About Dunedin
University ClocktowerHistoric and sophisticated, Dunedin is the quintessential university city. Originally modelled on Edinburgh in Scotland, it is one of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere. In former times, the city was known for its manufacturing and food processing industries: these days, although Cadbury's chocolate is still a mainstay of the local economy (and a great place to visit!) Dunedin is known as a centre for education, its population of more than 120,000 containing over 25,000 tertiary level students in the University and the Polytechnic.
But what truly distinguishes Dunedin is the spectacular coastal landscape on which the settlement was founded. A 17 km long, natural harbour gives way to church spires and towers of the historic town centre and university, set back against high, green forested hills. Sandy beaches and dizzying cliffs lay along the city’s Pacific Ocean flank, where seals and penguins, and the only mainland colony of albatross in the world, can be found. Dunedin is now a popular tourist destination in its own right.
Golden History
The heritage feel of Dunedin is a legacy of Otago’s 1860s gold rush, which briefly turned this port city into the industrial centre of New Zealand. The boom did not last, but Dunedin developed a solid tradition for education, while retaining its sophistication and grandeur. The city has since produced many of New Zealand’s greatest novelists, poets, artists, scientists, journalists, musicians, sportsmen and women, business people and leaders. It has always occupied a special place in the nation’s heart as a haven for creativity and a producer of fine minds.
As well as the lure of the coast,
Market Day other attractions include the historic Dunedin Railway Station, and reputedly the World’s steepest street, Baldwin Street. A recent and popular addition to the city is the peaceful Chinese Gardens, created to remember the city’s Chinese industrial past.
The colourful city centre, just a few minutes’ walk from the historic campus area, is full of cafés, restaurants, bars, boutiques and shopping centres of an international standard. The harbour, a popular place for kayaking, rowing, wind-surfing, fishing and yachting, is also a short distance from the eastern side of the University campus. The 28 hectares of trees and park-land in the city’s Botanic Gardens, located just a 10 minute walk north of the campus, is a popular attraction.
The city centre hosts a modern public art gallery housing one of New Zealand’s best international art collections, and adjacent to the campus is the Otago Museum, which ranks among the country’s finest.
Other attractions further afield from Dunedin include the coastal native forests of the Catlins, south of the city, and the wineries and ski fields in the Queenstown Lakes/Central Otago region – just a few hours’ drive away.
For further information visit one of these websites.
Dunedin
Dunedin's Seasons
Dunedin has a temperate climate and in November, being late spring-early summer, daytime temperatures are typically around 18-20oC. However, the region is subject to rapidly moving depressions moving in from the Southern Ocean, which can produce low temperatures and wet conditions. So the visitor is wise to pack some warmer clothing just in case, and definitely bring something to keep the rain out!
Weather information for Dunedin can be found at:
www.dunedin.govt.nz/council-online/weather_information
or:
www.metservice.com/towns-cities/dunedin
About the University of Otago
Staff club and science buildingsThe University of Otago, founded in 1869, is New Zealand's oldest university. The University opened in July 1871 with a staff of just three Professors, one to teach Classics and English Language and Literature, another having responsibility for Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, and the third to cover Mental and Moral Philosophy. The following year a Professor of Natural Science joined the staff. Originally housed in a building (later the Stock Exchange) to the south of the Octagon, in Princes Street, the University moved to its present site in north Dunedin with the completion of the northern parts of the Clocktower and Geology buildings in 1878 and 1879.
University UnionThe University has expanded considerably over the last 50 years, from around 3,000 students in the early 1960s to a current enrolment of close to 20,000 students. It offers a full suite of courses, across health science, science, humanities and business, with a strong emphasis on research: in the last research ranking exercise in 2006, the University of Otago was ranked as the top research University in New Zealand.
The campus experience draws students from all over New Zealand, and from overseas: there is a lively student life in north Dunedin, close to the campus, and a well developed café culture along the main street from the campus to the city centre.
Conference venue
The Castle Lecture Theatre complex is located at the heart of the campus and comprises two large lecture theatres, fully equipped with the latest audio-visual technology, and three smaller lecture/seminar rooms. Nearby is the Link, an atrium-style area between the new Library and the Student Union, where students and staff can meet, have coffee, read, chat, eat lunch and generally relax. Lunches and refreshment breaks for the conference will be located in the Link. Wireless access to the Internet is available across the central campus: it is anticipated that guest access will be available for conference participants.
Travel
Dunedin International Airport is located to the south of the city, about 30 mins drive from the city centre. There are regular minibus shuttle services to and from the airport (typical charge per person of about NZ$15). Taxis are also available: typical fare one way is about NZ$70-80.
The airport is serviced by Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue (part of Virgin Airlines), with regular domestic services to and from Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Most international visitors will fly into either Auckland or Christchurch, and a simple connection can be made through to Dunedin.
There is a limited number of direct flights between Dunedin and Australia, operated by Air New Zealand. At present the services are to Brisbane and to Sydney: these are popular as they cut out the need to travel via Christchurch, and changing planes. Extra flights are usually introduced for the summer period, so it may be necessary to monitor the Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue websites for information about summer services into and out of Dunedin airport.
For information on visa requirements for visiting New Zealand, please go to:
www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/
Other travel options
Travel time from Christchurch to Dunedin by road is about 5-6 hours (a distance of about 350km). Driving (on the left side of the road in New Zealand) is reasonably easy, from Christchurch, until past the town of Oamaru in North Otago, then the conditions get more demanding (but also much more scenic!) as the road works its way through hills, and round the coast, before climbing over the high ground immediately north of Dunedin. The open road speed limit is 100 km/hr, and generally in built up areas, 50 km/hr.
There are no passenger train services to Dunedin.
Information Websites
www.dunedinnz.com
Click on ‘Visitor information’ and it gives you:
- Weather and Seasons
- All about Dunedin
- Location
- A-Z Dunedin Visitors Guide
- Click on ‘Getting Here & Around’ and it gives you:
- Transport to and around Dunedin
- Rental Vehicles
- Dunedin Maps
www.tourism.net.nz
This website can be changed into any language needed to make navigating the website easier and gives information on accommodation, travel and maps.
www.immigration.govt.nz
This gives information for Visitors to New Zealand including:
- Forms & Guides
- Fees
- List of Visa Free Countries
Insurance and liability
Neither the HIA Research Unit nor IAIA will be responsible for medical expenses, accidents, losses or other unexpected damage to property belonging to meeting participants, either during or as a result of the meeting. Participants are advised to arrange their own insurance for health and accident, lost luggage, and trip cancellation.