Getting to Dunedin

New Zealand consists of two islands: the North Island and the South Island. Dunedin is located on the South Island, and since the island is surrounded by water, there are only two ways to get here; by air or by boat.

By car

You can only get to Dunedin by car if you are already on the South Island. However, once on the South Island, it is not at all difficult to drive to Dunedin. The road conditions are excellent, with beautiful scenery along the way, and routes are well-signposted. With a quick stop for petrol, you can get to Dunedin within 5 hours from Christchurch; 90 minutes from either Oamaru or Catlins; about 2 hours 30 minutes from Invercargill and 4 hours from Queenstown.

By bus

There are numerous bus and coach companies offering services between Dunedin and the surrounding areas of Otago, Canterbury (to the north) and Southland (to the South). Services between Dunedin and Christchurch, Queenstown and Invercargill operate frequently on a daily basis. Visitors can refer to i-SITE Dunedin Visitor Centre for more information on schedules.

The companies offer a variety of ticketing preferences including regular one-way and return tickets and a flexible ticketing system. The flexible ticketing system is usually preferred by visitors, as it allows them to board and get off the bus a number of times during a specified travel period.

By train

The Taieri Gorge Railway runs daily services that connect with bus services to Queenstown. The journey takes you through the heart of scenic Otago and is very enjoyable and comfortable.

By sea

The Otago Harbour on the Otago peninsula welcomes many cruise liners each year. From here, passengers will need to get a taxi or a bus, hire a car or get on the Taieri Gorge Railway to reach Dunedin.

By air

The Dunedin International Airport is located within Dunedins city boundaries and is easily accessible, being only 30 minutes drive from the city centre. The airport efficiently handles several international and local flights daily, and it has good facilities that include a cafeteria, car rental agencies, ATMs, lounges, foreign exchange and duty-free services and shops. Taxis and shuttle services make it very convenient to get to the city.

Taxis

Getting a taxi in Dunedin is not difficult and there is the added bonus that taxi travel is very safe here. All taxis are metered and many have fitted cameras in the vehicle.