Dunedin & Otago
The south-east is where wildlife and heritage meet wild coast. Dunedin, the "Edinburgh of the South", wears its Scottish and Victorian past proudly, and its peninsula teems with albatross, penguins and seals. Beyond lie the untamed Catlins, the gold-country and Pinot Noir of Central Otago, and remote Stewart Island, home of wild kiwi. Here's how to explore this rich southern corner.
Dunedin & the Otago Peninsula
Dunedin charms with Scottish heritage and Victorian grandeur — the ornate railway station, hilltop Larnach Castle, the Speight's brewery and a lively student scene, plus the record-breakingly steep Baldwin Street. Just beyond, the Otago Peninsula is a wildlife wonderland: royal albatross, yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals and sea lions. See our marine wildlife page.
The Catlins & Stewart Island
South of the city, the Catlins offer a wild coast of waterfalls, forests and wildlife along the Southern Scenic Route — Nugget Point, the Cathedral Caves and sea lions among them. Further still, Stewart Island (Rakiura) is a near-pristine national park, one of the best places to see wild kiwi and, on dark nights, the aurora australis. It's the end of the road, in the best way. See our hiking & Great Walks page.
Central Otago
Inland, Central Otago is a land of big, dry landscapes and gold-rush history around Cromwell and Alexandra — and one of the world's southernmost great wine regions, celebrated for Pinot Noir and summer stone fruit. Cyclists love the Otago Central Rail Trail, and autumn turns the whole region to gold. It links Dunedin with Wānaka and Queenstown. See our wine tasting page.
Dunedin & Otago: your questions
Dunedin — New Zealand's "Edinburgh of the South" — is rich in Scottish heritage and Victorian architecture, from the grand railway station to Larnach Castle and the Speight's brewery. It's a lively university city, gateway to the wildlife of the Otago Peninsula, and home to the famously steep Baldwin Street. See our things to do guide.
The Otago Peninsula is a wildlife haven. See the world's only mainland royal albatross colony at Taiaroa Head, rare yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho) and little blue penguins, and New Zealand fur seals and sea lions along the coast — on guided tours that protect the animals. It's one of the country's best wildlife experiences. See our marine wildlife page.
The Catlins, along the Southern Scenic Route between Dunedin and Invercargill, are a wild, uncrowded corner of forests, waterfalls and rugged coast — highlights include Nugget Point's lighthouse and seals, the Cathedral Caves, and abundant wildlife. It's a beautiful detour for those with time. See our hiking & Great Walks page.
Yes — Stewart Island (Rakiura), off the southern tip, is reached by ferry or flight from Bluff/Invercargill. Largely national park, it's one of the best places to see wild kiwi, offers the Rakiura Great Walk, and — being so far south and dark — is a superb spot for the aurora australis. It's remote and special. See our best time to visit guide.
Very — inland Central Otago, around Cromwell and Alexandra, is a region of dramatic dry landscapes, gold-rush history, and acclaimed Pinot Noir and stone-fruit orchards, with the Otago Central Rail Trail for cyclists. Autumn is glorious here. It links Dunedin with Queenstown and Wānaka. See our wine tasting page.