Location: Dunedin
Top Things to do in Dunedin
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Things to do in Dunedin, South Island: The Best Tours
Rare yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals and the world's only mainland albatross colony share residence in Dunedin, New Zealand's oldest city. When you're not watching wildlife, this South Island Otago Coast town also boasts impressive historic architecture from its days as a gold-rush mecca. Visit the 1906 Flemish Renaissance railway station or the country's largest center of higher learning, which resembles Glasgow University, thanks to the area's early Scottish settlers.
Restaurants in Dunedin
1. Otago Peninsula Scenery and Dunedin City Highlights Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Start at Port Chalmers to experience the beauty of Dunedin on a fantastic 5 hour tour of rich heritage, spectacular scenery. You will experience gorgeous and memorable landscape of Otago Peninsula with amazing string of rugged beaches, bays and wildlife. Your knowledgeable guide will show you the most breathtaking views and take you closer to nature and its wildlife. Spend some free time at Royal Albatross Centre: this place offers the world's only mainland colony of Royal Albatross. Here you have the option to either take lunch, explore the visitor center or wander outside (since it's generally pretty windy, you are likely to see flying the largest seabirds!) or watch lazy seals. You will stop at the world's steepest street, First Church, Railway station and will have some free time to explore internationally significant and the oldest botanic garden in New Zealand. The tour is designed only for a small group, to enjoy flexibility, comfort and personalized attention.
Inclusions: Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Driver/guide, Bottled water, Live commentary on board
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By R3420VWdebbiee
An excellent tour of Dunedin City with a friendly and very knowledgeable your guide. Asta went out of her way to make it a special experience.
2. Private Luxury Tour Anywhere in NZ - Choose any number of days & destinations
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Travel New Zealand in luxury with an experienced local guide. We pick you up from any airport or Cruise Ship Port and take you on a private trip for your group. Let us make an itinerary for you or plan your own and tell us where you would like to go. Book 1 day or multiple days, we will stay with you throughout your vacation and give you an authentic unforgettable Kiwi experience.
Inclusions: GST (Goods and Services Tax), Bottled water, Light refreshments, Snacks, Professional guide, Port pickup and drop-off, Private tour
Exclusions: Accommodation, Meals
Reviewed By AdiS491
The tour of the set was excellent. The place is a well oiled machine from ticket office to bus ride etc. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable about the movies and all other aspects . The movie set was awesome and the gardens amazing . Even if you’re not a movie buff the experience and sheer brilliance of PJ et al is totally worth it . Having a drink ( free) at the Green Dragon ???? was fantastic.
3. Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & a Guided Penguin Reserve Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
You will be joining a small group tour and go to places that bigger buses cannot go. You will have personalised attention and will see the most special parts of Dunedin and Otago peninsula.
Inclusions: Bottled water, GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Exclusions: Snacks, Lunch
Reviewed By R3420VWdebbiee
An excellent tour of Dunedin City with a friendly and very knowledgeable your guide. Asta went out of her way to make it a special experience.
4. Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & Albatross Guided Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
With this tour you will enjoy a small group experience with a personalised attention while discovering the beauty of Dunedin City and Otago peninsula. You will avoid wasting time waiting for a bog group to get on and off the bus. You will be introduced to the city in the best way, optimising time to see the highlights of the city, enjoying the most breathtaking scenery of Otago Peninsula via Highcliff road where the road for bigger buses is not suitable. You will have a 1 hour guided tour of Albatross Centre and discover all about these huge seabirds.
Inclusions: Bottled water, GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By R3420VWdebbiee
An excellent tour of Dunedin City with a friendly and very knowledgeable your guide. Asta went out of her way to make it a special experience.
5. A 2 hour Small Group Dunedin City Highlights Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Join a small group tour to discover highlights of Dunedin - the oldest city in New Zealand .Our City Tour is a great choice for those who are short on time and want individual and personalised service. It is a short but sweet introduction to our wonderful city of Dunedin. Our two hour City Tour takes in the highlights of Dunedin and still allows plenty of time for you to partake in any other activities that you may have planned.
Inclusions: Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions:
Reviewed By mally502021
We enjoyed our tour around Dunedin seeing all the tourist spots. Great guide who was very friendly and helped with photography and patiently waited while I took my photos. Very knowledgeable about the area I would recommend them excellent tour.
6. Iconic Shore Excursion: Coastal Adventure to the Moeraki Boulders
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Small group tour that will pack in a lot of attractions in the time allowed. A lot of planning goes into each and every tour to ensure the best experience possible.
Inclusions: Entrance fee to the Moeraki Boulders beach access is included, Entry fee to Orokonui Ecosanctuary included
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Truejaffa
We would thoroughly recommend using Iconic Tours. And here’s why. Last week we visited the Catlins with Kim from Iconic Tours. The Catlins had been on our bucket list for some time but we had never managed to get there until now. We had heard accommodation and cafes were in short supply down there and we wanted to ensure we didn't miss any highlights so we opted for a tour instead of self drive. Kim collected us from the airport in a comfortable air conditioned sedan and drove us into the city, pointing out places of interest as we went. He did a brief tour around the city centre, took us up to our accommodation in Roslyn and waited while we dropped our bags off, then dropped us back at the i- site. We spent the next 3 days exploring Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula which we really enjoyed. But the best was yet to come! Kim is a great driver and guide and he packed a lot into our 2 day Catlins tour, while never rushing or hurrying us. He is knowledgeable and articulate with a keen interest in the history of places and the local flora and fauna. As he was doing the driving we were able to sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery, and no need to worry if we had missed a turn off or if the road or a café were closed – he had all the local knowledge to adapt if necessary. But here’s a tip- allow 3 days , there is so much to see and do. He drove us down unsealed roads that we wouldn't have ventured on and the sights at the end were remarkable. We had walked the length of Cannibal Bay, admiring the sea lions basking on the sand and were about to head back to the car when Kim spotted a dark shape in the water . It was a huge sea lion swimming into the shallows, then walking up the beach and flipping onto the sand. Awesome. That was a highlight for us as was standing on the beach at Curio Bay in the dusk watching a lone Hoiho penguin make his way up the beach towards his nest. Our breakfast at the Tumu Toka Curio Bay cafe and our dinner at the Niagara Falls restaurant were culinary standouts. Superb service and delicious food. When we arrived at our beach front unit Kim brought in a platter of cheese and crackers and a bottle of bubbly to share with us as we reviewed the day. We then had a short rest, dinner then another visit to the beach to wait for the arrival of the little Hoiho, the rarest penguin in the world. Covered in the price of our tour was our accommodation at Curio Bay (which was a comfortable studio unit right on the beach) plus morning teas, lunches and a cooked breakfast and museum entries etc, plus of course a driver/guide. Kim managed to pack in a tremendous amount of things each day from walks through native bush to see amazing waterfalls, seeing the petrified forest and visits to museums to watching fur seals on the rocks. Kim also does Stewart Island tours and we've got that in mind for the future as we couldn't imagine a better tour guide. And the Catlins? Pristine, uncrowded, an awesome experience.’
7. Wildlife and Wilderness Tour with an Ex Ranger
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 31 reviews
Explore native forests, experience spectacular coastlines, watch for seals, sea lions, albatross and other seabirds with an ex DoC Ranger. Complete your day by marvelling at little penguins returning home for the night. This tour is designed for those who want to get a deeper insight into Dunedin's iconic wildlife and wilderness landscapes, guided by an expert who has decades of wildlife management experience.
Inclusions: Binoculars, Snacks and Hot Soup are provided, Air-conditioned vehicle, Accommodation pick up/drop off is available
Exclusions:
Reviewed By TABs1962
Kylie, our tour guide made the experience really enjoyable. She was knowledgeable about the night sky and her passion came through as she was talking. She gave a great talk about various stars and included the Maori stories as well, this added to the understanding of how they were used in navigation. The evening was a bit cool but we were supplied with blankets and warm drinks. The nibbles provided made it seem like you were at the movies. We were not rushed and could stay out for as long as we were comfortable allowing us to see the night sky slowly moving. The fact they keep the groups small made it more personal. Would recommend this tour and have already mentioned it to friends as a must do.
8. Iconic Dunedin City Highlights Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Discover top attractions and iconic sites around the city of Dunedin on this half-day city tour. Explore Dunedin with a guide and take in key sites of interest such as the World famous Baldwin Street, University of Otago, Olveston Homestead gardens and Dunedin's Grand Railway Station. Awesome lookouts over Otago Harbour and from Signal Hill. Visit the Octagon (city centre) for some shopping and a bite to eat. All transport to and from the cruise ship wharf is included. Enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 20 people. Daily departures are available for cruise passengers and city-based passengers.
Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Light refreshments, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Professional guide, Bottled water
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By Truejaffa
We would thoroughly recommend using Iconic Tours. And here’s why. Last week we visited the Catlins with Kim from Iconic Tours. The Catlins had been on our bucket list for some time but we had never managed to get there until now. We had heard accommodation and cafes were in short supply down there and we wanted to ensure we didn't miss any highlights so we opted for a tour instead of self drive. Kim collected us from the airport in a comfortable air conditioned sedan and drove us into the city, pointing out places of interest as we went. He did a brief tour around the city centre, took us up to our accommodation in Roslyn and waited while we dropped our bags off, then dropped us back at the i- site. We spent the next 3 days exploring Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula which we really enjoyed. But the best was yet to come! Kim is a great driver and guide and he packed a lot into our 2 day Catlins tour, while never rushing or hurrying us. He is knowledgeable and articulate with a keen interest in the history of places and the local flora and fauna. As he was doing the driving we were able to sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery, and no need to worry if we had missed a turn off or if the road or a café were closed – he had all the local knowledge to adapt if necessary. But here’s a tip- allow 3 days , there is so much to see and do. He drove us down unsealed roads that we wouldn't have ventured on and the sights at the end were remarkable. We had walked the length of Cannibal Bay, admiring the sea lions basking on the sand and were about to head back to the car when Kim spotted a dark shape in the water . It was a huge sea lion swimming into the shallows, then walking up the beach and flipping onto the sand. Awesome. That was a highlight for us as was standing on the beach at Curio Bay in the dusk watching a lone Hoiho penguin make his way up the beach towards his nest. Our breakfast at the Tumu Toka Curio Bay cafe and our dinner at the Niagara Falls restaurant were culinary standouts. Superb service and delicious food. When we arrived at our beach front unit Kim brought in a platter of cheese and crackers and a bottle of bubbly to share with us as we reviewed the day. We then had a short rest, dinner then another visit to the beach to wait for the arrival of the little Hoiho, the rarest penguin in the world. Covered in the price of our tour was our accommodation at Curio Bay (which was a comfortable studio unit right on the beach) plus morning teas, lunches and a cooked breakfast and museum entries etc, plus of course a driver/guide. Kim managed to pack in a tremendous amount of things each day from walks through native bush to see amazing waterfalls, seeing the petrified forest and visits to museums to watching fur seals on the rocks. Kim also does Stewart Island tours and we've got that in mind for the future as we couldn't imagine a better tour guide. And the Catlins? Pristine, uncrowded, an awesome experience.’
9. Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 47 reviews
The Southern Skies Star Gazing tour takes you out to the Otago Peninsula on a journey of discovery to learn about the unique celestial features of the Southern sky, while also sharing stories and waiata (songs) about how Māori viewed the night sky. The Otago peninsula coastline provides a clear and breath-taking view of the night sky, along with a magical backdrop of coastal bird calls echoing across Hoopers inlet. In the right conditions, this rural coastal area is a prime viewing location for the Southern Lights, Aurora Australis Enjoy Māori manaakitanga (hospitality) with a light supper and hot beverage. Sit back, relax and be enchanted. Departs Dunedin 8PM (October to March) and 6PM (April to September)
Inclusions: Snacks, Light refreshments, Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only), Coffee and/or Tea, Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Tina3337
This was a great tour, Lyndon is an awesome guide, super knowledgeable, friendly and really looked after us. We saw sea lions, fur seal and so many little blue penguins! Highly recommend this tour :)
10. Dunedin City and Coastal Views 3-Hour Small-Group Guided Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 32 reviews
Take in the best of Dunedin City on this 3-hour, small-group tour. Ride in the comfy, safe van to the highest vantage points, around heritage buildings, and walk on the sandy beaches of Dunedin. You'll visit the University of Otago, the Dunedin Railway Station, the world's steepest street, and a lot more. Take great photos from the best spots and learn as the expert commentary from your local guide gives you a real feel for the past and present of New Zealand's first city. Enjoy free pickup and drop-off from your cruise port, your hotel, or in town for either the morning (9am) or afternoon (1pm) tour. Group size is limited to 13 people.
Inclusions: Hotel/port pickup and drop-off, Live commentary on board, Local guide, Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Craft markets not guaranteed, Gratuities
Reviewed By geoffreym628
What a fantastic day out. Our guide was brilliant. Saw everything I wanted to see, penguins, seals, sea lions and the huge Royal Albatross. I will never forget.
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