Auckland might be known as the ‘city of sails’ and Wellington claims to be the ‘café capital’ but Dunedin is where you will find New Zealand’s quirkiest things to do.
The lively South Island city is known for its Scottish heritage and unique New Zealand wildlife. But visitors to Dunedin should also explore the city’s quirks.



TOP FIVE QUIRKY THINGS TO DO


1. Learn how to be the perfect woman

According to Dunedin brewed Speight’s beer, “it’s a hard road finding the perfect woman”. Each year Kiwi women battle it out for the ‘Perfect Woman’ title through a series of competitions including sheep sheering and beer drinking. Learn how to sheer sheep at Natures Wonders – a working farm and conservation property on the nearby Otago Peninsula.
www.natureswonders.co.nz and www.speights.co.nz


2. Join a knitting circle

Join a knitting circle at AL BAR, formerly known as CENTRAL BAR before the first five letters fell off the sign! Dunedin locals, including university students, turn up to knit their wears each Monday evening. ALBAR, like the city itself, has a very Scottish vibe serving haggis and a wide selection of whiskey. The bar also has live traditional Gaelic music.


3. BYO food to a café

Fix Coffee on Frederick Street focus on what they do best – coffee. Bring your own lunch and chill out in the courtyard with an eclectic mix of Dunedin locals. Fix was Dunedin’s first hole in the wall coffee outlet ten years ago. Since then the owners have been roasting coffee with the aim to produce the finest and freshest available.
www.thefixcoffee.co.nz


4. Sleep in the castle stables

Budget conscious travellers can get their beauty sleep inside the stables of New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle. The 135 year old stables are rated the highest category of historic New Zealand buildings. Only overnight guests can dine inside the castle which is steeped in history, scandal and of course there are rumours of ghosts! Larnach Castle also has a four star lodge and run daily tours of the castle and gardens.
www.larnachcastle.co.nz


5. Take home natural mineral water from a brewery

In central Dunedin the Speight’s brewery lies on top of a natural mineral water stream. Asides from using the water to brew this popular beer, it is made available to passers by. A street-side tap on the wall outside the brewery tours entrance gives access to the water. This is a small consolation for brewery staff who before the 1950s would have had a 12 litre daily allowance of beer!
www.speights.co.nz



TOP FIVE QUIRKY EVENTS

We uncover five of the best quirky events including the nude rugby (excuse the pun!)


1. Take on the ‘nude blacks’ at the Annual Nude Rugby International

What? The annual nude rugby international tournament (yes, that’s right!) marks the start of the test rugby season. A mixed international team take on the unbeatable ‘nude blacks’. Guest referees in the past include ex All Black Josh Kronfield and prior to him a blind referee. The obligatory (nude) haka starts proceedings and during the game a fully clothed streaker appears.
When? June 2010
How much? Free
More information: www.bottombus.co.nz


2. Catch the ‘train of shame’ from the Middlemarch Singles Ball

What? Like Australia, New Zealand is suffering a man drought except for in Otago where men outnumber woman. The ‘love train’ boards in Dunedin and takes single ladies to the country town of Middlemarch where eligible farmers await. Those who miss the last train back to Dunedin are forced to take the ‘train of shame’ early the next morning!
When? Easter weekend 2011 (this event is bi-annual)
How much? TBA
More info: www.middlemarch.co.nz


3. Overdose on chocolate at the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival

What? A weeklong celebration of all things chocolate including a race of 30,000 Jaffas down the world’s steepest street. The carnival, which started in 2000, includes other family activities such as a hot chocolate ceremony, chocolate fishing, chocolate facials, Crunchie train, choc-art of creativity classes and choco-therapy.
When? 10-16 July 2010
How much? Various prices including free events
More info: www.chocolatecarnival.co.nz


4. Compete in the Gutbuster Challenge up the world’s steepest street

What? Around 1000 people race to the top of the world’s steepest street. After some debate with San Francisco the Guinness Book of Records confirmed Dunedin’s Baldwin Street as the world’s steepest with a gradient of 1 in 2.86 metres. The Baldwin Street Gutbuster attracts professional runners, skaters, pram-pushers, skateboarders and people from all over the world.
When? March/April 2010 (TBA)
How much? Free


5. Soak up the rays during the ‘Summer Fun’ festival

What? Not wanting to conform, Dunedin has an Octagon where most cities have a town square! The Octagon Timebuster is one of 30 events taking place over this summer festival. Other events include an Octagonal Day, Robbie Burn’s birthday celebrations, Chinese New Year celebrations and the Southern Sinfonia’s Last Night of the Proms.
When? 24 January – 28 February 2009
How much? Various prices starting from free events
More info: www.dunedin.govt.nz