NZ · Otago · 45.87°S 170.50°E

dunedin

Stone university buildings, steep streets and penguins and albatrosses on the peninsula.

Best time
November–April has long days for peninsula trips. June–August is cold and dark early, though the wildlife tours carry on all year.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop, usually via Auckland, about 14–16 hours all in. The airport is about 30 minutes from the city. New Zealand is 4 hours ahead of KL, 5 during daylight saving (late September to early April).
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NZ · Otagodunedin45.87°S 170.50°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Stone university buildings, steep streets and penguins and albatrosses on the peninsula.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingDunedinNZ, Otago
KLdunedin
≈ 8,647 km from KL, as the crow flies
Octagon town centre Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand

Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Dunedin is a Scottish-founded university city of grand stone buildings and very steep streets. The Otago Peninsula, right on its doorstep, is the reason to stay longer: albatrosses, sea lions and little penguins.

Makan

  1. Cheese rollsToasted white bread rolled around a cheesy filling, a southern South Island classic nicknamed Southland sushi.Map ↗
  2. Blue cod and chipsThe south's favourite fish, battered and eaten by the sea.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Dunedin Railway StationA grand Flemish Renaissance-style station with a mosaic tiled floor.Map ↗
  2. Taiaroa Head / PukekuraThe world's only mainland breeding colony of royal albatross, seen on guided tours.Map ↗
  3. Penguin viewingEvening tours at Pukekura to watch little penguins come ashore.Map ↗
  4. Otago PeninsulaA winding harbour road past quiet bays, Larnach Castle and sea lions lounging on the beaches.Map ↗
  5. Baldwin StreetOne of the steepest residential streets in the world, and a proper calf-burner.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Book the albatross and penguin tours ahead; numbers are limited.
  • Give sea lions plenty of room on the beaches and never stand between them and the sea.
  • Halal places are few in Dunedin, so seafood is the easy fallback.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.