Down in Dunedin

After rambling on about Christchurch for two blogs, I’ve decided to take you all on a little adventure down the coast and show you why the South Island, in my opinion, is better than the North Island. 

Last month, myself and four friends went on a weekend trip to Dunedin to explore the city and the Otago Peninsula, getting a full tour of the area from our lovely guide, Lucy. We took the InterCity bus down from Christchurch to get there. Without a car, this bus is the best option for traveling the South Island, but there were only two options from Christchurch, so you have to time your trip with the bus schedule. I packed light for the trip, as we were only staying for a couple of days, but I did manage to sneak Bananagrams into the duffel bag as it’s one of my favorite games (and I win most of the time, but that’s beside the point).

Our hostel was called “Uptown Backpackers”. Being only a few minutes from the bus stop and perpendicular to the main street in Dunedin, this was a great spot for any incoming travelers. One of the highlights of the trip included the giant seesaw just down the street from our hostel where my friends and I spent about an hour of our time. The town had a plethora of dining options, so there’s something for everyone in Dunedin, especially one of my favorites, “Gelato Junkie,” a small gelato window in The Octagon, which is the main plaza in Dunedin where everyone gathers for the night. 

Our lovely tour guide Lucy took us all around Dunedin. We traversed the steepest pedestrian street in the world, saw the University of Otago, and walked through the farmer’s market adjacent to the gingerbread house-looking Dunedin Railway Station. The latter was my favorite stop, and each of us took the opportunity to grab a little snack while we were there (not pictured: the giant sourdough loaf co-parented by my two friends Daniel and Riley). 

What really made the whole trip special was seeing the Otago Peninsula. On the way to Dunedin, our bus passed by countless spectacular views, but we were able to get up close and personal with everything, including the sea lions lying around on the beach. One of my friends almost stepped on a fur seal because it was hiding in the rocks; that’s how close and personal we got with the Otago Peninsula. Exploring the beach, the hills, the coastline became a surreal experience, and combined with fantastic weather, we had an amazing time.