The exhibits were interesting, but the collection is quite small and the experience felt underwhelming for the price. By the end, it just didn’t feel like there was much more to see. Unless you’re very into Māori rock art, you could probably give this one a miss.

The staffs are very friendly and always have warm smile:) the information I got from here is very useful and helpful, I get to know better about Timaru. Please note that entry is NOT for free and the parking lots nearby is NOT for free as well.

The two women working were delightful and a wealth of knowledge, the museum was also very well curated and fit a lot of information in. Would 10/10 recommend

Great little centre with some kid’s activities inside. My daughter loved pushing all the buttons to watch the videos and the drawing. And my husband loved seeing and reading about the history. Highly recommend stopping in.

Fascinating exhibition of Maori rock art, had a lovely chat with Donna about this piece of local history.

Rock Art is described so well here, the guide so informative and descendant of the local iwi. Seen the real art around Duntroon and now understand.

A very interesting exhibit. We had seen this rock art in various places, but this explained all that is known about it. There was no tour available when we visited, but everything was well organized and clearly presented. The attendant suggested we should plan to spent 45 minutes to an hour to see it. We were there for an hour and 45 minutes and didn't quite have a chance to view all the videos. I suggest the amount of time depends upon the interests of your group. Younger kids would have enough after a half hour. If you want time to read all the materials and view all the videos, you might allow 2 or 2 1/2 hours, or more. I consider it worthwhile if you are interested in archeology, Maori History, etc.

Probably one of the best places I’ve walked around,great views and plenty of great amenities and things to look at.best thing to do is explore yourself.

Another kite festival down 'The Bay' Fantastic to see all the kids ( and adults ) enjoying the great weather. I was surprised at how many had never flown a kite before. I guess for us 'Old people' it was a rite of passage, learning how to first build then fly your home built kite...

Nice place to stay and beautiful beach walk.

Grate place to stop when visiting Timaru . 3 places merged on one place Rose garden, park and beach . They offer train ride as well $2 for 3 round and $6 golf .I love this place .

This place is not too large but everything is quite reasonable. Next to the sea and seaport, there is a beach for you to walk around. Inside there is also a play area for children. There's also a block of houses that I haven't finished yet. It's a suitable place if your family goes out and has children along.

I visited Caroline Bay for the Rock n Hop festival. Which was brilliant. It should be noted that if you want to put your children into the fancy dress competition you have to register online the week before. Anyway Caroline Bay is worth a visit any time with the new adventure playground, aviary, rose garden, fountain pond, then stairs up so that you can view the whole area. Timaru is a place that actually takes advantage of and uses the natural lay of the land to get the best views with amenities.

Such a beautiful place. A kind lady, who'd pointed out a seal to me first, helped me to get there, while I was out in Timaru, in an attempt to lose myself in nature. She showed me the area of the beach where penguins come at night to have their little beach party. I could see tiny footprints which I hoped belonged to a penguin or two. A path along the beach led to the cliffs, oh, those beautiful cliffs. A bridge above a railway track and a tiny unused lighthouse were the sights that greeted me there. I do wish the lighthouse was open for the public. It'd give an even greater perspective, I think. A small path from the cliff led onto another cozy part of the bay. A wide selection of small to large round pebbles could be found there. Another bridge that extended into the sea gave an absolutely graceful view of the sea. The sea changed its colors from light blue to shades of green and dark blue. Altogether, it was a peaceful and beautiful day out there, in the midst of nature. Hope to see some penguins next time!

We found this place on Google as we were passing through and so glad we did! There are 30 wallabies in total and a bunch of other animals as you walk around the paddocks, there's a super cheeky peacock too. The wallabies are so sweet and gentle, the lady that owns the place is a real character, she obviously cares so much about her animals, we found her to be sweet and certainly has a sense of humour! Myself and Husband absolutely loved it. And for $15 for a huge bag of food and unlimited time walking around the paddocks, we thought it was a super reasonable price! 100%recommend ❤️

This experience was truly unique. I recommend learning about how this place was founded before visiting—it adds so much meaning. Gwen, also known as the “Lady Wallaby,” dedicated many years to caring for these wallabies. An amazing and inspiring experience!

You must stop by this place. The lady who owns this place is definitely part of the experience. A cheeky woman she is which made me laugh so much. It was $15 cash to get a bag of feed. We didn’t even finish the feed because wallabies are surprisingly gentle and slow eaters. They are very soft and gentle as well. Some are more shy than others but make sure everyone gets some feed! I highly recommend to kids and adults! She also has two cockatoos that can speak and say “I love you”. So cute.

Super fun to feed and pet wallabies! Make sure you have cash if you are an international tourist, only kiwi credit cards are accepted. Overall great time! If you’re in the area, you should stop by!

Great place to visit when in Waimate, especially with kids. Gwen, the owner, is very nice. NZ eftpos or cash (15 NZD per adult, 10 NZD children above 5 years)

Highly recommend this tour! Affordable price for an unforgettable experience! Those wallabies all have different personalities and they are all lovely. The host is kind to me and give a really detailed guidance on how to feed wallabies, which I think it’s very necessary to learn. Don’t miss this park if you pass by! 很好玩中国人不骗中国人！！！

Great to feed some wallabies. A lovely place tucked away, in the small town. A good visit if going from Timaru to Oamaru. $15 to hand feed the wallabies, a great coloured peacock wandering around as well. Really easy to navigate if you read the signs as well.

This was such a highlight of my road trip up the east coast. I decided to randomly stop and check it out and it was such a creative and fun place to visit. So many interactive and unique exhibits and well worth the visit. Very highly recommend.

I was actually surprised that I really enjoyed this activity. Was a lot to see and do here. The kids loved it and so many things to touch and experience. Is an outside area so we did that first with the weather about to turn! Really cool. Would recommend to anyone in the area to go and check out it. You will be surprised!!!

Loved this museum! It’s a mix of both cool and freaky stuff! I would highly recommend visiting this place. You will easily spend an hour or so if you love taking photos like me! It has many interactive elements which were a massive highlight!

Steam Punk HQ Was great fun! Everything is interactive. Lots of buttons to push and levers to move and things that make noise or flash lights. There are vehicles to climb in & on and amazing machines and sculptures and giant roaches on the wall! Ever wanted to play an evil dentist? Or mad scientist? This is the perfect opportunity. Quirky kids of all ages will love this place!

I love carefully curated clutter where I can poke around and fiddle with stuff. While not a steampunk aficionado per se, I am a generalist nerd, so I have made my rounds with Gibson and Sterling. The place is perfectly sized for a couple of hours of serious examination or an hour of casual wonder. It is a bit like the original Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. While it doesn’t have as strong and in-depth of a narrative thread as MW, it does stick its main theme with fanciful interpretive plaques like a traditional local history museum. Oh, and there is a little Weta Workshop connection and kickass movie prop if you read carefully.

Definitely go to this. 2kids loved it 1 didn't. Ages, 13, 11 and 9. Fun activity and lots of cool photos and things to do

Second time here and still enjoyed our visit. Loved the things that we can activate. Well worth the visit.

Always a delight to visit. Arrived home with birthday presents of beautiful candles and 2nd hand books. Chocolate and hokey pokey and a conversation with a lovely lady about life and travel.

A excellent place for understanding th heritage of North Otago lots to see and do. Organized events and Steam train rides Blue Penguin colony lots of cafes and restaurants brewery Something for all ages to check out

Lovely vibe. You can see that alot of energy is going into restoration of the buildings and its memories. The heritage festival weekend was being held when we visited and is well worth attending.

A gem in the South Island - Oamaru. We were only staying a few days but ended up being almost a week. There is so much to explore, and this quarter is fascinating.

On a recent trip to the South Island we passed through Oamaru and had lunch and a look around Oamaru's Victorian Precinct. What an unexpected surprise! Amazing attraction. The focus on steam punk an unexpected bonus, especially knowing that this has been a long-time focus of the area. The charming blend of history and quirkiness was captivating, with the steampunk twist adding an extra layer of fun.(as you will see from my few photos). Think a must see if you have children and want a great place to explore with them. Loved every moment of our brief stay and was sad to be on our way to our next destination. We will definitely be back !

Great place glad it was on the list to visit

Went to the Steampunk Festival over the long weekend. People watching on steroids! Had fun seeing the tapestry of costumes, conversations and shared obsession unfold all around. The historic setting alone is worth the visit, but even better if you can time it with an event like this one.

Absolutely love this place in spring. Good for walks and children will love the playground.

Stayed at the top 10 Oamaru, this park is about 5 mins from there,very impressive different gardens within the park. Children's play area, bridges over the water. Such a beautiful place definitely worth a visit

Beautiful garden. Well worth the stop. When we visited the glass houses were closed as they were undergoing restoration. I'm very envious of the private house that sits in these gardens, it is an amazing little piece of paradise.

Gardens on all their autumnal glory. Very pleasant to walk around. Has a lovely kids play park with a Humpty Dumpty wall. The Alps to ocean bike trail goes through the gardens. Very nice atmosphere after a long ride.

Was a bit 'abandoned' during winter. But it is still worth going to see the aviary, the green house and the park in general. There are a lot of ducks, the sign asks people not to feed the ducks with bread, but grain/seeds so the ducks don't get sick.

Outstanding. Well maintained gardens with a vast variation of plantings in a beautiful setting. Great playground with paddling pools for kids. Picnic tables and clean toilets

Not as good as I expect, maybe it’s because in the winter. The bird areas are quite good, they are adorable. There are some parking lots and toilets next to the garden which are so good.

Elephant Rocks Review This is a free and easily accessible natural attraction that’s well worth a visit if you're in the area. Located just a short drive from Duntroon, the site features massive limestone boulders scattered across a wide open field, creating a surreal and scenic landscape. Photos don’t do justice to the scale of the rocks — it's only when you're standing beside them or climbing to the top that you realise just how huge and impressive they are. From the top, you're rewarded with sweeping views across the field and out toward snow-capped mountains on the horizon. There’s ample parking and a couple of picnic tables at the entrance, and even on a busy day the space is vast enough that it never feels crowded. It’s an ideal spot for a leg stretch, a peaceful walk, or snapping some truly one-of-a-kind photos. While I wouldn’t suggest making a long drive just for this one stop, it's absolutely worth the short detour if you're passing through or exploring nearby. A refreshing and memorable place to enjoy the outdoors and take in the natural beauty of these unique rock formations.

We stopped here for what we thought would be a quick picnic lunch and explore. We were here for almost 2 hours exploring every corner we could. Our kids spotted 2 elephant looking rocks and 1 rhino, most of the time too busy climbing and hiding around the grounds. Heaps of room in the parking area and has a few picnic tables before heading into the field. Lovely spot.

It's interesting to see so many rocks clustered in one area. According to Susan, a staff member at the Vanished World Centre, these rocks were submerged in water before, and years of rain and wind created their shapes, like elephants, etc. Thank you to the private owner for allowing visitors to walk in and experience this. We saw many interesting rocks but just couldn't find the elephant. We did find the hippopotamus... haha. It's good to explore and spend some time enjoying nature's creations the sheep. Just be cautious of all the sheep droppings around.

What a fun and quirky stop! The massive limestone formations at Elephant Rocks are absolutely stunning — it really feels like stepping into another world. The scenery is unreal, and the view is worth every step. Just be prepared for a little extra adventure — the place is full of lamb poop everywhere! 😂 Half the fun is actually trying to find a clean spot to land your foot. It definitely adds a hilarious twist to the experience. Overall, a must-visit for a good laugh, awesome photos, and a unique New Zealand countryside vibe. Just don’t forget your sense of humor… and maybe some sturdy shoes! 🥾

Seen a video from a soc med - was excited to see but unfortunately when we went their it was mostly big rocks.You can hardly see an elephant formation. Unless they meant Big rocks which stands as an Elephant rock. We still enjoyed it though by climbing the rocks. Visit this place when it is a nice weather. Since this lroperty is a private owned - please bring a gold coin with you for donation

If you're on the way to mpunt cook or anything up there, it's definitely worth it to spend the 15 minutes and have a look at em. Also if you're interested in bouldering there are some problems you can try even without shoes or a crashpad.

Not sure why elephant Rocks but years gone by maybe. A very amazing formation non the less in an amphitheatre like setting.

Interesting part of history about New Zealand's coast. Especially after reading about the Gold Rush and Dunedin. More importantly to respect nature and not to go too close to the wildlife. Short walk into the Seal colony and you can see many seals sun bathing or having a conference. Fun fact from chatgpt Katiki Point Lighthouse was originally powered by oil and had to be manually maintained by lighthouse keepers — today, it’s fully automated and solar-powered! Plus, the surrounding area is one of the best places on the South Island to see the endangered yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho) in the wild.

About a 5/10 min walk (down a hill) to the actual viewpoint but absolutely worthwhile. We were there for 15 mins and saw whales, potentially dolphins and were less than 10 feet from some seals.

I went with my family yesterday hoping to see yellow eye penguins in the wild and we were not disappointed. We saw 4 in total and many seals laying in the sun. The walk itself is also very beautiful and takes 5-10 minutes.

One of my favourite spot on whole trip. Grate off road, good parking place . the light house is close but don’t worry you can see grate wildlife live . some 🦭seals and albatross you can take pictures very closely if you are lucky you can see big water waves and natural view as well highly recommend 🥰

Good place to visit and absorb history and nature. Saw fur seals hauled out on the grass, which is most unusual. Heaps on the rocks too. The off shore reef was pumping.

Absolutely stunning spot, first time I've been there and walk is good and soo nice see all the fur seals 🦭 around lying on the grass 😀 Definitely worth a spot to visit

A beautiful spot to visit. The walk is mostly flat and easy, with just a downhill stretch when heading towards the colony. Peaceful views and well worth the visit.

When tourism becomes crazy! You know when you turn up somewhere and there’s multiple bus stop signs outside it’s time to turn around and leave. And they charge you to get onto a free beach to see some rocks. Which you can basically see on any other beach in NZ and the world! There’s gift shops, a cafe, an alpaca feeding area, they really have hyped this place up to be something. Crazy! Luckily I was driving this way anyway but to think that some people come over from the west coast all the way to see this is bonkers! Tourism overhype to the max!

Moeraki Boulders are little stunners perched on the beach it’s like 1,000,000 years ago someone rolled the dice and there they stayed. Absolutely worth the stop, the beach also beautiful we enjoyed the walk as well. Would rug up can be a little cold. There is a cafe there but it wasn’t open when we were there. Great stop after a few hours driving.

A little underwhelming as there were a few scattered boulders half buried. Only cool thing I felt were the boulders that were cracked open. It shows you the interesting formation of these boulders. Based off Wikipedia The Moeraki Boulders are concretions created by the cementation of the Paleocene mudstone of the Moeraki Formation, from which they have been exhumed by coastal erosion. The main body of the boulders started forming in what was then marine mud, near the surface of the Paleocene seafloor.

Went during low tide and honestly found the boulders a bit unimpressive. The ocean itself was beautiful, though, and worth a look if you’re passing through. Can get crowded with tour buses, so I wouldn’t make a special trip unless it’s already on the way.

Im sure it would have been beautiful but i didnt like that a public beach is privatised and monetised, in a way. Its only NZD2 to access the beach, its not alot.. and yes, the money is to maintain the walkway and etc... just doesnt sit right with me.

Beautiful place. There’s a public carpark with a 5 minute walk down to the beach. Alternatively, you can park by the café for a shorter stroll and view trail (a small NZ$2 donation supports the boardwalk)

Great boulders in an otherwise boulder free beach. Some have broken open, and you can see crystal deposits in the centre. The short walk to the beach is short but fairly steep, an alternative route is via the shrubbery and down some steps. The gift shop is beautiful, with lots of interesting items, not obviously tourist fodder, and the prices vary, but a lovely place with items for everyone.

When tourism becomes crazy! You know when you turn up somewhere and there’s multiple bus stop signs outside it’s time to turn around and leave. And they charge you to get onto a free beach to see some rocks. Which you can basically see on any other beach in NZ and the world! There’s gift shops, a cafe, an alpaca feeding area, they really have hyped this place up to be something. Crazy! Luckily I was driving this way anyway but to think that some people come over from the west coast all the way to see this is bonkers! Tourism overhype to the max!

Moeraki Boulders are little stunners perched on the beach it’s like 1,000,000 years ago someone rolled the dice and there they stayed. Absolutely worth the stop, the beach also beautiful we enjoyed the walk as well. Would rug up can be a little cold. There is a cafe there but it wasn’t open when we were there. Great stop after a few hours driving.

A little underwhelming as there were a few scattered boulders half buried. Only cool thing I felt were the boulders that were cracked open. It shows you the interesting formation of these boulders. Based off Wikipedia The Moeraki Boulders are concretions created by the cementation of the Paleocene mudstone of the Moeraki Formation, from which they have been exhumed by coastal erosion. The main body of the boulders started forming in what was then marine mud, near the surface of the Paleocene seafloor.

Went during low tide and honestly found the boulders a bit unimpressive. The ocean itself was beautiful, though, and worth a look if you’re passing through. Can get crowded with tour buses, so I wouldn’t make a special trip unless it’s already on the way.

Im sure it would have been beautiful but i didnt like that a public beach is privatised and monetised, in a way. Its only NZD2 to access the beach, its not alot.. and yes, the money is to maintain the walkway and etc... just doesnt sit right with me.

Beautiful place. There’s a public carpark with a 5 minute walk down to the beach. Alternatively, you can park by the café for a shorter stroll and view trail (a small NZ$2 donation supports the boardwalk)

Great boulders in an otherwise boulder free beach. Some have broken open, and you can see crystal deposits in the centre. The short walk to the beach is short but fairly steep, an alternative route is via the shrubbery and down some steps. The gift shop is beautiful, with lots of interesting items, not obviously tourist fodder, and the prices vary, but a lovely place with items for everyone.

You can visit the world's only mainland colony of Royal Albatross at the tip of the Otago Peninsula in Dunedin, New Zealand. Small guided tours to a glassed hide allows viewing of some of the nesting albatross. To protect the albatross from human disturbance, the headland is not publicly accessible. You can see adults in flight with their three metre wingspans as they glide around the headland. The centre is free to enter but tours are charged. Uneven terrain, lot of walking. Toilets available. Cafes available on site. Before the walkabout tour, you are given a demonstration/lecture about the birds and the work of the centre. Popular with tourists. Wear comfy shoes, take water, wear hat, sunscreen. Parking is easy. Amazing place to visit. Great place for photography.

We really liked our time at royal Albatross center yesterday. The staff is super friendly, answers all questions and the information provided about the life as an albatross and the nesting at this spot was really good. We saw 4 birds on the nests and some more in flight action. The cafeteria and souvenir shop are also nice for a short stop. Coming there without the tour is also ok, as you have a great viewing spot outside the center and the peninsula is beautiful. But I would recommend the tour if possible, as it was really interesting, time moved quickly and with the entry fee you support the work of the center.

We had a lovely afternoon today visiting the Royal Albatross Centre and doing the Classic Albatross Tour. Libby our guide was amazing - so passionate and informative. We learnt so much about these amazing birds and even better got to see the adults in flight and albatross fledglings nearly old enough and ready to take flight to South America. The red billed gulls also made themselves known - extremely comical and loud. A great visit.

Seeing Royal Albatross fledglings and parents, including feeding, was a very, very special experience. A well thought out visitor centre, and our viewing experience was enhanced by our very knowledgeable guide. The cafe is also worth a stop - the carrot cake is superb!

Awesome place to visit, didn't go on the tour, so missed seeing the Albatross - it was quite a blustery day. There are hundreds of Seagulls nesting here - that was a site to see. We had some lunch in the cafe - would recommend.

Had a really wonderful visit on World Albatross Day. Saw the birds right from the carpark gliding around and the chicks nesting were really special to see. In particular, I was impressed by the tiaki- the respect, passion, and conservation efforts in place to care for these beautiful creatures. I would certain recommend a visit to view and support conservation efforts for these birds and this place.

This was on my bucket list : It did not disappoint, absolutely amazing, went when the chick's were hanging out waiting for their parents to come back.. saw so many pass overs from the parents. LIBBY, our guide was the most fantastic guide and knew at the answers to my millions of questions.. BEST DAY EVER.. my 8 year old son loved it so much. We have been watching the live feed camera since going there. Everyone should have this to their bucket list

The drive to point where this takes you (from Lanarch castle) is pretty average (apart from one viewpoint). Got to the point this said and it was VERY underwhelming after driving a gravel road. Might be nice if you drive via Portabello but wouldn’t bother driving the way above (until you hit a viewpoint) then turn around! Don’t waste your time or fuel! The views on road to Lanarch Castle are far more beautiful.

There are multiple places on the roadway to sit and view the amazing place. People also love running through the edge of the road and the view is extraordinary on the sunset

If you get the chance to come for a drive then you must do so. The views are incredible and well worth the afternoon (or even full day) you will spend driving, walking looking & photographing. True New Zealand.

A very beautiful and quiet place in Dunedin. The drive from Dunedin is breathtaking and you already enjoy a lot of scenic views before reaching this place. The road is not paved at the end so it is wise to take a 4x4 ride but still a sedan has no issue. There is no shop or drinking water so you should have drinking water and snacks with you. You are literally at the end of the world here as there is nothing in front of you but Antarctica very far away. I would say it is a must visit place if you are in Dunedin.

Nice drive for the views. Unfortunately due to bollards erected all the way to the end there is absolutely nowhere to stop along the way. Lighthouse at end cannot be accessed as it’s in conservation area. Really disappointing drive..

Mostly a single lane dirt track

We took a bus tour from Dunedin to Nature's Wonders wildlife park, located on the far south coast of Otago Penninsula. 30 minute drive. Via 8 wheelers, small groups of 4-6 covered nasty dirt roads to the coast. Amazing beauty on a sunny, windy day. We saw seals nesting on the rocks and some rare penguins, yellow-eyed Hoiho - about 500 left alive. The highlight was the natural beauty. Long rolling green hills with sheep grazing - sweeping into the sea. Craggy rocks and sandy beaches. On a sunny day, it was amazing. A far outpost that is worth the effort to see.

I give this place a 5 star. Only in Dunedin for 3 days but have had this on the bucket list for some time. I booked a guided tour and our guide was a lovely lady named Chris. The history around this house and the Olveston family was very interesting and engaging. The historical information was quite interesting yet a little sad considering the lifespan of the family members. If you have some spare time make sure you book a guide here as I am positive you won’t be disappointed. The gardens are also a pleasure to walk through.

A must see for those with an interest in history and a rare chance to a see a home that’s kept as it was when it was given to the city. You’ll feel like you are walking into a time capsule as almost all the items in the home, including the vast art collection and even down to the fly swatter hanging in the kitchen, have been left as the original owners had it. In addition to this we had an extremely knowledgeable tour guide who told us all about the history of the family and also about the items in the home. We could tell she was passionate about the home and its history which really made the tour that much more memorable and fun! The intention with which the home was designed by the owners it’s also incredibly interesting and makes you think how you would design your own home. It’s truly a beautiful and unique location and well worth adding to your list of to do’s in Dunedin!

- Guided tours avail throughout the day - free to walk the grounds & go through reception & gift shop on the bottom floor - could easily spend a day here, there is so much to see! - the grounds, home & everything in it have been restored & maintained with absolute care & precaution - def recommend others to visit here even if you don't do a tour. It's quite breathtaking.

Excellent couple of hours spent touring the intriguing old house and grounds. They have been splendidly maintained with love and pride. Very good tour - enough to want to know more without dragging on too long.

Fantastic tour. The home itself is fascinating. The guide was knowledgeable and the atmosphere was welcoming. Well worth the admission price.

Amazing historic house tour. Stunning condition, with all original items still here. A taste of past life in New Zealand. Need to buy a ticket to visit.

I love the tour and enjoyed the guide tuor. I was interested in the house where a merchant lived. I found that we could see something beautiful and pictures which he bought from Asian countries including Japan and other European countries. I’m so impressed because I’m a Japanese person. It’s a good memory in Dunedin. Also the staff is kind because when I made a mistake of the reservation date, they dealt with that nicely.

Commentary was fabulous, food on the trip was great. Sadly the Dunedin side of the Taireri gorge is pines,gorse,and broom. The river has clearly been disturbed by activity up stream..it was dirty. Nothing I have seen in a NZ mountain river. Probably logging. Rail engineering and construction is amazing and the high country stop was a highlight.

A visit to the train station was free and the building itself a stunner. We also visited the gallery on level one which had a artisan shop and also a gallery. The sports museum is also located there. Plenty to see and do 🤗🤗🤗

We had a great time on our Dunedin Railways tour! They had a nice lunch box for us that had a sandwich, a sweet treat, some cheese, and crackers and also had water. Bob was our tour announcer as we saw the great sights of Dunedin and he was a nice gentleman that had a great personality and contagious smile! Kenzie also made sure that everyone was doing well on board and having a great time!

Cool railway station with art galleries on the second story to look at. Nice to escape the weather and see stuff inside. No need to pay for entry or anything

I treated myself to a trip on The Stargazer from Dunedin to Hindon and back. The trip didn't disappoint, from arrival where staff from Tuhura Museum helped everyone get their stargazing apps up and running to getting off at the end. Precinct at the Tuhura Museum provided us with a great tasty 3 course meal. It was much appreciated by everyone from the comments I could hear from the seats around me. The lamb was magnificent and went well with my glass of wine. Once we arrived at Hindon, they divided us into 3 groups, and we attended the different workshops on offer. My favorite was looking through the telescopes provided by The Beverly Begg Observatory. It was pretty special getting a close-up look at our celestial neighbors. Much kudos to them as they had been waiting up there in the cold for us all to arrive in our warm and comfortable train. I keep thinking about the beautiful Jewellry Box constellation with all the different colours. I'm now looking at the night sky differently. Thank you to all who took part in teaching us about our skies. Finally, sated and tired, we hopped back on our warm train to travel home. But they weren't finished with us yet. On the way home,we got to listen to astrophysicist Michelle Thaller answer questions that we had put to her earlier. She covered everything from going to Mars, Aurora, and pineapple on pizza. She has a great way of putting information that sticks with you and is fun. It was a fantastic night, and if you have the opportunity to go on this trip, I couldn't recommend it to you highly enough. Just go and enjoy a great evening adventure.

We travelled from Pukerangi to Dunedin after the Central Otago rail trail. It was a great experience I would recommend for the history and landscape. There was in informative live commentary. The Dunedin Station is one of the finest buildings in NZ and worth seeing . The food onboard was great. I hope that one day the train will be able to go all the way to Middlemarch township like it used to.

My mum booked our family of four for the Seasider journey on wednesday 5th Nov. Unfortunately after we boarded the train and made our way to the seats we had been assigned we found staff member "Janet the Onboard Story Teller" sitting in our seats. She told us to sit somewhere else. She began the announcements by saying the best views are seen by sitting on the right side of the train (the side where she was sitting, the seats that we had booked) Everyone in the carriage was sitting on the right, we were the only ones on the left. This was quite disappointing as we are on holiday and this will probably be the only chance we get to experience this train journey. It looked like Janet enjoyed the views and even snapped a few photos. My mum did manage to slip in to the seat opposite her after halfway through the trip to try and get a few photos herself but it was a bit late by that point. It wasn't really worth the money given the circumstances. There was twin seats with tables that staff members could use where the mic was plugged in but I guess this staff member just wanted space for her drink and snacks. (Booking #316002311)

Well worth a stop. Spacious and well laid out. Something for everyone in the exhibits. Cafe gets very full mid morning. Good gift shop. Free entry with donation box. Normally a park on the street close by, pay by plate system.

This was a great little find in Dunedin. We were looking to fill some time and stumbled across this museum and it far exceeded my expectations for a free museum. Definitely worth the visit.

Definitely a learning journey, being in toitu museum. Plenty of exhibits, each station's very cool. Huge place to wander aimlessly for half a day. But its never boring.. i gained alot of insights and knowledge. :) Recommended. Its FOC, runs on donation. Go!

Great place to visit. Something for adults and kids as well. Very informative museum where I learnt quite a lot about Dunedin and the great place it is. I would highly recommend a visit if you have some time

One of my favourite museums in New Zealand! I haven't visited since I was a kid in over a decade so it looked completely different from what I remembered. I learned so much about Dunedin's rich history, and the artifacts were cool too! Who would've thought a Lime scooter would end up in a museum?

👍 Like my review! We stumbled upon the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin, New Zealand upon our arrival in the area. We didn't realize it was free relying on donations but our surprise was how massive it was. We really enjoyed the history from the beginning with the Maori but also highlighting how Dunedin is such an important hub in New Zealand. I would say that we were there for over 1.5 hours and there was a lot to read, consume, and enjoy. My favorite portion of the museum was seeing several vehicles and cable cars preserved! We would definitely recommend to our family and friends.

I did not plan to visit this museum. I had finished my sightseeing and was headed to my hotel. As I was passing by, I realized the museum was open, so I stopped in. The building is very modern and the exhibits are well ordered. The museum details the history of the first settlers to arrive in Dunedin through to the present day. It was fun to hear the music, see the types of clothes, furniture, and cars change throughout the years. Dunedin is a melting pot of many kinds of people. I especially enjoyed listening to accounts from sections called "our voices" and the room filled with photos of the first settlers. I spent about an hour in the museum and I wish I had more time. I highly recommend it. This museum has free entry. On this day, the museum had extended hours in the gift shop. They were playing Christmas music, which was nice.

Fabulous tour by Marty this afternoon. Very informative and lots of artefacts to look at. The walking wasn't too far and the tasting session at the end was most enjoyable. Was a bonus to get 10% off in the shop too.

A very interesting and informative tour. Our guide, Marty, was witty and had answers to every question. We also enjoyed the tasting at the end of the tour! Shopping for souvenirs was also excellent. Christmas shopping done!!

Well worth the 45min tour. Very informative, good guide, sample of beers at the end. Shop staff are lovely. And they have NZ Whisky now. Got to try it. The Wilsons Misty River liqueur is great.

We had an amazing tour with Carlos. From start to finish he was patient, never rushed us through and was thoroughly explanatory. If your into history and beer then this is a fantastic tour for you. From how it all started to now was a great insight to the legendary crafted beer we still drink today. Then at the end of the tour you get to taste some or all of the 9 beers + 1 apple cider which we tasted all 😄. Great value for money and highly recommended.

A really fun thing to do. And this is coming from a girl who is by no means a beer fanatic. Thomas was a great tour guide, incredibly knowledgable and very passionate. Good sense of humour too. Really cool to do a truly South Island experience, delicious beer tasting at the end, plus the gift shop does actually have quite cool stuff! Thanks for a fun arvo team :)

Marty was amazing, great tour, loved speights products and production, must visit to have few beers at the bar end and see how the are made.

A really engaging and informative tour from start to finish. Our guide, Marty, made the whole experience memorable with his witty explanations, friendly personality and impressive knowledge of the entire process. He took the time to answer every question in detail, no matter how small. The pace of the tour was just right, and we felt we learned a lot without ever feeling rushed. The tasting at the end was a perfect way to wrap things up, giving us a chance to appreciate everything we’d just learned. Overall, a fantastic experience that we’d happily recommend to anyone.

Superb hospitality from Donna, saved my day. Sadly I was just passing by Middlemarch, but they seem to have a wealth of history and strong community. Might as well spend a couple of nights there next time around.

I can’t say enough about this team. From our initial booking and having a tailor made package for the four of us which suited our needs and budget. We opted for a more expensive package which included the Taieri Railway trip to Middlemarch to start the track and great accomodation for 3 nights from the options offered us. You choose what you want and pay accordingly which suited us fine. Loved the ability of just turning up on day 1 and being able to ride with bikes already sorted and accomodation already prebooked. As we had just come off 3 days on the Routeburn Track we also had the problem of getting all or packs and gear from accommodation to accomodation each night but that was no problem to Cycle Surgery and it arrived at each destination before us each day. From our first contact with them all our queries were answered and promptly- nothing was too hard and if we do the trail again we would use them again. On the completion of the trail and getting transported back to Queenstown we got an excellent commentary from Lonnie about places of interest along the way and showed the value of staff who are engaged with their work as opposed to just turning up each day. I researched service providers on Google before booking and also spoke with friends who had done the Rail Trail and used Cycle Surgery before and went with them. So glad we did and after our experience with them and the comprehensive package and services they offer we highly recommend them.

A perfect trip well planned by Cycle Surgery.I had the idea for a surprise getaway culminating in a romantic proposal but didn't know where to start.One email to Pip at Cycle Surgery and she had it all sorted.3 beautiful and very different nights accommodation.Fantastic meal bookings.Car transfer.The most comfortable bikes we have ever ridden.And the special touch of organizing Champagne and Flowers to be set up in our Accommodation. Thanks to Pip and the team.It was such a pleasure to have people that are so passionate about what they do help us with our special weekend.

Every aspect of the service from Cycle Surgery was excellent from start (in 2019 for a March 2020 trip that got called off) to finish (rebooked for Feb 2021 and in the opposite direction - and a marvellous experience). We would unreservedly recommend them - whether you are an experienced cyclist or a newbie. The Rail Trail is wonderful, we will do it again hopefully and if we do we will be on the email to Pip at Cycle Surgery

4 day ride was perfect, a group of 13 people was so much fun and great weather with spectacular views. Cycle Surgery provided awesome bikes and fantastic backup, we had one tyre blow out and they fixed it with in 1/2hr. Amazing

Unfortunately for us, we didn't book our hire bikes and rail trail tour through Cycle Surgery, otherwise things may have been a bit smoother! We did, however, book a transfer from Dunedin to Middlemarch (with John - what a great guy) to start the rail trail and a jet boat ride out of Alexandra with Lawrence! Lucky we did, as our trip was cut short due to flooding and it was Cycle Surgery to the rescue with a scenic trip with Dave from Middlemarch back to Dunedin. Cycle Surgery have great facilities and a huge variety of hire bikes for all levels - they cater for day trips on ebikes, adventures on MTBs, or longer trips for those bike packing! They know all there is to know about getting the most out of the time you have and value your holiday time as much as you do! Their business model is all about your happiness and that is very evident in all our dealings with the staff. When we come back to finish the Roxburgh and Clutha Gold trails, we will definitely be booking through Cycle Surgery!

Would highly recommend booking your rail trail adventure with Cycle Surgery. My husband and I booked this last year and did the trail April 2019. Right from the first email, they responded quickly and with a wonderful itinerary, which included transfers to and from Dunedin. The bikes were fantastic, with no issues on the trail. Accommodation was very good, comfy beds and nice and clean and tidy with lovely continental breakfast provided. It was also great to be booked into places for night meals so you didn't have to worry about where to go. If this adventure is on your bucket list, tick it off, it's a must. Contact Cycle Surgery now! You won't be disappointed

This visitors center was actually amazing. There’s a work space upstairs and has a lot of large windows that can be used to get a view of the river and the houses that are next to it. I got a very Japanese vibe from the whole view. The lady who was working at the information center was incredibly kind and gave me a bunch of information about the Caitlins and some of the surrounding areas. There’s also a cinema in the building as well that plays some movies here and there.

This is an astonishing visitor center, exuding a modern charm with its clean, minimalist design. Upon entering, you're greeted with bright lighting and spaciousness, creating a comfortable ambiance. The staff's warm service adds a touch of warmth and friendliness to the place. Whether you're a newcomer or a regular, this magnificent visitor center always welcomes every visitor with its excellent quality and professional demeanor, making it a place you'll want to return to again and again.

A new and very clean facility. The staff recommended the fantastic view from the second floor. It’s a great place to take a break during a long drive.

Great place to stop and get information about travels around Southland! Very friendly and helpful staff and very comfortable bag chairs to rest after a long journey 🤌🤌🤌

very large newly built nice modern looking isite. the view over clutha river is quite mesmerizing

Beautiful building. Clean toilets well maintained.

This new centre is amazing. Ange and Nicky were super helpful about things to do in the local area. The cinema was so comfy and cheap. Definitely worth a visit.

Great views! If you are lucky, you will see sea lions/seals. I wish the public toilet was cleaner! Will definitely recommend visiting this place!

Stunning views great place to get some beautiful pictures

My last trip to Nugget Point was absolutely amazing. The view from the lighthouse was breathtaking, with the ocean stretching endlessly and waves crashing against the rocks below. The walk to the lighthouse was easy and scenic, surrounded by native plants and bird sounds. I spotted seals resting on the rocks, which made the visit even more special. The place felt peaceful and untouched. It’s one of the most beautiful spots in New Zealand. A must-visit location for nature and photography lovers. Definitely a 5-star experience.

Very picturesque. A nice short(ish) walk - about 900m from the carpark. You might spot some seals on the rocks below

This would be one of the most spectacular views in New Zealand. A cliff side walk with views and maybe a sea lion to veiw on the rocks below.

Worth the visit! Lovely lighthouse and walk up to it! Can be very windy so be prepared!

Amazing view ! The whole truck is amazing by the sea ! Could be very windy .

Super cool and unique stop if you are in the are. Definitely worth a stop, especially if you need a coffee

absolutely well worth dropping in, full of switches and handles and lights and sounds. while the bus is amazing it's well worth the $10 to continue into the garden. really friendly guy with a great sense of humour and a knack for creating super interesting little exhibits. coffee and snacks on site, definitely drop in for an hour.

Such a stunning little hidden gems, the owners and creations were super awesome!! If you’re passing by, this is a must visit <3

This is very interesting place, lots of creativity. Good stop to have a coffee while you travel in the Caitlins route.

Hidden gem. Definitely a fascinating stop on your trip south. Plenty of fun and interesting things for both kids and adults. Free and paid areas with a coffee caravan too. Having grown up nearby, I was quite surprised how much there was there and how long the kids were entertained for.

Magical place. Haven't been anywhere else that is comparable to it.

The coolest spot ever!! Many eye-catching stuffs, engineering's arts which created by a friendly owner. It is all about imagination and creative. Awesome works, it is totally worth it for $8 entry fee.

so bad i didn't even catch anything and the river is so dirty im surprised theirs even fish living in there

First time visit to this museum - found the exhibitions to be informative and well set out. Great to see the distillery and be able to sample the moonshine - excellent small gift shop selling hats, t shirts and beautiful presented gift boxes with moonshine and locally made chocolates -worth the visit whilst visiting Gore

Very informative museum and well laid out. Interesting history on prohibition and brewing of whiskey. Also the history of Scottish Immigration.

Great display on the moonshine history, prohibition and the Scottish links. Highly recommend a stop and a drop at the tasting at the end. Particularly on a chilly morning as a warming nip. Drop over to the gallery across the road as well.

We were given a great tour through this museum by Jim, so informative and interesting and funny. A real slice of history of Southland, prohibition, Scottish settlers and a wee taste at the end. Well worth stopping in.

This one of the best community museums that I have visited. It is comprehensive and the history is told well. The Young lady behind the counter is pleasant and informative.

This was one of the best museums we've ever been to. The presentation was excellent as we followed the lives of the McCraes and their whisky making. It was fascinating, and a tasting at the end? Magic

Amazing place, great staff, awesome stories and cute shop alongside it - and THANK YOU for the moonshine tasting!

Nice stop old curio bay cliffs we have ourself some time to explore the Bay Area and the Forrest walk! Sadly we didn’t see any penguins!

Breathtaking. Wow. I could stand here and watch the waves crashing in all day. The carpark, huge enough, has looooaads of big potholes. Just take care driving in and parking. U could just walk on the grass overlooking the water and cliffs. WoW! Beautiful. Strong winds, Steep cliffs. Just be careful not to get too near the edge because the earth up there is quite soft, as it its not solid rocks and u're quite high. :)

Very nice spot. Quite scenic. No seals though 🥲

Awesome views, great campsite nearby overlooking the cliffs or the bay itself. The cafe/restaurant nearby is really nice too, not far from Kaka Point or Owaka.

Still one of my favourite places. Great views lovely beach one way, rock exploration the other. Facilities to sit and appreciate the view, eat your lunch and take it all in. Cafes close at hand. Dolphins on a nice day swimming beautifully in and out the waves. Spectacular.

Even in a cloudy day, this is a majestic place to visit no only due to be one of the best places to meet pinguins, but also because of its nature beauty with amazing cliffs and beachs. Renting a place to camp is possible, so anyone can enjoy for a full weekend all this amazing place that can be much beautiful also during the night with a clear sky. If anyone is going to spend a weekend, recommend to take your own provisions because is a remote area, being possible to eat in the restaurant on the cliffs. Also there is a museum about all the region inside of the restaurant and a surfing school for anyone desiring to learn surfing or maybe just rent some equipments.

Amazing spot to come and look at wildlife!! You can often see the rare and endangered Hector's Dolphin's swimming off the coast and if you are really lucky you might see a Yellow Eyed Penguin. But be sure you keep more than 50 meters from them as they are very wary of humans. Make sure you don't get in their way or between them and the ocean. They are critically endangered and there isn't many of them left!!!

Absolutely gorgeous! Just like getting into a fairyland when wandering around the Bluebell Forest. So many beautiful flowers, together with the ponds and lawn paths, give you a lot of photographs imaginations.

this private garden reminds me of Bush Garden in Victoria Island. The owner is a couple of 91 and 78 years old. It is free. We get recommendation frim Gore visit center, and it is on our way to Curio Bay. We spent over an hour there and also talked to the owners.

I was absolutely stunned by the scale of this garden and the many man-made lakes it has. I nearly got lost in it as I couldn't find my way back to the car-park by 5:00pm. I recommend you have a map with you when visiting :-)

You have to visit this beautiful place. This place is simply paradise. Don't forget to donate a little and take a few hours to enjoy every single area of the garden.

An amazing place to stroll around, have a picnic, and enjoy the most wonderful selection of plants created by a special family.

A great afternoon with my friend and some Garden Club members. Beautiful gardens, the colours of Autumn everywhere. Large area, ponds and very calm and quite. A place I will take my family and friends to visit. Not suitable for young children or people with mobility issues.

Great place!!! I liked just sitting and listening to the birds and taking photos.

A beautiful light house with stunning views. The drive there also a sight to see. Not much to do but the light house. The toilets at the car park were disgusting but useable if you need to like I did. A lovely place to walk with friends and family.

Lovely trip to a gorgeous spot. A short walk from the carpark to the lighthouse with spectacular views was a great part of our trip. No interesting wildlife as June isn't the right time of year but you may be luckier! Toilets in carpark area as well :)

Lovely walk down to light house then onto beach .enjoyed watch the large sea loin giving us a show . A few remnants remain from the old light house cottage

Lovely short walk and great for prams and young kids. Easy parking. Highly recommend.

Great walk...no crowds...saw sea lions on the beach

Short walk to the lighthouse. We were lucky enough to see a large male seal sunning himself on the beach.

This is well worth a visit with a fantastic lighthouse very close to the car park, abundant wildlife including sea lions and native birds. The beach South of the lighthouse has very cool stones which I haven’t seen anywhere else before. Prone to extreme weather but very accessible and not worth missing on any trip to the Catlins.