Location: Dunedin
Top Things to do in Dunedin
What to do and see in Dunedin, South Island: The Best Museums
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. Quadrant Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
We exhibit and sell contemporary jewellery, sculpture and other 3D artwork from top New Zealand artists.
2. Toitu Otago Settlers Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,058 reviews
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum is a museum of social history dedicated to telling the story of the people of Dunedin and the surrounding area, whose character, culture, technology, art, fashion and transport shaped New Zealand’s first great city.Its fourteen themed galleries feature interactive displays and powerful narratives tracing the human history of the area, from the earliest settlers to the most recent arrivals.Captivating exhibitions are complemented by an on site shop and café. A well-equipped research centre and archive is available for those interested in genealogy and other aspects of local history.
Reviewed By Xin-Fang - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The museum is located next to the Dunedin Railway Station. Free entry (charges may apply to special exhibition) but donations are appreciated. There is a gift shop and a coffee shop near to the reception counter. Toilets are available. We were given a map to show us the route of visit. Starting from Josephine, first train on the Dunedin-Port Chalmers Line in 1873, to the Dunedin Goes Digital (technology development and use in Dunedin and Otago), there are about 17 sections for one to explore. After the exit, it will lead to the Dunedin Chinese Garden (with admission fee). In the museum, there are several sections whereby touchable exhibits are provided to the visitors such as Mokihi, Wharerau, Cottage, Across the Ocean Waves, Roslyn No.1 electrical tram, penny-farthing and Tiger Tea trolleybus.
3. The Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 63 reviews
The Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery is a small private museum and gallery based in the home of Dunedin mural artist and sculptor, Bruce Mahalski, and located at 61 Royal Terrace in Dunedin, New Zealand. Spread over three rooms of an old central city villa the museum contains a collection of skulls, bones, biological curiosities, ethnological art and unusual cultural artifacts which the artist has collected over a lifetime. There is also a gallery featuring his own unique bone art and paintings for sale.
Reviewed By TimmyC173
The best 5 clams in town. Bruce will even make you a cuppa! Amazing collection of the weird and wonderful plus the garden is top-notch
4. Dunedin Street Art
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Bean1561
We followed the street art map as a way to tour the centre of Dunedin. This saves time if you have a short stay and takes you to places you might not have discovered. Some of the art work is stunning, and clearly much nicer than the graffiti that it has replaced. A good free activity.
5. Dunedin Public Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 269 reviews
The Dunedin Public Art Gallery is one of New Zealand's four major metropolitan art galleries. Established in 1884, the Gallery was New Zealand’s first Art Gallery and is renowned today for the richness of its historic collection and its close working relationship with major New Zealand artists. The Gallery houses a signifcant collection of New Zealand artworks covering the period from 1860 to the present. The collection also contains major holdings of historical European art, Japanese prints and the decorative arts. Historical works by renowned artists such as Turner, Gainsborough, Claude, and Machiavelli feature alongside the only Monet in a New Zealand collection and master works by Derain, Tissot, Burne-Jones and internationally acclaimed Dunedin artist Frances Hodgkins. The collection is fundamental to the Gallery’s exhibition programme, but many works of art are also sourced from other public and private collections in New Zealand and internationally. The Gallery presents a wide-ranging events programme of interesting lectures, floor talks, film and video screenings, performances and workshops. There are regular guided tours for key exhibitions or by arrangement. Located right in the heart of Dunedin, the Dunedin Public Art Gallery is within easy walking distance from a large number of hotels and on all major public transport routes. There are disabled facilities, the award-winning Nova cafe, a wonderful shop and free wi-fi in the Gallery foyer.
Reviewed By Wander636823
Good art gallery in a lovely building, well worth a visit, especially during Ralph Hotere Retrospective.
6. Gallery De Novo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Located in the heart of Dunedin, between the Octagon and Railway station. Exhibiting a large range of paintings, prints, sculpture and jewellery by local Dunedin and New Zealand artists. Open 7 days.
7. Otago Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,124 reviews
Reviewed By geckopoo
We visited this place 12 years ago when on holiday with our kids, so excited to come back after all these years, and so relieved it is still as good as we remembered (if not better!). Always loved the Animal Attic, great homage to the old-fashioned classical museum collections complete with stuffed specimens in original glass cabinets, fantastic! We were staying just a block away so we just loved visiting the Animal Attic first thing in the morning as the museum opened when it was nice, quiet and oh so peaceful out there, just us and the animals, it was like having our own private museum. A floor down was the maritime gallery and natural history section, also our favourite areas - the moa skeletons on display are well curated, labels very informative and interesting. On the first floor is the special exhibits area which until April this year honours 130 years of collecting in New Zealand, very intriguing array of examples ranging from the heart of a great white shark to a petrified rat collection to gold coins from the Elizabethan period. This is a very modern and spacious museum yet it still has a rather conservative and traditional feel - we love it! The technology is well used to enhance and inform without being too gimmicky and glitzy. Good toilets, water fountains and rest areas on all floors too. Best of all, it’s free. Well done, Dunedin for having this excellent museum in your midst!
8. Dunedin Gasworks Museum
9. Fletcher House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Historic Fletcher House is a fully restored and furnished traditional Edwardian villa located on the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin. The villa was built in 1909 as a family home by Sir James Fletcher, a NZ building pioneer, and has since been restored to its former glory and furnished in Edwardian style. The site features a traditional Edwardian garden. It is open for all to enjoy thanks to the Fletcher Challenge Fund and Toitu Otago Settlers Museum. Open weekends and public holidays 11.00am - 4.00pm
10. Milford Galleries
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
