Dunedin - Coastal Otago

Dunedin - Coastal Otago

Scotland of the South

Coastal Otago stretches north - south, and inland to the west, between two rivers - the Waitaki in the north, and the Clutha in the south.

Dunedin, one of New Zealand’s oldest and most important settler cities, has a strong Scottish heritage. It is the doorway to the Otago Peninsula and the Southern Scenic Route along the south eastern coast.

Otago Peninsula - with an albatross colony at Taiaroa Head, and populations of rare yellow-eyed penguins and fur seals - is a hub for sustainability and nature-based activities.

Oamaru, where the main attractions are Victorian whitestone buildings and a blue penguin colony, continues Otago’s strong focus on eco-tourism and heritage.

Heritage

Māori named the area Ōtepoti, and first settled along Otago’s south east coast from about 1100AD.

Dunedin was planned in the early 1840s as a Scottish settlement. First settlers arrived soon after and, with the discovery of gold in the 1860s, the town grew to become one of New Zealand’s important commercial centres.

The Otago gold rush enticed many migrants - notably Chinese, but also Irish, Italian, French and German nationals. Chinese cultural links are still strong.

Many Dunedin buildings date back to the gold rush. First Church, University of Otago’s clock tower, Larnach Castle and Otago Boys High School were built in the late 1800s, and Dunedin railway station was completed in 1906.

Oamaru is also renowned for Victorian and Edwardian architecture, including historic whitestone buildings.

Nature and Wildlife

Otago Peninsula is home to about 140 albatross, the southern hemisphere’s only mainland albatross colony. These majestic seabirds have wingspans of three metres and can fly up to 115kph. Yellow-eyed / hoiho - the world’s rarest penguin - New Zealand fur seals, and sea lions also live on the peninsula.

At Portobello, the University of Otago Marine Studies Centre has tanks and displays that focus on the region’s underwater habitat. Oamaru has a world renowned blue penguin colony.

The Otago region has many walking and mountain biking tracks. Outdoor activities include kayaking around the peninsula, fishing trips on the Clutha river, surfing at St Clair, exploring tunnels and whale fossils at Tunnel beach, or the strange boulder formations at Moeraki.

Sustainability

Otago Peninsula has some of the rarest wildlife species in the world, and most are now in breeding programmes within protected habitats.

Dunedin - often referred to as the wildlife capital of New Zealand - strives to preserve its reputation through sustainable measures. Locals are protective of the unique environment and demand that wildlife tours are non-intrusive. Two local tour operators have Green Globe status, and environmental sustainability is a core business principle for many operators.

The Orokonui Eco-sanctuary, surrounded by a pest-exclusion fence, gives rare native animal and bird species the opportunity to rejuvenate and re-establish populations.

Eco-accommodation options in Otago include Kaimata Retreat, and Highland Peaks lodge which has Qualmark enviro-gold status.

Arts and Culture

Dunedin, a centre of learning, art and culture since early European days, has been home to many of New Zealand's great poets, writers, artists and musicians.

Victorian and Edwardian architecture dominates the cityscape, and many historic buildings have been reinvented for modern life, like the Dunedin railway station that’s now home to Speight’s brewery. Next door, the Chinese garden is a reminder of strong Chinese cultural ties.

Otago Settlers’ museum and Olveston House highlight the influence of Scottish and early settler heritage, while Taieri gorge railway provides a different perspective on the distinctive Otago landscape and history.

Dunedin Public Art Gallery, established in 1884, has a major collection of local, national and international art. Otago Museum and the university have exhibitions and seminars on local culture and art. Dunedin also has a thriving theatre and music scene.

Sport, particularly rugby, is firmly imbedded into Dunedin culture. The city is home to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and Carisbrook rugby stadium - known locally as the 'house of pain’.

DID YOU KNOW

• An albatross colony sits above the tunnels of Fort Taiaroa - established a century ago to counter the threat of invasion from Tsarist Russia.
• Otago Peninsula albatross colony is the world's only mainland albatross colony.
  
• Dunedin is a city of New Zealand ‘firsts’ - first university, first newspaper, first medical and dental schools, first female lawyer, first public art gallery.
• Dunedin is the Celtic form of Edinburgh, and original city plans were based on Edinburgh. While many street names are the same as Edinburgh’s, town planners had to alter the plans to accommodate hills and swamps.
• Dunedin has the world’s steepest street - Baldwin St. Each year 30,000 Jaffas (round chocolate candies) are rolled down Baldwin St to support a local charity.
• Dunedin university students are referred to as ‘Scarfies’, and a movie of that name featured Dunedin student culture. In the Selwyn Ballet - an annual student tradition - boys dress as ballerinas to perform during a major rugby game at the stadium.