Lower Southeastern South Island

You can fly here from Queenstown or Christchurch, or drive from those cities as well. The drive from Te Anau to Dunedin is especially beautiful!

To visit Dunedin is to visit a bit of Scotland –on the other side of the planet. One of the oldest cities in the country, it was built when gold was discovered in Central Otago.

Dunedin was the port where the gold was shipped out. Early settlers were Scottish, and as they made their wealth in the gold rush they built stout stone homes in the Scottish gothic style. The cathedral, the old train station, and the university here are excellent examples of this architecture. And out on nearby Otago Peninsula is New Zealand’s only castle: Lanarch Castle. You can take a tour or stay overnight on the property.

Perhaps the biggest draw for visitors to Dunedin is the birdlife. Otago Peninsula has the only mainland colony of Royal Albatross in the world. What a treat to see them! There are also yellow-eyed penguin colonies and the little blue or “fairy” penguins to be seen here.

Our clients have fallen in love with this area, which lies along the coast south of Dunedin down to Invercargill. The rugged coast has walking tracks including one that goes out to a lighthouse. Our favorite accommodation is a sheep farm that offers a warm welcome to guests. If you are not going on to Stewart Island, you can drive west to Te Anau. Or some clients prefer to take the bus so they can sit back and enjoy the countryside – mountain peaks and valleys of grazing sheep.

Folks who live here have been lobbying for years to have their island called the South Island, because it is in fact the southernmost island in New Zealand. Sparsely populated, it is a prized destination for serious birders. Some trek here to see the Kiwi birds, which are nocturnal. Seeing them requires strength and fortitude because the terrain can be very muddy. But a very easy place to go birding is Ulva Island, one of New Zealand’s significant bird refuges. This tiny island has been rendered predator free. We will organize a guided tour for you.