How to Spend a Week in Dunedin with Children
Dunedin is full of character, and that character comes to life when kids are around. Here’s how to make the most of a week in Dunedin as a family.
A trip to Dunedin means castles, penguins, street art, museums and stunning scenery. This also means that the whole family will have all the boxes ticked, all in the low-cost comfort of a Thrifty rental car. Join us as we unpack a seven day plan for a family-friendly getaway.
Day 1: City Wandering and Street Art
Kick off your Dunedin journey in the city’s public square, known as the Octagon. Here, the kids can run around before you wander through the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. While you’re there, challenge your kids to go seek out the colourful murals tucked into the laneways.
Day 2: Otago Museum and Butterfly Forest
At the Otago Museum, the kids will get to meet dinosaur skeletons, and get hands-on experience with interactive science-based exhibitions. Once you’re done looking and learning, head to the Tropical Forest butterfly enclosure and immerse yourselves in hundreds of fluttering butterflies.
Day 3: Dunedin Railway Station
Dunedin’s railway station is far from stock-standard. This Flemish Renaissance-style station is unapologetically grand, and is worth a visit for a look alone. If you’re there on a Saturday, stick around for a visit to the Farmers’ Market, which transforms the nearby carpark into a showcase of the region’s proud producers.
Day 4: Wildlife on the Otago Peninsula
Next, load up the rental car and head out to the Otago Peninsula, which many describe as New Zealand’s wildlife capital. At Taiaroa Head, kids can watch the world’s only mainland colony of royal albatross as they soar across the sky. Stop by beaches like Sandfly Bay and Allan’s Beach and keep an eye out for fur seals basking on the sand, and protected reserves give you a chance to glimpse the rare yellow-eyed penguin. There are also family-friendly stops like the Penguin Place conservation project and the Albatross Centre, where guides help children learn and love these creatures a little better. Even without the wildlife encounters, the dramatic cliffs, sheltered bays and open farmland makes it a day trip with a view.
Day 5: Larnach Castle and Gardens
Larnach Castle is New Zealand’s only castle, which means it’s a must for adventurous kids. This magnificent 1870s castle is perched high on the Otago Peninsula, and the rooms are restored to their original Victorian grandeur. Outside, the seven hectares of themed gardens feel like a storybook come to life. Wander rainforest paths, rock gardens, and lawns designed for exploring, and in some seasons the castle runs treasure hunts.
Day 6: Botanic Gardens and Baldwin Street
The Dunedin Botanic Gardens are a peaceful spot for families, with themed areas, open lawns, and a playground. Afterwards, head to Baldwin Street, once officially recognised as the steepest street in the world. Walking—or rolling—a ball down it is a quirky thrill for children.
Day 7: Beaches and Tunnel Beach Track
Wrap up your week with a cruise to the coast. St Clair Beach is a great spot for an easy paddle and a stroll along the sand, while Tunnel Beach Track leads through a hand-carved tunnel to a secluded cove with dramatic cliffs towering above. It’s a final stop that everyone involved can get into.
Dunedin, Done!
In Dunedin, you can surround yourselves with history, wildlife and scenery, while keeping everyone in the family thoroughly entertained. And, when you’ve got a Thrifty rental car, tracking and ticking off these destinations is as easy as turning a key.