Dunedin has established a reputation as a University town. It is New Zealand’s oldest city and has a strong Scottish heritage.

 

Dunedin was founded in 1848 by Scottish settlers at the head of the Otago Harbour. The discovery of gold triggered a boom that saw Dunedin grow rapidly in the 1860s and was even once New Zealand’s commercial capital. Today the city remains one of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

Dunedin is also ruggedly beautiful. The white sand beaches, tidal inlets, bush covered hills and volcanic landforms make it an ideal place to visit if you love tramping.

 

The central city is a hive of activity and the streets are lined with restaurants and sidewalk cafes. The Art Gallery has a world renowed international art collection and its museums and libraries are considered among the country’s finest.

 

Don’t miss a visit to the coastal colonies of the shy Yellow-eyed penguins, and the world’s only mainland breeding colony of the royal Albatross.

Shopping

It may be a university town, but Dunedin has developed a fine shopping heritage. Centred around George and Princes Streets are fashion boutiques, art galleries, antique auction houses and vintage stores. Seek out the work of Dunedin's nationally and internationally acclaimed designers including Nom*D, Tanya Carlson, Akimbo, Ivy and Toni Darling. The Jan McLean Originals store displays and sells porcelain dolls crafted by the Dunedin doll-maker

 

The Meridian Mall is a multi-level shoppers magnet with more than 40 specialty stores offering a range of goods from cosmetics and fashion to sporting goods and homeware - and an international food court.

 

Sport

The national kiwi fervour for sport is evident in Dunedin. The city’s famous Carisbrook Stadium is well known in the world of rugby for its unrivalled crowd atmosphere – for the losing teams it’s more often known as “the House of Pain”.

 

Every sport is well catered for in Dunedin, so the friendly staff at Alhambra Oaks will be happy to point you in the right direction to go golfing, swimming, play a game of tennis, horse-riding or even surfing.