| Dunedin (O¯tepoti in Maori) has
all the trappings of a big city (yes, this is the second-largest
city on New Zealand's South Island) while maintaining small town
virtues.
GEOGRAPHY
The principal city of the region of Otago,
Dunedin is located at the head of Otago Harbor sheltered from the
Pacific Ocean by the Otago Peninsula.
NATURAL WORLD
Beyond the city are the wildlife reserves of the Otago Peninsula,
including the world's only mainland albatross breeding colony and
the world's rarest penguins, the hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin).
Dunedin's Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head, on the tip of
the Otago Peninsula, is the only mainland breeding colony of albatross
in the world. The yellow-eyed penguin, or hoiho, is found only in
southern New Zealand and numbers around 4,000 birds.
Dunedin's Botanic Gardens is the country's oldest botanic garden,
opened in 1869. The gardens hosts Rhododendron Festival in November.
Nearby is Woodhaugh Garden.
Anzac Square in front of the Railway Station has a commemorative
Flemish garden theme.
CULTURAL WORLD
Dunedin is regarded as the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian
heritage city in the southern hemisphere with 24 buildings listed
with Historic Places Trust.
The Dunedin Railway Station is home to the Taieri
Gorge Railway, which runs daily round-trip trains into the Taieri
River Gorge. The station was built on land reclaimed from the harbor.
Otago Settler's
Museum, 31 Queens Garden, was established in 1898 on the 50th
anniversary of the founding of the city and the Otago Province.
Originally created to tell the story of the early British settlers
to this region, the museum celebrates all the peoples of Otago including
indigenous Maori, the Chinese who came initially to work the goldfields
in the 19th century, and successive waves of migrant groups, including
those from Lebanon, Poland, Holland, the Pacific Islands and Asia.
Discovery World located at the Otago
Museum, has hands-on experiences for children and hundreds of
butterflies.
The University of Otago was founded in 1871. The Gothic clock tower
is one of the most famous landmarks in the country.
Among the marquee attractions: Larnoch's
Castle and the Speight's Factory tour.
MARKETS
The Otago Farmer's Market is held very Saturday morning in the
carpark by the railway station.
SPORTS
Carisbrook
is an international venue for rugby union, cricket and soccer. Known
locally simply as The Brook, it is also often known by the name
'The House of Pain,' due to its reputation as a difficult venue
for visiting teams.
TOURISM INDUSTRY
Tourism is Dunedin's second largest industry behind education.
MAORI
The Maori fished the waters from 1100 AD and created a settlement
on both sides of the harbor, calling the place Otakou.
HISTORY
New Zealand's 'Edinburgh
of the South' was founded by Scottish settlers. The Octogon was
first laid out in 1846.
NEARBY
The Catlins
Coastal Heritage Trail is located off the Southern Scenic Route,
which runs between Dunedin and Te Anau.
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