Dunedin New Zealand

Dunedin is the largest city of Otago province in New Zealand’s South Island. Settled in 1848 by Scots, eighty percent of the city’s population of over 120,000 residents declares European origins and includes around 25,000 students. The city’s vibrant culture reflects this creative diversity.

The arts, literature and music thrive in Dunedin, especially among the cafes, galleries and museums, theatres and club scene, from the cafes to the symphony. Rugby boasts the famous Carisbrook ‘House of Pain’, a ground known internationally to fans of the code.

The beautiful natural environment is just minutes from the city with surf beaches, walking tours, deep sea fishing and wildlife such as albatross, yellow-eyed penguins and seal colonies close at hand.

Located on Otago harbour, the metropolitan area is hilly and pleasant, dotted with parks and gardens, only hours away from winter skiing, vineyards and the lakes of the province. Victorian and Edwardian architecture blend harmoniously with the natural environment and many people find the city reminiscent of Edinburgh, reflecting its Scottish founders.

Dunedin’s temperate climate underscores its relaxed and friendly lifestyle. Most people own their own homes and most families own their own cars, though traffic is no problem. Dunedin’s international airport is 20km south of the city.

Though it sometimes seems to have all four seasons in one day, raifall averages are low, snow falls on the city rarely and the city’s winters are cold but sunny while its summers are mild and air pollution negligible. Temperate plant species thrive, especially rhododendrons and there is an annual Rhododendron Festival in October.

The city’s major industry is education, but it is also the financial and commercial heart of the province, hosting industries such as agriculture and biotechnology, information and communication technology, engineering and manufacturing, food processing, forestry and fashion design.

With its blend of the traditional and the modern, the natural and the built environments, science, nature and the arts, Dunedin’s affordable and easy way of life offer much to residents and visitors who enjoy a safe and varied experience in a city that has much to offer.

If you are ready for a cost-effective yet adventurous tour, head for the untouched nature at Dunedin on the south-east coast of South Island.

Dunedin Hosts the Eco-World through Rare Wildlife, Volcanic Cliffs, and Tidal Inlets

Away from the mainland city Dunedin in South Island is Penguin Place, where travelers are in for a treat – the rare and near extinct yellow-eyed penguins still survive in their natural habitat. A little ahead, get the taste of untamed sea where the tidal waves splash against the rocky hilly coastal area. There are headlands, volcanic cliffs, and canyons where tidal waves infiltrate. Marine organisms thrive even in these tough terrains – from rare birds to rodents, penguins, and seals.

If you are a little daring adventurist and want to get a glimpse of the rare species in the pristine belt of Dunedin, you are at the right place. Don’t worry about the expenses to tour the area. Mingle with regular tours organized by travel bureaus and be sure to get a budget travel to experience this breathtaking nature.

Penguin Place
Only about 700 yellow-eyed penguins were found a few years back. To ensure that the near-extinct bird survives, Penguin Place conservation reserve was formed in the latter part of the 20th century at a local farm. Today, tourists flock in large numbers to get a glimpse of how these birds are reared in their natural habitat.Tours are organized during summers and winters – April to September.

If you are traveling in a group, expenses to tour the reserve would reduce immensely. An adult ticket would cost around 50 Dollars while child ticket would be around 15 Dollars. Today, the number has increased and many of the penguins have built their nests in Steward Island, Campbell, and Auckland Islands. If you are looking for budget hotels for a comfy stay but at a price that does not pinch your pocket, you can try Livingspace Hotel and Apartments, Mercure Dunedin, and Scenic Hotel.

Bird Watching Camps
Modestly priced camping tours are organized for bird watchers who want to catch a glimpse of the rare birds – undisturbed. During October or November, travelers visit the Royal Albatross Centre and the Northern Royal Albatross colony for viewing A-to-Z of how Albatross lead their lives socially. For migratory waders, spring and summers are the best seasons to view the birds.

Ornithologists take self-guided tours, or guided tours with large groups of youngsters to take a peek on various water birds, such as petrels, terms, sea gulls, water fowls, bush birds, and mollymawks enjoying a satiating moment in the waters of South Island.

Volcanic Cliffs, Sandy Beaches, and Meadows
The view is simply spectacular with volcanic cliffs; sandy beaches bordering the lower fringes of the cliffs are a delight for photographers. Although the southern tip of Otago peninsula is a volcano formed harbor, the hinterland is mostly farmed with either velvety crops growing in between the meadows or large flocks of sheep and cattle grazing on the sweet green grass.

There are rocky bays and tidal winds which seep into the inland. Rock-climbing, trekking, walking are some of the daring adventure sports which travelers pursue in these areas along with their bird watching endeavor.

Daring tourists looking for adventure can travel to New Zealand’s popular cities, such as Dunedin and enjoy a tryst with wildlife and nature.

Scottish Edwardian Culture has Ensured Dunedin a Nickname: the “Edinburgh of South”

With Victorian style architecture, castles, and cathedrals quite similar to the capital of Scotland, Dunedin is often mistaken to be a sister city of Edinburgh. The remarkable resemblance with Edinburgh has earned Dunedin a name for itself – Edinburgh of South. In fact, some roads have also been named as per names related to Edinburgh.

Surrounded by steep hills on three sides and sea on one side, Dunedin is natural port and the second largest city in the South Island in New Zealand where useful maritime activities were practiced ages ago. It was during one such endeavor that Scots came over to the area and settled among the natives.

Today, Dunedin has many heritage buildings that is not only a photographer’s delight but also showcases the penetration of one civilization into the other. The main attraction for the Scott settlers was gold which was discovered as an ore in many areas of Dunedin. Commercial and industrial activities soon grew up, making the city prosperous and rich.

Heritage Buildings
Edwardian style of architecture has been noticed in heritage building in the city, such as Octagon Square at the heart of the city, St Paul's Cathedral, Town Hall, the lone castle, Larnach Castle, lveston house, and the Dunedin Railway Station. The oldest Victorian building, Stafford Gables YHA clearly shows how the Scottish ethos has penetrated into the culture of the city. Don’t be surprised if you also notice a connection with the Gaelic in the works of the painter Frances Hodgkins,

Facts about Celtic Civilization in the City
Even if one disbelieves the theory about Dunedin being the Edinburgh of South, the Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Baldwin Street, Cadbury World, and Speight’s brewery are some of the proofs that the city has indeed connections with the Scottish culture.     The Otago Settler’s Museum offers in-depth artifacts and knowledge about Maori and Scott settlers. It reflects how Dunedin became an eye-catching destination for gold miners and how the foreign settlers seeped in to the flourishing businesses of the city.

Food-Stuff, Entertainment, and Basic Culture
Today, you can get cuisine delicacies of all cultures and tastes. However, in George Street you can find restaurants-cum-pubs with dishes that have similar taste of the Scottish cuisine. From Rialto cinema hall to pubs at Bath Street and local music sessions at High Street, the bucolic Scottish culture can felt.

Just as Scots are well known for their fondness for fried burgers, pizzas, and sausages, here too, you’d find various cost-effective and moderately priced eateries providing similar grub. Nightlife is quite the in-thing in Dunedin. You can get various types of wine, Vodka, and other specialty beverages to spice up your evening. Don’t forget to take a look at the streets. The names of some of them, such as Belleknowes, Calton Hil, Clyde Hill, and Glenleith clearly show that Scots once predominantly ruled this area.

The exquisite architecture, such as the building of Otawa University to the nomenclature of streets in the city, clearly shows that Scottish culture has indomitably permeated into the lives of the people.

Travelers often enjoy a working holiday in the picturesque city Dunedin, where they work half a day and enjoy touring the hinterland and coastal belt in the next half or during weekends.

Working in Scenic Dunedin gives a Perfect Holiday for Backpackers

Whether you choose the bucolic Dunedin or the “Edinburgh’s” Dunedin, be sure to keep a good amount of time to enjoy the subtle beauty of the city and its hinterland. Backpackers often come over to Otago Peninsula or trek on the forested areas of Green Island, Brighton, Saddle Hill, Westwood, Halfway Bush, and Maori Hills. There are short walking trails or just half-a-day cruises to the various neighboring isles. An intelligent backpacker would use the other half to pick some useful backpacking jobs.

Why Pick a Part-Time Job?
Part-time jobs would replenish the spent cash on one hand, allow travelers to mix with the inhabitants, learn the working ethics and culture of the people, and also enjoy the environment in general. Those who are looking for an involved backpacking trip, working holidays at Penguins Place or cruise ship that sails to the “colony of Albatross” or volcanic harbor in the Otago Peninsula are some of the ideal options. There are options to enjoy the countryside or farmland by pruning, cleaning, fruit-picking, or wrapping. If you love the vineyard work, you can even enjoy free accommodation and meals while working on this backpacking part-time job. Even as you work for only 5 hours or so for pruning at the orchard or vineyard, you can escape to the city during the evening. With an active nightlife at Dunedin, you’d enjoy a pulsating holiday while backpacking to this city.

“Wwoofing” at Dunedin Prime Spots
It is amazing how backpacking jobs can earn you a satiating holiday and good amount of work experience and money. At Cadbury World, many tourists tour the chocolate major to know the basic ways of creating candies, toffees, and chocolate bars. It is an attractive place for any chocolate lover no doubt. But, how about enjoying wwoofing at a farmhouse where you’d get to learn how milk is processed from the cattle, transported to the Cadbury for making milk laced chocolate-bars, and also get to see how the chocolates are being manufactured?

It is also quite common to see backpackers taking up part-time jobs in Scottish bars where they learn the fun of brewery, quality of the beer produced by the brewery, and how to package the same. From learning traditional farming chores to cleaning the farm animals and processing food for them, wwoofing is remarkable way to enjoy a holiday purposefully. If you are at a horticulture farm, you can even earn internship by learning various techniques on horticulture and sustainable farming. Some backpacking jobs include work on interesting techniques, such as permaculture and viticulture.

Travel Jobs
Many firms require backpackers for seasonal short-duration jobs, such as sales jobs, house-keeping or jobs for Au Pair, and jobs for promotional activities. If you are a certified chef, love to cook, and also enjoy long journeys, you can take up the job of a chef at a luxury yacht. While the ship sales through the pristine wild nature of New Zealand along the outskirts of Dunedin, you can click photos, talk to people, enjoy the coastal spot when the ship docks, and also cook your favorite dish for the guests. Stewarts and waitress can also get similar jobs at the deck and enjoy a backpacking holiday.

So, enjoy backpacking to Dunedin through an interesting and satiating working holiday.