Landing at Dunedin Airport is an exciting experience. There’s nothing quite like this city, situated near a volcanic crater, making it a totally unique landscape.
The South of New Zealand is a special area, with a diverse landscape full of mountains, glacial lakes, and rugged beaches. You’ll enjoy extraordinary views from every perspective, as the city overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
Dunedin is one of the southernmost points of New Zealand, so it’ll be a little cooler than its northern neighbours. But, the city is extra special during the winter months with dustings of snow on the rugged terrain. Whether you visit during summer or winter, you’ll have a fantastic trip.
Explore the City with Hertz
Dunedin is bursting with history and culture.
You’ll notice this as you drive around the city centre. It’s one of the three founding cities in New Zealand, and the architecture, which is both Victorian and Edwardian, demonstrates this. The city is one of the best representations of these eras in the Southern Hemisphere, so do take a moment to admire the buildings in all their glory while you’re holidaying here.
Dunedin is also home to many literary heroes of New Zealand and beyond. As the only New Zealand feature in the UNESCO Creative City of Literature, it’s a book lover's dream. Take a stroll along the Dunedin Writers Walk to learn more about the city’s association with literature, the writers who were born or found inspiration here, and how literature has helped shape the city itself.
There are also plenty of other sites that might take your interest. Perhaps spend an hour or two at the Otago Museum, before heading across to the Toitu Otago Early Settlers Museum. After you’ve spent a solid day embracing the city and all it stands for, a bite to eat would definitely be well deserved. Bacchus Wine Bar and Restaurant, Two Chefs Bistro, and Prohibition Smokehouse would all deliver a delicious dinner.
Take a Roadtrip in your Rental Car
We’ve said a lot already that Dunedin is a special city, and we’re about to state this again. Dunedin is the wildlife capital of New Zealand, meaning you’ll always find yourself looking out to the surrounding nature to see what you can spot. You’ll find plenty of wildlife in and around the city boundaries, from seal colonies to penguins and perhaps an albatross or two.
A road trip to the Otago Peninsula is a great way to make the most of nature and wildlife. It’s a beautiful landscape, with the local towns of Anderson’s Bay and Portobello creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.
There is also the opportunity for a longer road trip. Queenstown and Wanaka are both excellent places to visit and are close to each other, so you might want to make the most of the drive and visit both places simultaneously. The drive from Dunedin to Queenstown is around 3.5 hours, but you can easily spend a few days here and enjoy the town to make up for a lengthy drive.
Queenstown is the adrenaline capital of New Zealand, so you’ll find a fair few activities that will push you to your limits here. There’s bungy jumping, skydiving, white water rafting, skiing, and so much more all on offer in this city. Wanaka is slightly smaller and a well-known ski town, with a gorgeous lake taking centre stage.
Dunedin is beautiful and so are the surrounding areas. We think you’ll have a fantastic trip whatever you decide to do while in town.
