The Otago coast stretches from the Waitaki north of Oamaru to the mighty Clutha River south of Dunedin, Unlike its Central namesake, coastal Otago is moist, green and often misty with its population seeded evenly along its shores.
Start at the north. The Waitaki district is a place of haunting natural beauty with green pastures and small picture-book fishing villages. Stop in at Oamaru and look at the historic whitestone architecture, an amazing townscape that towers over a modest community.
Dunedin is the city of the south. Known as the Edinburgh of New Zealand, it wears its Scottish heritage with pride. Surrounded by dramatic hills and at the foot of a long harbour, Dunedin is one of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere. The accommodation is good and plentiful; equally so, the natural attractions. On Dunedin’s doorstep you will find incredible wildlife including the world’s rarest penguins and, at Taiaroa Head, the world’s only mainland breeding colony of Royal Albatross.
Head further south, and you join the Southern Scenic Route, a tourism must of the South Island that follows the wild coast down to Invercargill and then north-west to Manapouri and Te Anau.
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