Find World-Class Sights on Dunedin Shore Excursions

It’s a good bet that, when your cruise to New Zealand docks in the South Island, you’ll be eager to see the most fascinating sights offered on Dunedin shore excursions. Whether your tastes run to city tours, vintage train travel, biking and hiking, or multi-day adventures, the Otago Harbour area offers it.

A Dunedin city highlights tour takes in the top historic and cultural attractions, including Maori artifacts at the Otago Museum, a tour of English-style mansions, and a chance to stroll the lovely, peaceful, and fragrant Botanical Gardens. On a stop at the restored Dunedin Railway Station, marvel at the building that gave its architect George Troup the nickname “Gingerbread George”. See the ticket hall with its Royal Doulton porcelain tiles, and enjoy the shops, art gallery, and sports hall of fame.

If you’re so inclined, one of the fun things to do in Dunedin, New Zealand is to hop on a vintage railcar for a chugging ride through the mountains of the Taieri River Gorge. You’ll pass the spot where one lucky prospector struck gold on Christmas Day in 1863. When the train trip pauses at the Pukerangi Plateau, you’ll have a chance to enjoy lunch, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and snap memory-making photos.  

To see the flora and fauna of the area around Dunedin, New Zealand shore excursions that include biking and hiking are just the ticket. You’ll cycle on paths that border the waterway and wander through flat farmland, taking in the sweeping views of the hills. Switch from biking to hiking for a guided trek through a nature reserve.

The very special wildlife of the Otago Peninsula can be seen on Dunedin shore excursions that take you along the coast to Harrington Point and Penguin Place, a working conservation reserve, where you’ll be able to get a close-up view of the amazing (and endangered) wild yellow-eyed penguins or Hoiho that are unique to New Zealand. You’ll also see other native birds, fur seals, and blue penguins, as well as many native flora, including the vibrant New Zealand Christmas tree.

On your cruise to Dunedin you can discover the resort area of Queenstown on a multi-day excursion that includes stunning mountain scenery, visits to old mining communities, a steamship cruise on a peaceful lake, views of ice-carved fjords, and a winery tour and sampling of vintage Pinot Noirs and Rieslings.

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