Existing as the town center of Dunedin, New Zealand, the Octagon is an open space surround by…read moreretail and restaurants, serving both tourists and locals. The city of Dunedin has a population of 136,000, and is a main stop for cruise boats that dock at the nearby Port Chalmers. It is a significant distance between the port and Dunedin (13 km or about a 20 minute shuttle ride), and the Octagon is used as a marker for the drop off/pick up point. In fact, the main one-way road cuts right through it, and this is where the shuttles line up to deliver passengers back to Port Chalmers after their city visit is over. It's a great place to use as a base when exploring, since most retail places are easily within a 3 block walking radius.

This 8 sided town center is lined with markets, cafes, and bars that spilled onto the pavement…read more It's a meeting place, city hub & place where local students demonstrate. There is a statue of Robert Burns inf front of St. Paul's Victorian Gothic modern building. In front of the Victorian Law Courts are figures with scales in hand a low helmet. This center of town has a library, public art gallery, writers walk, plaques for olympians, theater, town hall, restaurants and is conducive to socializing. There were clean free restrooms, WiFi, phone booths, a visitors center and fabulous gift shop.

A beautiful home given to the city, as is, because the family had no heirs. The home is lovely and…read morewarm and used for entertaining. This wealthy businessman seems to have had a lovely family. There are stairs to the second floor, tho the first floor is large and there is lots to see. A video is available if you don't climb the stairs. We didn't get to see the servant quarters. The small garden was in full bloom, and the apple tree was covered with fruit. A car is on view in the garage. Interior photos are not allowed. Reservations are needed to tour. Groups are welcome, and a tea party is suggested.

The Olveston home is a feast for the eyes. It's location within the city makes it easy to get to,…read morethough difficult to find parking. The garden is manicured well, with a small glasshouse. From the moment you get in, you'd be pretty much astounded by the decor and items within, with everything being either original, or redone to look like the original, as some needed some love due to natural course of time. Definitely a must visit.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Larnach Castle, and it was an unforgettable experience!…read moreFrom the moment I arrived, the stunning views of the Otago Peninsula took my breath away. The castle itself is full of rich history and charm, with beautifully restored rooms and fascinating stories that bring the place to life. Larnach Castle is a true gem, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Dunedin. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just looking for a beautiful spot to explore, this place has something special to offer. I'll definitely be returning! *It is quite pricey to get in though...

Beautiful historic building (name as castle only)! Will post longer review another time.read more

After sailing from Hobart, Tasmania, to New Zealand's South Island to enjoy the extraordinary…read morebeauty of Milford Sound and the island's majestic Fiordland National Park, we continued sailing for another day to beautiful Port Chalmers, located on this country's southeastern coast. Our cruise ship docked at 8 am, and by 9 am, we, along with most of our fellow passengers, excitedly boarded a train to spend our day exploring the scenic and historic Taieri Gorge, browsing, shopping, and having lunch in its delightful town of Dunedin. We understood that the round-trip (port to Pukerangi to train station) scenic train ride would take 5.5 hours, and the train timetable was accurate because we arrived at the train station exactly at 2:30 pm. On the way out to the Taieri Gorge, we passed the railway station, and our guide reminded us that we could be let off there or continue back to the port where our cruise ship was docked after the scenic tour ended. Some people stayed on the train while we decided to wander around the railway station and town. From the boarding platform, we started to admire the stunning architectural features and were almost overwhelmed by its ornate interior. Three female docents, dressed in early 20th-century attire, greeted everyone who entered from the boarding platform. They offered some historical information about the landmark's architect, George Troup, AKA "Gingerbread George"; the building's revived Flemish Renaissance "gingerbread house" architectural features; and its main mosaic flooring, which is made up of 750,000 pieces of Royal Doulton porcelain. In contrast, its striking black-and-white exterior is made from local black basalt rock blocks from Kokonga, lighter or white limestone facings from Oamaru, pink granite supporting pillars on its front side, and terracotta shingles from Marseille roof over the boarding platform. The docents also led us to their museum, museum shop, and art gallery on the second floor. Immediately outside the station is Anzac Square, where a formal "knot garden" was created. We admired the knot garden and sat for a few minutes to soak in the grandeur of this landmark before crossing the street to walk up Lower Stuart Street, where we scarfed down made-to-order, delicious, hot fish and chips and fresh and sweet Bluff oysters. We met with fellow passengers at the designated cruise ship bus stop and returned on board well before the ship's 5:30 pm departure.

We visited this iconic train station while in Dudedin for the day. It's beautiful both outside and…read moreinside. They're were plenty of people taking pictures everywhere so it's hard to get the perfect shot, but apparently this is one of the most famous buildings in all of NZ, so it's kind of a must for tourists. They have bathrooms inside and you can walk around inside for free. There is also a cafe that has pretty good reviews but we went elsewhere for lunch and didn't have time to stop. It's a quick stop, and within the asking distance from plenty of other things to see in dudedin. Don't miss it!

The lighthouse was built in 1864 next to the Royal Albatross Center. The lighthouse was built in…read more1919 & has helped steer hundreds of whaling ships to safety. It was named after a Māori chief. Ruins of former coastal defences are nearby, notably a restored Armstrong disappearing gun emplacement built in 1886 following a scare that New Zealand might be invaded by the Russians.

Taiaroa Head Lighthouse was built in 1864 and named after "Te Matenga Taiaroa" , a 19th Century…read more"Maori "Chief. The lighthouse lies within the city limits of Dunedin New Zealand. Its location is quite remote in that it sits at the end of Otago Peninsula in the middle of the Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve. Unfortunately the lighthouse is not accessible to the general public, but can be viewed from the " Taiaroa Head Viewing Platform " on the nature reserve as well as on the Albatross Tour. One can also view the lighthouse by sea. The lighthouse has led many whaling ship safely back home and is one of the most iconic landmarks on the Otago Peninsula ! As always thanks for reading! Live/Love/Travel !