Destination
Dunedin
Known as 'Edinburgh of the South',
Dunedin has strong Scottish roots and is one of the best preserved
19th century cities in the Southern Hemisphere. In terms of land
area, Dunedin is the largest in New Zealand, and indeed the fifth
largest in the world. And interestingly, Dunedin's Baldwin Street
holds the unusual distinction of being the world's steepest street.
Yet beyond these curiosities, the greater Dunedin area offers
the visitor a number of attractions which include....
The Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Garden is famous for the Rhododendron Dell, its exotic
beauty celebrated every year in the third week of October with
the Rhododendron Festival.
Otago Peninsula
Dunedin is home of Otago Peninsula, offering some of the world's
rarest and most breathtaking wildlife. Tairoa Head at the head
of the Peninsula is the only mainland breeding ground in the world
for the Royal Albatross.
The Otago Museum and Discovery World is renowned
for its Maori and Pacific Island collections and its natural history
displays.
The Otago Settlers Museum features the social
history of Otago, seeking to tell the stories of the people who
have made Dunedin and Otago their home. Matanaka was Otago's first
farm, while today it offers a step back in time to the atmosphere
of a typical 1840's farm.
The Dunedin Public Art Gallery is acknowledged
for its collections of 16th to 19th century British and European
water colours and oils, while its ongoing programme of international
and national exhibitions is worthy of further investigation.
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City of Tradition
Commemorating the famous Scottish
poet, the Robbie Burns statue, was commissioned in 1886 and
erected on 28 March 1887 before an audience of around 8,000
locals. Today is it exists as a testmenent of the the city's
strong Scottish roots which are evident in its architecture.
The Dunedin townscape is characterised by a high concentration
of heritage buildings – the highest in New Zealand.
Among these is the Dunedin Railway Station Building,
which was opened in 1906 to cater for the travelling public
of, what was at the time, New Zealand's commercial centre. Its
sheer size, grandiose style and rich embellishments, not surprisingly,
earned architect Mr George A Troup, the nickname of 'Gingerbread
George'. The station is only one block from the Law Courts Hotel,
running a daily tourist trips from the station to Otago's famed
Taieri River Gorge and back.
Other notable attractions include:
The University of Otago
It was founded in 1869, and opened in July 1871, it remains
a vital aspect of Dunedin's university city status.
Restaurants and Cafes
No matter what your interest, Dunedin offers the more than 140
cafes, restaurants and bars scattered throughout its environs.
It is easy to find your niche in such places as these establishments
cater to a wide range of tastes. And while visting, make The
Law Courts Hotel your comfortable and conveient launchpad.
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