Dunedin is the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand. There are no zoo’s here. If you want to catch a glimpse of some of these strange and wonderful animals, you’ll need to be prepared to enter their environment. The Otago Peninsula is home to New Zealand Fur Seals & Sea Lions, both Yellow-Eyed and Little Blue Penguins, rare lizards and the only mainland Royal Albatross Colony anywhere. Just 20 km north of Dunedin the award winning Orokonui Ecosanctuary and its many species of native forest and wildlife including Kiwi, Takahe & Tuatara. Most of these creatures are native to New Zealand and developed unique attributes due to New Zealand’s geographic isolation. If you’re lucky you may even share a wave or two with some of the native wildlife!

Aotearoa, New Zealand’s indigenous people are the Māori, who voyaged to these lands across the vast Pacific Oceans from Hawaiki over 800 years ago, long before Europeans claim to have discovered New Zealand. Māori society is complex and organised in the form of individual Iwi's, Tribes, and Hapū, Sub-Tribes, whom each hold the manawhenua, customary authority over their respective rohe, territory. With this role, culturally is a strong environmental connection to the care and use of air, water, land, and the ocean. The processes and practices around these are known as kaitakitanga, and those who guard and uphold these values are kaitiaki.

The predominant Iwi throughout Te Waipounamu, the South Island today is Ngāi Tahu or Kāi Tahu as pronounced further South. Ngāi Tahu originated from in the East Coast of the North Island descending from Tahupōtikia, the younger brother of Porou Ariki, founder of Ngāti Porou. Ngāi Tahu established in what is now Wellington, before moving further and further into the South Island where they fought and / or made ties as they went with the earlier peoples in these lands such as Rapuwai, Hāwea, Waitaha and Kati Māmoe. A journey into Te Ao Māori, the Māori World, where learning the tikanaga, protocols & customs, cultural values, beliefs, philosophy and fascinating history is a perfect starting point to reconnect and gain insight into the physical and spiritual world around us, plus pay our respects to the true history of Aotearoa and its people.

An opportunity to connect with the local descendants of these people, some Tangatawhenua and Kaitiaki in Dunedin from Hapu Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki through Karitāne Māori Tours is an opportunity to experience a more meaningful and memorable visit to Aotearoa. For more please click below images to find their website in our Friends and Recommendations page.

Dunedin is a boutique city, small and perfectly formed. Immerse yourself in its intriguing twists and turns to uncover a bewitching combination of quirkiness & character. From its gothic architecture to its modern night life, Dunedin lives in the past, present & future. The first Europeans to live here were whalers and sealers at the start of the 19th century. Dunedin city was founded in 1848 by Scottish immigrants and had its largest population boom from 1861 onwards as people came from all corners of the world due to the discovery of gold in the region. Today Dunedin is a University city with its large student population ensuring the place is full of fun loving creative young people who are always keen to socialize with others.

Dunedin & its surrounding landscapes are some of the most beautiful in New Zealand. Start off at a remote, rugged beach, cross rolling green hills & finish off your day amongst golden alpine tussock. Just head south 90 minutes and you’re in the Catlins, a raw and rugged environment where trees stand sideways, a land that time has forgotten. Two hours inland are Central Otago and the Mackenzie High Country, two places you’ve almost certainly seen before in Hollywood movies. And if you swap east for west you’ll find yourself in Fiordland, a breath-taking place full of hidden alpine lakes, tall waterfalls and giant granite mountains that rise right out of the pacific ocean.