Dunedin is a compact Victorian city on a harbour, with some of the best wildlife in the country on its doorstep. Three days gives you the city and its streets, a day on the Otago Peninsula with albatrosses and penguins, and a day out to the coast or the Catlins. The peninsula roads are narrow, so a campervan suits the city and the highway better than the road along the water.
Where to base yourself
Holiday parks around the city and on the harbour give you power and showers within a short drive of the centre, and the Octagon and the railway station are an easy walk or bus ride from most. On the Otago Peninsula there are smaller campgrounds and holiday parks, and the road to them is narrow and winding. DOC runs campsites in the surrounding Otago coast and the Catlins to the south.
Dunedin City Council allows freedom camping in some places for self-contained vehicles, with limits on length of stay and fines for breaking them, so read the freedom camping in Dunedin guide for the current places before relying on it. In summer the holiday parks fill up when the cruise ships are in and over the school holidays, so book ahead.
- Holiday parks near the centre
- Book ahead in summer
- Check the freedom camping places
Day 1: the city
Start at the Octagon and walk to the railway station, one of the most photographed buildings in the country, and the Otago Museum and the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum are within a few minutes. Baldwin Street, known as the steepest street in the world, is a short drive north and takes ten minutes to climb on foot. The University of Otago and the student quarter give the city its character.
In the afternoon, ride the Taieri Gorge Railway, if it is running, or visit the Dunedin Botanic Garden, which is free and a pleasant walk. In the evening, the cafes and bars in the Octagon area and Moray Place are busy, and you can leave the van at the holiday park and take a bus or taxi.
- Octagon and the railway station
- Baldwin Street is a short climb
- Leave the van at the park
Turn the stops into a trip
Day 2: the Otago Peninsula
The road along the harbour to Portobello and on to the end of the peninsula takes about an hour, and a campervan should take it slowly. At the tip, the Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head is the only mainland colony of royal albatrosses in the world, with guided tours that need booking. Nearby, you can see yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals and sea lions from hides and beaches, and the penguins come ashore in the late afternoon.
Larnach Castle sits on the hill above the harbour and has a good garden and a view, and Sandfly Bay has a dune walk and sea lions. Keep a safe distance from all wildlife, 10 metres from a sea lion and further from a penguin, and never block their path to the water. Take the high road back along the ridge for the views, if your van is not too tall.
- Book the albatross tour
- Keep 10 metres from sea lions
- Allow a full day for the peninsula
Day 3: Tunnel Beach, St Clair and the coast
South of the city, Tunnel Beach is a sandstone cliff walk through a hand-cut tunnel to a small beach, about half an hour each way and steep on the way back. Some seasons the track closes for lambing, so check the council page before you go. St Clair Beach, with its esplanade, surf and cafes, is a good place for a late lunch.
If you have the time, drive north to Moeraki for the Moeraki Boulders and then on to Oamaru, where blue penguins return to the colony at dusk. That is about 80 to 120 kilometres each way, so it is a full day. South of the city, the Southern Scenic Route and the Catlins have their own guides.
- Check for lambing closures
- Moeraki Boulders and Oamaru
- Blue penguins at dusk
Driving in and around Dunedin
The city streets are steep and narrow, with one-way streets around the Octagon, and a long van is easier outside the centre. Frost and ice can make the hill roads slippery in winter, and the Southern Motorway is the quickest way in and out. The road from Christchurch is covered in the Christchurch to Dunedin guide.
Watch for sheep and cattle on the rural roads of the peninsula and the coast, and slow down for blind corners. The wildlife and livestock road safety guide has the basics.
- Steep and narrow streets
- Frost in winter
- Livestock on rural roads
Planning your three days in KiwiCamping
Around Dunedin and the Otago coast, KiwiCamping lists DOC campsites, huts and holiday parks on its iPhone map, and you can filter by campervan access and facilities. Add a base and a backup to a trip in the order you will drive them, and the app works out the distance between each pair and shows a forecast for every place, which helps you pick the peninsula day. There are no spoken directions or traffic updates, so a maps app still handles the roads.
Anything you book at a DOC site is done on the DOC website, as the app only shows the places. The download is free, with in-app purchases.
- Save a base and a backup
- Forecast decides the peninsula day
- Book DOC sites on DOC's site
Places along the way
Check before you go
Rules and conditions change. Recheck the official source and the page for your exact park or campground before departure.
Common questions
Is the Otago Peninsula road suitable for a campervan?+
Yes, but it is narrow and winding along the harbour, so take it slowly and avoid driving it at night. A very tall or long van may prefer to visit the tip on a tour.
How many days do you need in Dunedin?+
Three days covers the city, the Otago Peninsula and a day to Tunnel Beach and the coast. Add a day for Moeraki and Oamaru or the Catlins.
Plan the drive
Save the stops. Plan the whole trip.
Free to download. BookIt holiday parks and tours are free to browse and book; DOC campsites, huts, dump stations, the in-app guides and trip planning need the Premium pass.
KiwiCamping is an iPhone app. There is no Android version.
