Best Things To Do in Dunedin, New Zealand

Are you looking for what to do in Dunedin?

WHAT TO SEE

Dunedin attractions are aplenty and range from family friendly to most romantic in the world! The things to do in Dunedin and must visit places are:

  • Larnach Castle and Gardens:  Built in the year 1871 by William Larnach for his beloved first wife Eliza, the Larnach Castle is New Zealand’s only castle. It is a majestic and magnificent piece of architecture.
  • Dunedin Railway Station: The most photographed building in Dunedin, the Railway station was designed in a fashionable and highly expensive Edwardian Baroque style.
  • Tunnel Beach: Called the most romantic spot in Dunedin, head over to the Tunnel Beach and explore sea-carved sandstone cliffs, rock arches and caves.
  • Baldwin Street: A novel and unique tourist attraction, the Baldwin Street is recognized by Guinness Book of Records as the steepest street in the world!
  • Olveston House and Gardens: At the Olveston House, visitors get to see how the life of a wealthy merchant family in the early part of the twentieth century used to be.

Other attractions in Dunedin are Speight’s Brewery, St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Clair Beach and Salt water pool, Cadbury World, Dunedin Botanic Garden and the Dunedin Chinese Garden. Dunedin museums include the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum and the Otago Museum.

Below we have a list of things to do in Dunedin and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Dunedin getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Dunedin with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Dunedin

Here is the list of things to do in Dunedin and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Larnach Castle And Gardens

    4.4 (864 Votes)
    Larnach Castle And Gardens

    Outdoors, Garden, Castle, Architecture

    Built in the year 1871 by William Larnach (merchant and politician) for his beloved first wife Eliza, the Larnach Castle is New Zealand’s only castle. A majestic and magnificent piece of architecture, it took more than 200 workmen three years to build the Castle shell. Another 12 years were required to complete the beautiful interiors of the castle. William Larnach’s dream home feat...Read more
  2. Otago Peninsula

    Geological Formation, Wildlife Sanctuary , Park, Nature

    While in Dunedin, keep aside half a day to explore the Otago Peninsula. The peninsula is situated towards the east of Dunedin and together with its 20 kilometres long harbour, is home to magnificent wildlife. Volcanic in origin, CNN International has named the Otago Peninsula one of the 10 most romantic places in the world to propose marriage! Secluded beaches, gorgeous architecture and ro...Read more
  3. Dunedin Railway Station

    4.1 (832 Votes)
    Dunedin Railway Station

    Landmark

    Officially opened in the year 1906, Dunedin's Railway station was designed in a fashionable and highly expensive Edwardian Baroque style. This building arguably portrays Dunedin's wealthy inheritance. During the city's prosperous years, the railway station was the busiest, handling up to 100 trains every day. It is New Zealand’s most photographed heritage building. Today, however, only si...Read more
  4. The Royal Albatross Centre

    Outdoors, Wildlife Sanctuary , Nature

    Nestled at the foot of Taiaroa Head, the Royal Albatross Centre is a must see if you want to know more about the elusive bird. If you are not a bird watcher and don’t know much about the Albatross, don’t worry, at the beginning of the tour, Sir David Attenborough’s voice gives you an introduction to the Royal Albatross. Near the entrance to the Centre is a carved pole, the Pou...Read more
  5. St. Clair Beach And Salt Water Pool

    Outdoors, Beach, Walking Area, Water Sport

    Situated only minutes from the city centre, the St. Clair Beach is a popular beach in Dunedin renowned for being a surfing destination. Head over to the beach for a swim, a surf or maybe a romantic walk along it. A heated salt water outdoor swimming pool, located at the southern end of the beach, is a popular attraction. Recently, in the year 2004, the sea side was refurbished and today it boas...Read more
  6. Baldwin Street

    Landmark

    A novel and unique tourist attraction, the Baldwin Street is recognized by Guinness Book of Records as the steepest street in the world! The street runs up the northern side of Signal Hill at slopes of up to 1:2.86 (for 2.86m horizontal distance, a rise of 1m). If you want to check your fitness level, try running up and down the street! Definitely a must visit. The Baldwin Street is one of the ...Read more
  7. Toitu Otago Settlers Museum

    4.6 (546 Votes)
    Toitu Otago Settlers Museum

    Museum, Wildlife Park, Exhibition , Specialty Museum

    Opened in 1908, the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum traces the lives of the settlers of New Zealand- the indigenous Maori, the early Chinese, the Europeans and other migrant groups. The museum exhibits the technological innovation, art, fashion, domestic life and transport of these early settlers and the part they played in the development of a nation. The museum makes excellent use of a variety of...Read more
  8. Cadbury World

    4.1 (493 Votes)
    Cadbury World

    Educational Site, Entertainment, Exhibition

    Cadbury World is a colourful, educational chocolate tour which is a fun experience for everyone. For budding chocolatiers and the chocoholics, the Cadbury World tour is a must do! They have two kinds of tours. The full one takes around 75 minutes and includes entry to the Visitor Centre, Theatre Presentation, Guided tour through Cadbury Dunedin Chocolate Factory, Purple Silo (Chocolate Fall!), ...Read more
  9. Dunedin Botanic Garden

    4.7 (687 Votes)
    Dunedin Botanic Garden

    Botanical Garden, Observatory

    Spread across 30.4 hectares and situated at an altitude of 25-85 metres above sea level, the Dunedin Botanic Garden is New Zealand’s first botanic garden and holds the status of ‘Garden of International Significance’.  Established in 1863, the Garden celebrated its 150th Anniversary in the year 2013. It comprises of Alpine House (consists of alpine plants and bulbs), the ...Read more
  10. Otago Museum

    4.7 (346 Votes)
    Otago Museum

    Art Gallery, Museum, Photo Gallery, Exhibition

    Spread across 7 galleries, the Otago Museum is an interesting and fun place to visit with your family. On display are extraordinary treasures and inspirational exhibits. The seven galleries are bifurcated into Southern People, Nature Gallery, Maritime Gallery, People of the World and Pacific Cultures, Animal Attic, Tropical Forest and H D Skinner Annex. Within the Tropical Forest is a live butt...Read more
  11. Penguin Place

    4.5 (413 Votes)
    Penguin Place

    Outdoors, Park, Wildlife Park, Nature

    Penguin Place is a private conservation reserve dedicated to helping the endangered Yellow Eyed Penguin. A private enterprise, the conservation project is funded entirely by guided tours of the reserve. As mentioned on their website, “this funding provides habitat restoration, predator control, a research programme and on-site rehabilitation care for penguins that are sick, starving or wo...Read more
  12. Olveston House And Gardens

    4.7 (294 Votes)
    Olveston House And Gardens

    Garden, Landmark, Historical Site

    The Olveston house was built between the years 1904-1906 for Mr. David Theomin (Dunedin businessman, collector and philanthropist) and his family.  He, along with his wife Marie and their two children Edward and Dorothy used to live in the house. Designed by acclaimed English architect Sir Ernest George, the Olveston house was furnished with fine art, furniture and artefacts purchased...Read more
  13. Speight's Brewers

    4.6 (449 Votes)
    Speight's Brewers

    Food And Drinks, Brewery, Exhibition

    The Speight’s Brewery was founded in the year 1876. Since then, they have been producing their legendary ales. A Dunedin institution, no visitor to the city should leave without taking the Speight’s Brewery tour. The tour is an award winning interactive guided tour which takes visitors through the history of the brewery. On the tour, visitors get to see, smell, touch and taste the i...Read more
  14. Dunedin Chinese Garden

    4.2 (433 Votes)
    Dunedin Chinese Garden

    Garden, Park, Nature

    Spread across approximately 27000 square feet, the Dunedin Chinese Garden is a perfect miniature replica of a traditional Chinese landscape painting. Named Lan Yuan, this garden celebrates the city’s Chinese heritage and its sister city relationship with Shanghai. A beautiful trivia about the garden is that it changes with the seasons and offers stunning vistas every few months. The Duned...Read more
  15. Tunnel Beach

    4.8 (482 Votes)
    Tunnel Beach

    Beach, Nature

    Called the most romantic spot in Dunedin, head over to the Tunnel Beach and explore sea-carved sandstone cliffs, rock arches and caves.  The sea carved sandstone cliffs have been formed over centuries. Nature’s artistry at its best. Tunnel Beach is situated around 2 kilometres from Dunedin and draws its name from the fact that a passage was carved in the 1870s through a rock to allow...Read more