nelsonpom

Hi off to Dunedin, Invergargill and Stewart Island at the end of month for short holiday. Anyone got any must visit/see ideas as we have never been.
Thanks in advance

NermaltheCute

There used to be a fantastic tatooist on the Octagon in Dunedin! Let me know what Invercargill is like, never been and moving there in February.

kiwinow

Depends what you like doing. The Cadbury Factory tour in Dunedin is good but you have to book ahead. Also it depends on who your guide is as to how much free stuff you get.
St Kilda has nice beaches if you want to swim or Moana pool. You might want to look at Larnach Castle. Check out the penguin and seal colonies. No idea about the nightlife.
Driving to Invercargill the Catlins coast is beautiful and there are lots of bushwalks and beautiful beaches, some with sea lions on them, but you'd need a wet suit to stay in the water for long.
Can't help with Invercargill.

RobClubley

We just turned up at the Cadbury factory
The Speights tour is interesting and the restaurant next door is supposed to be excellent - you need to book that a couple of days in advance.
We really enjoyed the penguin place.

SLH

Hi I personally wouldn't do the Cadbury tour,its not that good. If you are driving down stop at Moeraki Boulders just north of Dunedin. You could do Larnach castle on the peninsula, Glenfalloch gardens, drive to the end of the peninsula to Tairoa Head and see the albatross, plenty of seals and sea lions on the beach just before there down a steep drive to the left. Speights tour, plenty of eating places around the city. Swimming at the salt water outdoor pool at St Clair. Driving south the drive down through the Catlins is a nice drive, you could go to Cannibal Bay for up close sea lion viewing but don't get too close. Purakanui Falls some water falls also on the Catlins route, Cathedral caves but quite a long walk and can only be done if the tide is out. Absolutely loads to do around Dunedin and beyond. Have a good trip I am sure you won't be disappointed.

nelsonpom

Tatooist may be interesting my wife wants one for her 30th (reason for holiday) so maybe should check out....

nelsonpom

Flying into Dunedin but will be hiring a car so thanx. Will look into your suggestions

nelsonpom

Will be driving to Invercargill and I take it the Catlins coast drive is the best ?

nelsonpom

SPEIGHTS

whitesand

It's worth going round to the Broad Bay area as the road goes through some lovely scenery which reminds me of places in the UK.

Woodlea

Hi Nelsonpom, me and the missus did the same as you just before xmas, Moeraki, Dunners, Invercargill & Stewart Island, but we drove from Chch. It was a round trip in five days/four nights so it was a bit rushed. If you can go to Moeraki then check out the boulders - but they aren't that special unless you're a geologist! Got to eat at Fleur's in Moeraki - awesome fish restaurant recommitted by Rick Stein. Very good food.

PM me if you want a recommendation for motels in the places above.

Dunedin:
Larnach Castle is good but a bit pricey, drive out past Port Chalmers to Aramoana - beautiful drive along the harbour (once you get past Port Chalmers ). In Port Chalmers nip up Blueskin Road to the Scott memorial, good views. Baldwin St, the world's steepest street, is worth a drive up.


On the way to Invercargill enjoy the lovely bridge over the Clutha at Balclutha, reminds me of WWII footage of bridges across the Rhine!
Try the 93 between Clinton & Mataura - bit of a short cut, you can get the Catlins on the way back, you don't want to miss Mataura ;-)

Invercargill
We stayed at a nice motel next to the historic and lovely water tower - it's all lit up at night and looks really good. Not far to Queens Park which is a really lovely park with nice rose gardens.

Bluff
Don't try and find anywhere to eat - there isn't anywhere!!

Stewart Island
Good wee museum and some awesome beaches and scenery, wee hike to an interesting graveyard.

Catlins
Nice scenery. Niagara Falls of New Zealand are just like the real thing!!

Have a safe trip!

kiwinow

If you are driving down, the very best place to see penguins and seals up close without paying is the Moeraki Lighthouse, providing you're there in the late afternoon, but don't go to the tourist hideout. Walk across the farm and out to the point and you'll see them within a couple of metres of you. The scenery is awesome too. Fleur's is great. In fact there's a new book out all about Fleur's (check out Whitcoulls top ten).

Stewart Island is mostly about tramping and fishing and is renowned for crap weather, but hopefully you'll strike it lucky and it is beautiful even if it rains, but it can be bloody freezing.

My God is that water tower in Invercargill now an icon? when I lived there as a kid it was still functional. Queen's park is nice and if you like art you could visit the Anderson Art place. The best bet is to follow the signs for the information centre and pick up some brochures.

thesixss

We have just come back from 6 days in the Catlins - Curio Bay and Porpoise Bay a must see. Resident dolphins and yellow-eyed penguins - just go later in the day. Definitely one of the highlights of the holiday. And Nugget Point spectacular - lots of performing seals. The other place we loved was Cathedral Caves and walk only half an hour return but you must go two hours either side of low tide. Apparently most people only spend a day or two in the Catkins which isn't enough. And the cafe at Niagara Falls is lovely.

But book accommodation ahead. Not sure what you are looking for - we have children and little money so we went very basic but there is a shortage of availability in peak times.

We also stayed in Dunedin - kids loved the Cadbury's tour. And the Butterfly/Tropical Forest in the Otago Museum.

As for Invercargill - we actually really liked it. Swimming pool great and huge fabulous public gardens. Looks like a good place to settle, and only an hour from the heart of the Catlins - very lucky.

Enjoy the holiday.

shirl

We tried to get in without a booking and no luck. I think you need to book in advance to get in. We ended up in the pub down the road looking across to Fleurs and kicking ourselves

Kaz n Joolz

Definately got to take a drive down the penninsular.....amazing drive and views. Yellow eyed penguin place (on the penninsular) is great and the penguins have chicks on the nests at the moment!! Allens Beach and Victory Beach (both on the penninsular are great, white sands and virtually deserted most of the time). I agree the castle is expensive if you want to go inside (and very small) but the gardens there are awesome with fantastic 360 degree views across the harbour, take a picnic and spend the afternoon. Speights tour is good and offers samples at the end!! The Monarch boat cruise is pretty cool, it takes you out to the harbour entrance and all along the coastline (also found on the penninsular). Butterfly Experiance in the Otago museum is cool esp for kids as they have loads of interactive games and 'kids stuff' as well.

A night out at the Octagon is also a must, but avoid it like the plague the first few weeks after term starts the new students converge en masse!!!

The Catlins are beautiful and well worth exploring, lots of walks (30mins - 5hrs) and lots of waterfalls with good access to them. We loved Stewart Island and definately recommend a visit to Olva Island if you're interested in bird/plant life. Didn't stay long in Invercargill and agree that Bluff has nothing in it at all really of interest expect the oysters when they're in season.

Enjoy the trip.

Karen