Dunedin's Stay and Play, Heritage Homes & Castles.

Itinerary

DAY ONE                                        D

Today will be spent travelling to our destination for the next six days. Prepare for a journey that transcends the ordinary as you fly into Dunedin. Upon arrival you will be transported to the Distinction Hotel located in Central Dunedin where you can settle in and relax. Tonight, we’ll enjoy our first meal together at the hotel’s onsite restaurant and as the sun sets, enjoy the facilities the hotel has on offer. 

DAY TWO                                       B, L, D

This morning enjoy your breakfast onsite, a prelude to the day's activities. This morning, we will be driving to Harrington Point to witness the grace of albatross during the Albatross Classic Tour, this will include a 60 minute fully guided tour, short film, presentation on the albatross breeding cycle, short walk up the hill for viewing from our exclusive glassed observatory to view the albatross and any other wildlife. After this we’ll have a short break to enjoy the onsite Toroa Café and gift store. From here our journey will continue onto Larnach Castle, situated on the picturesque Otago Peninsula, Larnarch Castle is one of New Zealand’s premier visitor attractions. The Castle and surrounding grounds are the heart of the Dunedin visitor experience. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of the castle and grounds then a catered lunch at the Ballroom Cafe. You will have some more time after lunch to visit the shop and explore the gardens setting. This afternoon you will have some free time with the option of visiting Central Dunedin for a spot of shopping the choice is yours. This evening, we will be dining offsite at the Speight’s Ale House this is an iconic place to visit when in Dunedin. 

DAY THREE                                    B, L, D

Start your day with breakfast onsite at the hotel, after this we’ll make our way to the Moeraki Boulders, where the surreal meets the shore. From here our journey continues and the time arrives for us explore the whimsical Riverstone Castle, this is the creation of Dot and Neil Smith. Surrounded by a lake and set on the Smith’s dairy farm behind Riverstone Kitchen. Built from local Oamaru stone, Riverstone Castle makes for a dramatic backdrop to the rest of the Riverstone complex. We’ll enjoy a lovely catered lunch at Riverstone Kitchen Restaurant located by the castle and an opportunity to visit the store and the garden. Upon departure we will stop back in Oamaru. Here we can immerse ourselves in the eclectic world of steampunk at Oamaru's Victorian Precinct. To conclude our day, we’ll return to Distinction Hotel for dinner at the hotel.

DAY FOUR                                      B, L, D

After refuelling from breakfast, we’ll embark on a day of curiosity stopping in Middlemarch, then onto Ranfurly visiting the Maniototo Visitor Centre in this little art deco community. We’ll then continue onto Clachanburn Gardens, where Jane Falconer welcomes you to her rambling country garden, set in the stark beauty of the Maniototo. The lawns and borders roll gracefully away from the house to two large ponds with rugged hills to one side and the distant mountains beyond, giving an impression of a lush oasis in the heat and dry of Central Otago. We’ll enjoy a light catered lunch, maybe take home a little gift from Jane’s shop, followed by a self-guided tour of the gardens. After our lovely time we'll be stopping in for a unique thrill of indoor curling in Naseby, we’ll enjoy a talk about this southern sport. From here we’ll make our way home, stopping briefly in Palmerston for a comfort stop before returning to Distinction Hotel for a dinner that mirrors the day's vibrancy. 

DAY FIVE                                        B, L, D

This morning after breakfast we’ll open another door to Dunedin's rich history with the Olveston Historic Home Tour. Olveston is an authentic and original historic home depicting the life of a wealthy merchant family in the early part of the twentieth century. From here we’ll take our time to view the steepest street globally, Baldwin Street. We’ll then continue on a scenic drive that unfolds the coastal gems through to Port Chalmers. Upon arrival we’ll take some time to stretch our legs and enjoy the area. Coming up next our scenic drive takes you to St Kilda and St Claire to view these lovely seaside villages. After this we’ll enjoy a catered lunch at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, then onto a self-guided audio tour at the tranquil Lan Yuan Chinese Garden. We’ll cap the day with our final dinner that captures the spirit of Dunedin at Distinction Hotel. 

DAY SIX                                           B

A grand final and farewell with fond Memories. Your final day will be spent heading to your next destination whether it be home ward bound or connecting our Stewart Island tour to continue your southern adventure. As you leave, carry with you the echoes of laughter, the flavours of adventure, and the timeless memories forged in Dunedin's embrace.