Location
The Otago Coast stretches from the
Waitaki River to the mighty Clutha River, on the South Island's eastern
coast. About halfway between is Dunedin, built around Otago Harbour, which
indents Otago Peninsula.
General
Dunedin, with a population of 112,000, is
the South Island's second-largest city and the commercial centre for the
Otago region. Its name is the old Gaelic one for Edinburgh - appropriate
since the city was established by Scottish Presbyterians. It is a gracious
city whose numerous grand nineteenth-century and Edwardian buildings are
unrivalled anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
Main Attractions / Activities
Dunedin's
architectural heritage has provided the city with some notable buildings,
including the train station, town hall, university and many churches.
There are also special former private residences worth noting including
Olveston, a Jacobean-style family home and Glenfalloch, surrounded by 12
hectares of woodland garden. Neo-Gothic Larnach Castle represents the
finest of nineteenth century craftsmanship.
A natural attraction on the Otago Peninsula is the abundant wildlife,
only a 15-20 minute drive from the central business district. Nature and
wildlife tour companies run daily excursions to view fur seals, endangered
yellow-eyed penguin, cormorants and albatross. Nowhere else in the world
does the largest of the world's sea birds live within such easy human
access.
Further north on the Otago coast is Oamaru, known for the grand white
stone buildings of its old harbourside precinct. On Moeraki Beach, about
halfway between Oamaru and Dunedin are the unique, perfectly round Moeraki
Boulders, which weigh up to four tons each.
Don't Miss
- Dunedin Public Art Gallery
- Taieri Gorge railway, Dunedin
- Olveston historic home, Dunedin
- Otago Museum, Dunedin
- Otago Settlers Museum
- Fortune Theatre
- Royal albatross colony, Otago Peninsula
- Dunedin Botanic Gardens
- Yellow-eyed penguin conservation reserve on Otago Peninsula
- Dunedin's lively pub scene
- Oamaru's historic white stone precinct
- Penguins, Oamaru
- Moeraki boulders
Main Centres
- Dunedin - main centre for Otago and second-largest South Island city
- Oamaru - for white-stone Victorian architecture and blue penguins
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