Otago

What to see

Dunedin’s Otago Peninsula has coastal wildlife viewpoints and guided experiences. In town, combine the railway station, museums and Baldwin Street.

• The Otago Peninsula for albatross and penguins
• Dunedin's railway station and Victorian centre
• Central Otago wineries around Bannockburn and Cromwell
• Historic Arrowtown, prettiest in autumn

Getting around

A car is best for the spread of the region. Dunedin to Cromwell is about 2.5 hours inland, and Dunedin to Queenstown roughly 3.5 hours. The Otago Peninsula is a 30 to 40 minute drive from central Dunedin on a narrow coastal road. The wineries are spread out, so a car or an organised tour makes them easy.

When to go

Autumn is the standout in Central Otago, when the vines and poplars turn gold and Arrowtown holds its autumn festival. Summer is warm and dry inland and good for the wildlife on the coast. Winter is cold and clear inland, with frosts and the occasional snow, and Dunedin stays cool and grey.

Honest notes

The Otago Peninsula wildlife is best at dawn and dusk, and the guaranteed albatross and penguin sightings are at paid centres rather than free roadside spots, so factor that in. Central Otago summers are hot and the sun is fierce, while winter nights are properly cold, so pack for the season. Dunedin's weather is changeable, so do not count on the coast being warm.

Costs and practical tips

Guinness World Records currently recognises Baldwin Street as the world’s steepest street, with a maximum centreline gradient of 34.8%. Respect residents and keep clear of traffic. Wildlife tours have their own prices and viewing conditions; wild animals cannot be guaranteed.

• The Otago Central Rail Trail is a long, easy cycle through old gold country, hired by the day
• Sandfly Bay on the peninsula has a free chance of sea lions and fur seals on the beach
• Arrowtown sits on the Queenstown side and links the two regions in a day

Splitting your time

Otago really has two halves: the cool, green Dunedin coast and the dry, sunny interior of Central Otago. With two or three days you can do the peninsula wildlife and the city, then drive inland to the wineries and gold towns, ending near Cromwell or carrying on to Queenstown, which is about 3.5 hours from Dunedin in all.

Good to know

A car is the practical way to cover Otago, as the wildlife, wineries and gold towns are spread out and buses are infrequent. Dunedin's coast is cool and changeable, while Central Otago is dry with hot summers and cold winters, so pack for both. The inland sun is strong, so use sunscreen in summer. Tap water is safe, cards are taken everywhere, and Dunedin has the fullest range of services.