Things to do in Dunedin - My Top 5 Places
The perks of my boyfriend moving to Dunedin is: 1 - I'm racking up more airpoints than I've ever had in my life, and 2 - I get to explore this beautiful gem of a city. Today I'm rounding up four of my favourite places I've been to on my Otago weekend adventures.
1. Larnach Castle
If you're a keen photographer like me you might find this place a little stressful because there are SO many beautiful things to photograph. I was completely blown away by this old castle and the surrounding grounds. Although there is a fee to get in, its well worth it. We opted to do the garden tour rather than paying extra to go inside as we'd read on tripadvisor that the gardens were by far the best part, and we couldn't agree more. I think the pictures speak for themselves!
2. Saint Bathans
Connor, being the keen geologist that he is, discovered this old gold mining town on google and we made a spontaneous trip there one day. It's an adorable small town with historic buildings, a breathtaking lake, and if it's the right time of year blossoming lupin flowers (basically everything you need for a good instagram). It's quite similar to Arrowtown, a very popular tourist spot outside Queenstown, but in my opinion this place was much nicer with a more authentic feel. We vlogged our trip here and we ended up in the middle of a biker wedding that was happening which was hilarious, so make sure you check out the video here.
3. ARAMOANA BEACH
If you read my post from a few weeks ago on how to grow your confidence, then you will recognise this stunning backdrop from those photos. Although this beach is most known for the murders that took place in the 90's don't let that scare you off.
It's a stunning long piece of sandy paradise and it's the perfect beach getaway if you're looking for something close to the city.
4. Sandfly beach
Although we weren't lucky enough to spot any seals on our journey to this picturesque beach, I had lots of fun with Connor taking photos.
Be warned, it's a tough walk down the hill and through the sanddunes, but a gorgeous slice of paradise awaits you when you reach the end.
5. TAIROA HEADS
My great grandmother used to live in Dunedin and in 1967 her family, the Richdales, set up the Royal Albatross Centre at the beautiful Tairoa Heads. So I might be a little biased in saying this is a beautiful must-do if you're in Dunedin haha!
When Connor and I visited we decided not to pay for the tour as we'd just been to Larnach castle and were running low on the dough. Even without doing the tour, it's a beautiful place to visit and is well worth going to just for the stunning scenery on the drive there and the breathtaking cliff top view out onto the ocean.
