Port Chalmers

A short drive from Dunedin, Port Chalmers is a haven for artists and alternative lifestylers. It’s a great place to search for a creative souvenir.

Port Chalmers is situated on the northern shore of Otago Harbour. It functions as a deep water port for Otago and serves as a base for commercial fishing. New Zealand’s first shipment of frozen meat for the London market left Port Chalmers in 1882; the last Antarctic expedition led by Captain R. F. Scott sailed from Port Chalmers on 28 November 1910. Something of an artists’ colony today, Port Chalmers has a several galleries and a small seafaring museum. This area is popular for salmon and trout fishing from October to April.

Functional facts: Approx. population 1400, visitor centre, limited accommodation, basic shops.