Dunedin

A university city founded by Scottish settlers, with a grand Victorian railway station and Baldwin Street, once the world's steepest. On the Otago Peninsula, half an hour away, northern royal albatrosses nest at Taiaroa Head (the only mainland colony), yellow-eyed penguins come ashore at dusk, and Larnach Castle sits on the ridge. A good stop between Christchurch and Queenstown or Te Anau.

Highlights

• Royal albatross colony at Taiaroa Head
• Yellow-eyed and little penguins at dusk
• Larnach Castle
• Dunedin Railway Station
• Tunnel Beach
• Baldwin Street
• Moeraki Boulders on the drive north

Things to do

• Otago Peninsula wildlife tour (albatross and penguins)Afternoon · 5h
• Larnach Castle and gardensMorning · 2h
• Tunnel Beach walkMorning · 1h 30m
• Railway station and Toitū Settlers MuseumAfternoon · 2h

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: November – March