Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Dunedin, New Zealand

Dunedin is home to about 127,000 people.  It is the 7th largest city in New Zealand but the second largest on the South Island.  The city is named after Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, as "Dunedin" is the Scottish Gaelic word for "Edinburgh".

The area was settled by the Māori around 1300 and it is known as Ōtepoti.  Europeans settled here in 1848 and Dunedin was incorporated in 1855.

The Octagon is the eight-sided plaza in the city centre.  There's a statue of the Scottish poet Robert Burns and a number of plaques on the paving around the Octagon make up a "writers' walk" of notable local authors.  In 2014, the city was designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature.

Near the Octagon is the Town Hall.  Initial construction was completed in 1880.  It was renovated in 1989.






St. Paul's is the city's Anglican cathedral.  It was consecrated in 1919.

First Church of Otago is Dunedin's primary Presbyterian church.  It was consecrated in 1873.





All Saints' Church serves the Anglican parish on the north side of the city.  It was completed in 1865 and is the city's oldest church.

The Cenotaph is located at Queen's Gardens and is the city's main war memorial.  It honours those from Dunedin who died in WWI and WWII while serving in New Zealand's armed forces.

Europeans settled the area during the Victorian era so it makes sense that there's a statue of Queen Victoria at Queen's Gardens.



The Botanic Garden was established in 1863 and is the oldest in New Zealand.






Cadbury World is a popular destination featuring a self-guided tour.





The Otago Settlers Museum opened in 1898.  It is the oldest museum in New Zealand.

The Otago Workers Memorial was dedicated in 2003 to those who have died as a result of work-related accidents.

The Dunedin Railway Station opened in 1906.




The Chinese Garden opened in 2008.  It is one of only three authentic Chinese gardens outside of China and is the only one in the southern hemisphere.




According to the Guinness Book of Records, Baldwin Street is the steepest street in the world.  It's a short street just under 350 metres (1,150 feet) long.



Its gradient is 1 in 2,9 and it makes for a nice little hike up to the top.

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