Dunedin, New Zealand

The City of Gardens. That is saying something when one considers how far south (in New Zealand and in the southern hemisphere) Dunedin is. Look at a world map and you will see what I mean.

Welcome to Dunedin (pronounced done-eden), New Zealand.

Most will see lots of water as they approach the city. This is understandable as Dunedin is at the headwater (that probably is the wrong term, but you know what I mean!) of the long Ortago Harbour. For Canadians...think the shape of the St. Lawrence River all the way up to Quebec City. For those not familiar with the St. Lawrence, check the official NZ Tourist Guide website for a good drawing.

The area became an international port for trade and settlement. This long sheltered harbour seems to have played a large role in the sheep industry, mining, whaling, the gold rush, and immigration. Port Chalmers was a name we heard frequently.

European settlement was by the Scots so it seems fitting that we find this statue in the Octagon (the centre of the city).

 (Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

Yes, that is Robbie Burns.

There is a story as to why he is facing this way instead of facing the civic centre and church.

You will have to check with a local to hear the story. (I, for one, believe the story!)

Lots to see by starting here from the Octagon and just walking.

See what I mean by The Octagon?

No, well you did not click on the photo then! Click to enlarge the photo.

But I am hungry so we check out the food court in the very modern Wall Street mall. It looks good but is extremely busy and there seem to be numerous eating places in this area so lets go exploring. We end up at a quaint cafe in the basement of a building (go figure, it looked cute and turned out to have delicious food).

The Little Hut Cafe was its name. I had homemade pumpkin soup and a cheese roll.

Time to hop on the bus and explore a bit.

Dunedin is a university town and there is the book store referred to as a “booklover’s paradise”. University Book Shop. It does not look like much from the outside..but, inside!

Aside: Maybe it is just me but I have been in only a few places where it felt that literary works truly played a  major role in the lives of ordinary people…Capetown, South Africa was one and Dunedin, New Zealand is another.

The bus drops us off at Olverston House

At Olverston Historic House we have a guided tour which takes us back to life as lived on a grand scale by a wealthy merchant family of the early twentieth century.

Another day we visited another life on a grand scale at Lanarch Castle high above the harbour.

Click here to join our tour of Lanarch Castle.

Back in Dunedin we drive past Cadbury World (yes, the chocolate people) and Speight’s Brewery (yes, the beer people). Both offer tours of their plants here in Dunedin.

I love the architecture here…but then Scotland’s cities are known for great architecture , so I should not be surprised. Look, there is the Civic Centre in the distance.

And here is the train station…quite a train station isn’t it!

Tomorrow we will be back here to take a train tour from here.

Want to join us on that train trip? Click here.

One does get a special feeling from the older building here.

(It really looks so much better if you click to enlarge the photo!)

Ah, Dunedin!

To visit more of New Zealand, click here.

To visit other parts of the world, click here.