Guides › New Zealand (South Island) › Dunedin, New Zealand
City guide

Dunedin, New Zealand

Dunedin is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.

Type CityPopulation 132,800

Why go

  • City in Otago, New Zealand.
  • Served by Dunedin Airport (DUD).

History

Dunedin is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. With an estimated population of 132,800 as of June 2025, Dunedin is New Zealand’s seventh most populous metropolitan and urban area.

Restaurants & places to go

Restaurant · Opening hours: PH,Mo-Su 11:00-22:00+ Features: outdoor seating · 70 Anzac Avenue, Dunedin, 9016 · emersons.co.nz
Indoor
Seafood, Juice, Ice Cream, Fish And Chips, Fish, Cake, Burger, Barbecue, Chicken, Coffee Shop, Donut, Pasta, Regional, Steak House, Wings, Restaurant ·… · cobb.co.nz
Indoor
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:30-23:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · 433 Stuart Street, Dunedin, 9010 · dominos.co.nz
Indoor
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo 16:30-21:00; Tu-We 16:30-21:30; Th,Su 11:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegan options · 703… · hellpizza.nz
Indoor
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · kfc.co.nz
Indoor
Sushi, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-20:00 Features: takeaway, vegetarian options · 547 Andersons Bay Road, Dunedin, 9012 · stpierres.online
Indoor
Sandwich, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-21:30 Features: takeaway, delivery · 433 Stuart Street, Dunedin, 9010 · subway.com
Indoor
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: takeaway · 711 Great King Street, Dunedin, 9016 · mcdonalds.co.nz
Indoor

206 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Dunedin Airport (DUD) 24 km to the centre
Dunedin, OTA, NZ — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways) · direct flights to 3 destinations incl. Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 3 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Taieri Aerodrome 11 km to the centre
Dunedin, OTA, NZ
Outdoor
Balclutha Aerodrome 71 km to the centre
Balclutha, OTA, NZ
Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Steamer Basin
Ferry terminal · 0.4 km from the centre · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Forsyth Barr Stadium
Ferry terminal · 2.3 km from the centre · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Port Chalmers (Back Beach) Wharf
Ferry terminal · 12 km from the centre · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Portobello Wharf
Ferry terminal · 12 km from the centre · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Quarantine Island Wharf
Ferry terminal · 12 km from the centre · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Carey's Bay Wharf
Ferry terminal · 13 km from the centre · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Forsyth Barr Stadium Event Ferry
Ferry route · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Port Chalmers (Back Beach) - Portobello Ferry
Ferry route · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Portobello - Carey's Bay Ferry
Ferry route · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Port Chalmers (Back Beach) to Portobello or Quarantine Island
Ferry route · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Portobello to Port Chalmers or Quarantine Island
Ferry route · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor
Portobello to Carey's Bay
Ferry route · Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours Ltd
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Dunedin Airport (DUD); 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: DUD has direct flights to 3 destinations on 2 airlines (incl. Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Steamer Basin, 0.4 km); routes include Forsyth Barr Stadium Event Ferry, Port Chalmers (Back Beach) - Portobello Ferry, Portobello - Carey's Bay Ferry.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Dunedin, New Zealand. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Bus · Otago · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)

Trains & rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach
Intercity coach

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing
Sightseeing
Sightseeing