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Photo: Ulrich Lange, Dunedin, New Zealand, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Has some great old buildings to wander about and see; when classes are on it's a good place to sit, people-watch and take it all in, some good food/cafes/bars are nearby too.
The University of Otago is a public research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. It was established by ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council in 1869 and opened for teaching in 1871, making it New Zealand's oldest university. Between 1874 and 1961 Otago was part of the University of New Zealand and conferred degrees in its name. In July 2023 the university adopted the Māori identity Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka as part of a major rebrand, with the changes taking effect from May 2024.
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Was founded in 1868 and has a collection of over two million artefacts and specimens from the fields of natural history and ethnography. There is also a (paid entry) "Discovery World Tropical Forest". This features a variety of flora and fauna from around the globe, as well as many species of butterfly from Asia and South America. There are around 1,000 butterflies flying at any one time, and the Forest also has tarantulas, birds, fish, turtles and geckos.
Not your traditional attraction but a stroll through the student accommodation-filled streets around the university can give you a real insight into Dunedin student life. Many of the often run down flats have their own names, and on the right sunny day the area comes to life as couches are dragged out onto the streets so the students can enjoy the sun and a few beverages. Castle St and Hyde St are two of the most famous flatting streets. The area does often get a bit rowdier in the evenings.
The largest church in Dunedin, used by a Presbyterian congregation. Built of bluestone and Oamaru stone, with a wooden ceiling between 1872-76 to design by Robert Lawson.
This is a small private museum and gallery spread over three rooms of an old central city villa which is the home of Dunedin mural artist and sculptor, Bruce Mahalski. It houses biological curiosities, skulls, bones, ethnological art and unusual cultural artefacts. They include the bones of many different species of animal (including humans), 200 skulls, pinned butterfly collections, vintage books (especially medical texts), etc. The museum also contains a gallery where Mahalski exhibits his bone art and paintings for sale. Please be aware that the museum is part of a private house and entry is strictly at the discretion of the owner.
A futuristic rugby and soccer stadium, opened in 2011, it's fully enclosed with a grass surface, made possible by a transparent roof. In 2023 it staged matches in the Women's World Cup for soccer, co-hosted by NZ and Australia. Some call the stadium the "Greenhouse of Pain" — a play on "House of Pain", the nickname of Carisbrook the stadium it replaced.
Olveston homestead provided the Theomin family with the perfect setting to entertain both professional and personal friends. Seven servants were employed to service the 35 rooms of the home and to manicure the acre of beautiful garden. The home is sited in the inner city and is within walking distance from the city centre.