New Zealand, Dunedin – Scottish vibes and extreme streets

At first glance, Dunedin looks like a very serious city. Gothic, austere architecture, grand cathedrals, and a railway station that looks more like a palace with luxurious chambers.

But beneath that façade lies a vibrant city, pulsing with the energy of students from the University of Otago – New Zealand’s oldest university. You can see it in the city’s nooks and backstreets, where interesting street art and colourful murals are hidden behind the stately buildings.

Although today Dunedin seems to be relatively calm, in the 19th century it was the richest and most populous city in the whole New Zealand. The Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s brought people from across the globe. During that time, the city opened its first university, a medical school, the first daily newspaper, and electric trams appeared on its streets. Dunedin is also known as New Zealand’s most Scottish city, boasting the country’s only kilt manufacturer, numerous Highland pipe bands, and lively Burns Night celebrations.

One of the city’s quirkiest attractions is Baldwin Street – one of the steepest streets in the world. It’s genuinely hard to keep your balance, and the houses look as if they might topple down at any moment. Seriously, I can’t imagine walking home after a night out here. But it’s not the result of a mad architect; it’s a legacy of remote urban planning. City planners in London simply overlaid a tidy grid onto the map without considering the actual terrain, leaving several streets perched on extremely steep hills.

Baldwin Street is famous for its annual charity events, including uphill runs. Another odd spectacle is the Jaffa Race, where chocolate candies are rolled down the street in a timed contest.

The areas around Dunedin are packed with attractions too. On the city’s outskirts lies Tunnel Beach, which, as the name suggests, is famous for its tunnel.

Carved in the 19th century, it leads straight to a stunning beach surrounded by sandstone cliffs. Additional attraction are seals lounging on the sand.

Seals can also be spotted at nearby Sandfly Bay. Additionally, about 30 km from the city, on the Otago Peninsula, you’ll find albatrosses with wingspans of up to three metres. The Royal Albatross Centre offers the chance to observe these magnificent birds up close.

Dunedin is a city of contrasts: from dark tunnels and extreme streets, quirky races, and lounging seals, to giant albatrosses and deep Scottish traditions. It’s the perfect place to experience the incredible diversity of New Zealand in one spot.