12 Hours Dunedin

Fuel up for the day at Maggies, just east of the Octagon. It’s the kind of place that serves ridiculously good coffee, food and organic juices. The menu is bursting with colour and flavour; the kimchi omelette with house pickles and greens is not to be missed. The cabinet features a range of delectable baking, like their famous cinnamon pinwheel. 

Find your orientation in Dunedin by taking a morning city walk. Make St Paul's Cathedral your first stop. The building stands in the heart of the Octogan and is an impressive gothic-style stone cathedral worth exploring.  From there take the short sojourn to Queens Gardens, and onto Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden, a truly unexpected delight. The gardens at Lan Yuan are an authentic example of a late Ming/early Ching Dynasty Scholar's Garden and celebrate Otago's Chinese heritage. 

Make a short intermission during your Queens Gardens stroll by calling into the compact and colourful Big Lizard to see what all the fuss is about. Office workers, tourists, travellers and locals alike queue up as soon as the doors open at 8am to get their fill of croissants, tarts, filled focaccia and potato rolls, and more. From then on the flow remains steady until the cabinet is bare. We recommend grabbing a treat or two (one for now, one for later) before they're all gone. As the only place in Ōtepoti to use Grey Roasting Co. coffee beans, it only makes sense to grab a brew to enjoy alongside your pastry. Just remember your reusable cup.

Wandering through the Warehouse Precinct’s streets and alleyways reveals some incredible gems. Art and architecture, boutique stores, street art and sculpture sit alongside one another like old friends. The layers of history here show how the city has evolved from its industrial roots. While you're in the area, it'd be remiss not to swing by Wild Dispensary, a natural health company that sustainably grows and harvests local, native and wild herbs for their medicinal product ranges, Hard to Find Books for a wee browse and Vanguard if you need another coffee hit. 

For lunch, step inside ADJØ on George Street and immerse yourself in the calm and cosy atmosphere that’s marked by wooden floors, warm-hued walls and hanging lamps. With its laid-back energy, it’s the perfect spot for a midday pause. The Danish-inspired menu ranges from a simple sourdough bun (baked fresh daily) with whipped brown butter and Swiss cheese, a popular breakfast in Copenhagen, to a bunch of good old egg options, and there’s even a deliciously extensive porridge section (a staple food in Denmark) of oat- or rice-based bowls, topped with all sorts of goodies — homemade caramel, fresh or stewed fruit, cinnamon and cardamom sugar, chocolate and earl grey. Housemade bread accompanies many of the dishes here, there are plenty of vegan options, and most can be made gluten-free. From homemade schnapps and sodas to locally grown organic teas, the drinks menu warrants its own entry. You’ll have to go and see for yourself.

Take a stroll down George Street and discover Dunedin’s fast-paced fashion scene. You’ll find plenty of unique and modern clothing and jewellery and a genuine commitment to New Zealand-made and -manufactured goods.

Don’t miss Plume, home of the famous Aotearoa brand NOM*d. The super cool heritage fit-out is home to original designs from the dark and witty brand that put NZ fashion on the map way back in 1999. Around the corner in a dreamy upstairs space you’ll find Company Store, the flagship location of another local label, Company of Strangers. Alongside in-house collections, the line-up here features other notable New Zealand and international designers.

Guild is a retail and gallery space that showcases the locally made, quality wares of independent Dunedin creatives, run by the not-for-profit society Dunedin Designed Inc. You’ll find everything from jewellery and fashion to furniture and prints here, and the store is even staffed by the designers themselves—strike up a conversation to learn more about certain goods and their design or fabrication process.

Now it's time to head to Royal Terrace to visit The Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery (note: the museum is a little out of the city centre so either grab a rideshare or bus). Enter the old villa and be immersed in a world of fossils, relics, tribal art, masks, animal skeletons, and other artefacts. The museum is local artist Bruce Mahalski’s ‘greatest work’ and the man himself is often available to share the curious, humorous and ever-intriguing stories that exist behind each piece in the collection. DMNM makes childhood tales of larger-than-life fossil hunters, palaeontologists, adventurers, explorers and ghost chasers come alive. It’s a place to play and explore science at your own pace, in a way that’s fun and totally unique.

You’ve had a full day in Dunedin and now it’s time to relax. Kick off the evening with a pint at local favourite Albar. The most subtly Scottish pub this side of the equator, it's a buzzing social hub for many. With Emerson’s on tap, it's easy to make a beverage choice. Emerson’s brewery will always launch a new or limited edition beer from Albar first so keep an eye out for one of those. 

Moiety earned a Cuisine Good Food Awards Hat in 2019 with their five-course dinner menu, which is built upon local ingredients sourced from Otago’s best farmers, fishers, foragers, and artisanal producers. While that first line might have you thinking Moiety is an uppity fine dining establishment, we’re pleased to report it’s anything but. The menu is short and sweet, starting with a few snack options and then briefly listing the main components of each course. Expect exciting dishes at Moiety; flavourful, colourful, delicious representations of the region and the stories that accompany them go out with every plate.

Wrap up your Ōtepoti adventure with a nightcap at Woof. This lovable spot comes with the comfort of a diner, the welcoming atmosphere of a pub and the late-night appeal of a cocktail lounge. The cocktail list is large and includes monthly specials and creative concoctions in addition to all of the classics. Give yourself a few minutes with the menu and discover tasty drops akin to past specials like the ‘Honey Bee’ made with Bacardi rum, freshly squeezed orange and lemon, and Arataki honey. The non-alcoholic cocktail list is one of the most robust we’ve found and also delivers on taste and creativity.