DUNEDIN

Somewhat maligned and often overlooked, DUNEDIN offers many diversions for the visitor with a couple of days to devote to exploring!

We can recommend a visit to Cadbury World, Cadbury chocolate's visitor centre and factory tour. It is open every day, though one should note that the factory itself is not operational at weekends/public holidays. The tour takes about 75 minutes and includes tasting. In the middle of each year a chocolate festival is held in Dunedin, with extended CadburyWorld tours and tasting in the evening. Other events include a Jaffa race down the world's steepest street, Baldwin Street. (A Jaffa is a chocolate confection, an orange flavoured candy coating with a chocolate centre). We were surprised to find chocolate flavoured beer on offer at Speights Brewery and more surprised to find that it was a very pleasant brew!

First Presbyterian Church is situated close to the city centre and offers a small heritage centre (behind and to the right of the church as you approach from the main gate) which is open for a few hours most days. Those interested in more traditional museums should not miss the Otago Museum and the Otago Settlers Museum, both of which now offer free admission and have a very high class of display.

Taiaroa Heads on the Otago Peninsula offers many opportunities to study wildlife (albatross and yellow-eyed penguins in particular) as well as a number of man-made places of interest such as Fort Taiaroa which has the the only working-order Armstrong Disappearing Gun (1886) of it's type left in the world! The scenic drive to Taiaroa Heads offers the opportunity to visit 3 homes and gardens: Glenfalloch Woodland Garden approximately 15 minutes from the city centre, Larnach Castle, well signposted from the upper and lower roads, or Fletcher House, a typical Edwardian villa built in 1909 by Sir James Fletcher. This house is open daily. There are many other sights and attractions. For details

On the other side of Otago Harbour lies Port Chalmers, a small port town which now houses the container port. The small maritime museum (Regional Maritime Museum Port Chalmers)- housed in the old post-office - displays an eclectic collection. Careys Bay is a short distance on from Port Chalmers. It offers a newly renovated hotel/pub/restaurant. More details.

MONARCH Cruises offer wildlife cruises, dinner cruises to Careys Bay etc.

BETTER PRICE HOTELS offer a considerable variety of accommodation options. On our last visit we used BROTHERS BOUTIQUE HOTEL. Newly listed, this small hotel is the former Christian Brothers' Residence. It is close to the city and Speights Brewery, offers free off-street parking and a continental breakfast. We also have stayed at the QUEST in Dunedin, a new apartment hotel close to the city centre and very reasonably priced.