What are the best ways to get around Dunedin?
Dunedin Airport to city centre
When you book flights Nelson to Dunedin and travel to the city, you’ll quickly realise how easy it is to get around. Dunedin Airport (DUD) is approximately 22 kilometres from the centre of Dunedin, which is around a 30-minute drive. Taxis and shuttle services are widely available at Dunedin Airport, as are rental cars.
Bus
Dunedin buses are a very affordable transportation option for visitors on a budget. At the time of writing, prices for a single adults ticket start at $1.92. Alternatively, you can use a GoCard bus pass. This is probably the most convenient option as you don’t need to worry about having the correct change. You can buy a GoCard pass on any Dunedin urban bus.
Taxis
Taxis such as Yellow operate in the Dunedin area and are widely available throughout the city. When you book airfares from Nelson to Dunedin, you don’t need to worry about expensive taxis. As Dunedin is such a compact city, distances between landmarks and places of interest tend to be small, so taxi fares are generally very affordable.
Rental cars
If you want to rent a car when you book flights from Nelson to Dunedin, major rental car companies including Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty can be found in Dunedin city and at the Dunedin Airport (DUD) terminal.
Walking
Visitors with Nelson to Dunedin flights are often surprised by how little they actually need to use public transport. Like the Scottish capital it is named after (the city’s name is Gaelic for Edinburgh) Dunedin is very compact, so is great to explore on foot.
Cycling
Dunedin is a fairly flat city, making it an ideal place to cycle around. Some of the outer suburbs can be a little hillier, but if you stick to the centre, you should have no difficulty navigating the city. Many of the city’s main roads have a dedicated cycle lane so it’s very safe to get around. You can easily hire bikes from iBike Hire Dunedin.
What neighbourhoods can I stay in?
City Centre
If you want maximum convenience and all the main tourist attractions on your doorstep, then the city centre is the best place to stay when you book flights from Nelson to Dunedin. Some of the best shops and restaurants are in the city centre too, including the Bacchus Wine Bar & Restaurant.
St Clair
St Clair is a quiet and quaint coastal suburb next to some of the city’s best beaches. If you’ve booked Nelson to Dunedin flights for summer, this could be a great spot to stay as it’s just 5 kilometres from the city centre.
Opoho
Though it’s just a 12-minute drive from the CBD, Opoho offers amazing views of the city. It’s also very near the Dunedin Botanic Garden and is home to an eclectic mix of students, couples and retirees. As a result, you’ll find everything from delicious local bakeries to fun bars and cafes. This little known part of the city could be a great location to stay in when you secure Nelson to Dunedin return flights.
Mornington
If you’re booking flights from Nelson to Dunedin with family, consider staying in the quiet, family-friendly suburb of Mornington. It’s just over 2 kilometres from the city centre, so is easy to get to on foot or via public transport. It’s also home to Mailer Street, which has several popular cafés and restaurants, such as Alto Cafe and the Morning Taphouse.
What’s the history of Dunedin?
History enthusiasts with Nelson to Dunedin flights will have plenty to see and do throughout the city. Dunedin is a university town with a population of around 130,000. It has a deep Scottish heritage and is named after the Gaelic name for Edinburgh. However, the Maori people first settled in the region in the 13th century and established a strong community which lay undisturbed for centuries, until the arrival of Europeans in the late 18th century. The first recorded European in the area was Captain James Cook, who sailed by in March 1770, but it was William Tucker who became the first permanent European settler in the area in 1815. By 1865, Dunedin became New Zealand’s first city, largely as a result of the gold rush that hit Central Otago around this time. It became a very multicultural city during this era, with miners from America, China, Italy, Scotland, Germany and beyond coming to the region in search of fortune. Today, Dunedin is considered the centre of education in New Zealand thanks to the University of Otago.
