Location: Dunedin
Top Things to do in Dunedin
What to do and see in Dunedin, South Island: The Best Hiking Trails
Rare yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals and the world's only mainland albatross colony share residence in Dunedin, New Zealand's oldest city. When you're not watching wildlife, this South Island Otago Coast town also boasts impressive historic architecture from its days as a gold-rush mecca. Visit the 1906 Flemish Renaissance railway station or the country's largest center of higher learning, which resembles Glasgow University, thanks to the area's early Scottish settlers.
Restaurants in Dunedin
1. Silverstream Walks
2. Sandfly Bay Track
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 61 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By zhuhai2007 - Christchurch, New Zealand
An easy drive to the car park and short walk to see NZ fur seals sunning themselves on the sand at low tide.
3. Okia Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Diovt - Panton, United States
This is a magical place off the beaten path. The trek is about 2 kilometers if you take the direct route to Victory Beach, which is the longest beach on the Otago Peninsula. We took the longer loop track stopping first to climb the small "pyramid" which gave an amazing view of the whole valley. In the base of the pyramid is a cave where Maori warriors were taken to heal. The dunes are considered "relic dunes" and are several thousand years old. The rock formations are amazing especially the "rosette" on a cliffside. Be sure to grab one of the guides located in a box at the stile into the preserve, don't forget to return it when you leave. We made a second trek in at 8 PM hoping to see the yellow eyed penguins come out of the sea. We did not but we did see tracks. Our hike back to our car with headlamps at 10:00 PM was special.
4. Long Beach
5. Sandymount Track
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Diovt - Panton, United States
There are several ways to experience this track. You can just climb Sandymount from the carpark but the views are limited. You can hike out to the new overlook and see amazing panoramas of the whole Otago Peninsula, including Allan's Beach and Hooper's Inlet. If you wish, continue and circle around to Sandymount from the overlook but be prepared for some arduous climbing up some very sandy slopes up the top of the mount. You will encounter sheep along the way.
6. Tomahawk Lagoon/41-Peg Track
7. Tunnel Beach Track
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 709 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By PaulM223 - Christchurch, New Zealand
The closer you get to Tunnel Beach, the more amazing it gets...The track to the tunnel is well-formed and easily negotiated, but it is steep and a little slippery in places, so good walking shoes/boots recommended. The scenery of the elements carved cliffs and rocks makes the walk very interesting and you emerge from the little tunnel into a sheltered cove where crashing waves meet solid rock on a beautiful white sand beach. There are numerous hazards like uneven surfaces, waves, cliffs and crevasses...take good care and keep children close. Plenty of photo opportunities and spectacular scenery abounds.
8. Organ Pipes Track
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By Curious00208245326 - Cooroy, Australia
I started from the Mt Cargill road car park. As others have said, it’s a pretty tiny little carpark and can only really fit a few cars in on the side of a winding rural road. I don’t consider myself fit in any way, I can walk on flat ground all day with no issue but a couple of minutes uphill and I’m panting and red faced but I still made it up. Multiple quick, breath catching breaks and I made it up the steep incline in about 20 minutes. Well worn path with some steps along the way, mostly in the shade. There’s a series of steps exposed to the sun and then after this the climb is a lot more gentle. The path then forks with the left side heading to the pipes and the right continuing on Mt Cargill. This is well sign posted. I was then out of breath again for the climb up the fallen stones but that was pure fear hahahaha. It’s actually pretty easy to climb up the stones, just take it really slow and test where you’re putting your feet before weight bearing as some are a little loose. Excellent views over the peninsula await. All-in-all, a moderately difficult but relatively short walk that’s well worth the views.
