grand 19th-century library, the North Otago Museum has exhibits on Maori and Pakeha history, writer Janet Frame, architecture and geology.
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Dunedin Botanic Gardens
The Dunedin Botanic Gardens date from the 1860s and spread across 22 peaceful, grassy and shady hectares. There’s also a playground and a cafe.
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Central Gourmet Galleria
Visit Central Gourmet Galleria for a stellar collection of award-winning local wines, many of which you won’t find anywhere else.
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Auto Museum
The Auto Museum is perfect for Top Gear fans (the racing cars from the 1930s through ’80s are particularly cool).
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Alexandra Museum
The modern Alexandra Museum attached to the i-SITE has exhibits on geology, exploration and gold mining. The i-SITE can advise on local tour operators visiting historic gold-mining sites.
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