Dunedin Facts & Figures

Dunedin is located on the South East coast of the South Island. It is a city nestled in tree-clad hills at the head of a spectacular harbour. Dunedin is the main centre of, and the gateway to, the Otago region. Population – 123,000 (student population 25,000). Dunedin is New Zealand largest city by area and arguably the most spectacular in terms of contrasting landscapes.

Across Otago Harbour and Peninsula or the majestic sweeps along the sandy beaches of St Clair to the stunning little “secret places” such as Tunnel Beach and the haunting rocky tors and tussock of Middlemarch, our hinterland and the starting point for the Otago Central Rail Trail. The seaside settlements of Karitane and Port Chalmers provide the perfect setting to escape the city for the day.

Quirky Dunedin Facts

• Dunedin is the world’s fifth largest city, in geographical size, offering lots of leisure and recreational opportunities.

• Dunedin is the Celtic name for Edinburgh.

• The only mainland breeding colony of the Northern Royal Albatross, large majestic seabirds with a wingspan of thee metres, is at the Otago Peninsula.

• Dunedin, and its surrounds, is home to some interesting locals, including the world’s rarest penguin - the yellow-eyed penguin, New Zealand sea lions, New Zealand fur seals and little blue penguins.

• Dunedin’s Baldwin Street is the steepest street in the world.

• Larnach Castle located on the Otago Peninsula is New Zealand’s only castle.

• Dunedin Railway Station is the most photographed building in New Zealand.

• University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest university was the first in the country to admit women to all its classes. It is also the South Island’s largest employer.

• Otago Girls’ High School was one of the first state run secondary schools for girls in the world.

• New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is, in effect, New Zealand’s national sports museum, the only one of its kind in the country.

• New Zealand’s first authentic Chinese Garden - only the third outside of China and the first in the Southern Hemisphere – is found in Dunedin.

• The Otago Daily Times is New Zealand’s first daily and oldest surviving independent newspaper.

• The Dunedin Public Art Gallery is New Zealand’s first public art gallery.

• The Dunedin (1876–82) was the first ship to successfully transport refrigerated meat. In its capacity, it helped set the stage for New Zealand’s success as a major provider of agricultural exports, notwithstanding its extreme remoteness from most markets

• Dunedin’s Ice Stadium has the biggest curling rink in the Southern Hemisphere. Curling is a game unique to only a few regions.