Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula Trip Planning & Itineraries

The large scoop of South Island terra firma known as Otago has a wonderfully restless landscape distinguished in the east by coastal wildlife havens and a Victorian-era city (Dunedin) with a youthful vibe; in the center, by vineyard-nurturing soil, broad plains and former gold-mining sites where the once-rich dust has well and truly settled; and in the west by lake-moated peaks, rainforest trails and several self-obsessed towns that take outdoor activities to daunting new heights.

Suggested Itineraries in Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula

The city of Dunedin is a fine place to spend a few days absorbing the high culture of several notable museums and galleries. Nearby castle-crowned Otago Peninsula provides a beautiful natural counterpoint, with the lives of penguins, seals, albatross and sea lions under constant tourist scrutiny.

The small hardy towns of Central Otago are historical microcosms, from the 'Art Deco in a paddock' curiosity of Ranfurly to the stately gold-mining-era hotels of Clyde and St Bathans.