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Destinations - Dunedin Region

Southland's rugged unspoilt landscape is a fertile place of green farmland & forest, laced with sparkling clean waters & small towns.

Dunedin (pop 118,143) is the largest NZ city from the mid-Victorian era; a city of culture & learning, distinguished by libraries, museums & galleries & NZ's 1st university.

Temperate climate supports fine gardens in a city famous for rhododendrons. Dunedin has good swimming & surfing beaches & much natural beauty on the Otago Peninsula, home to a variety of bird life; rare yellow-eyed penguins & the world's only mainland royal albatross colony.

Take in a tour - Cadbury's new chocolate factory or daily tours of historic Speight's Brewery; also wildlife tours, art & craft trails.

Dunedin Botanic Gardens are NZ's oldest & cover 65ha - well worth a visit.

Opened in 1868, Dunedin 's redeveloped museum is a must-see.

Dunedin Public Art Gallery -'Old Masters' to contemporary NZ works, the gallery with something for everyone.

Portobello is main town on Otago peninsula; shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, arts & crafts. Visit NZ Marine Studies Centre & Aquarium, see fascinating studies of marine ecosystems in the harbour.

Larnach Castle open daily for guided/independent tours; view huge collection of NZ antiques. This historic castle is rumoured to have a ghost.

Gardens on the Otago Peninsula are especially beautiful September-October; cafe & pottery store open all year.

Wonderful walking & picnicking opportunities at St Kilda & St Clair ocean beaches; try hiking up the world's steepest street - Baldwin Street in North Dunedin.

Golf & salmon fishing, sea kayaking, jet boating, jet skiing & white-water rafting on the Taieri River ; ocean waves provide ideal conditions for surfing.

Visit scenic Waitaki region to see lakes & hydroelectric dams, rolling farmland, exquisite Oamaru stone, yellow-eyed & blue penguins. Clay cliffs at Omarama are short drive from main road. E coast at Moeraki teems with wildlife; penguins, seals, fish & occasionally dolphins.

Clutha River generates hydroelectricity, providing recreational fishing/boating in purpose-built lakes. Balclutha is the main town of this productive agricultural area of South Otago .

On the Catlin coast, experience native forests/walkways, beaches, waterfalls & caves.

Trout streams, sheep farms, coastal fishing & prosperous towns in Southland contrast with deep rainforests, high alpine lakes, thick bush & rare, elusive birds of Fiordland & Stewart Island.

NZ's southernmost city, Invercargill, thriving economic & cultural centre for Southland, is departure point for Stewart Island. Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, powered by locally generated hydroelectricity, is based in Bluff Harbour.

Historic Riverton has great local crafts & safe swimming beaches.

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