30.11.2017: Sightseeing in and around Dunedin

Our first night in the car was more comfortable for some and less comfortable for others. While I slept quite well and woke up in a cozy warm sleeping bag, Eric froze overnight despite wearing long jogging pants and a long-sleeved top in the sleeping bag. That explains why only my side of the car was fogged up in the morning.

After packing up our things and having breakfast, we continue our journey. The first item on my list is the so-called Doctors Point, where you can walk through caves on the beach at low tide. Contrary to my assumption, we arrive in time and can explore the rock passages with dry feet.

From peace to the big city - we continue to Dunedin and look for accommodation. The first hostel is (fortunately) fully booked, as our first impression is anything but homely. Just a few meters away is Hogwartz, where we get a spacious double room for two nights. Everything is pleasantly large here - including the kitchen and bathroom. Some rooms bear familiar names from the Harry Potter books, such as Dobby's Room or Gringottz. However, behind the door, treasure hunters will not find dragon-guarded vaults, but only a storage room with cleaning utensils.

After settling into our room, Eric and I head to the main attractions of Dunedin. First and foremost, the beautiful train station with its mosaic interior. Unfortunately, the view from the outside is constantly blocked by one or two buses and inside it is packed. Four years ago, I had better luck.

I take Eric to the neighboring Cadbury chocolate factory. While we don't participate in the tour, the entrance area is still photogenic. Of course, we also stock up on 4 bars of chocolate for $10. In the supermarket, it would have cost us about $16.

The First Church, another landmark of the city, is completely covered in a thick construction scaffold, so it is not worth stopping for a photo here. Too bad.

For the next items on my list, we need the car. First, we head to the university, whose buildings I already liked in photos. And because it is part of a visit to Dunedin, I also show Eric Baldwin Street, the steepest residential street in the world. Since we have to pass the time until low tide again, we drive up another winding, steep road to a viewpoint overlooking Dunedin and the adjacent Otago Peninsula. We spend another hour in the Botanic Garden before setting off for our final agenda.

The narrow staircase down to Tunnel Beach is only accessible at low tide. We admire the towering cliffs and massive rock formations before walking back through the tunnel and climbing up to the large sea-carved rock arch. When the waves break in the arch, the ground shakes, making you feel like the structure you are standing on could collapse at any moment. That's quite thrilling. After taking a dozen photos, we make our way up the steep path to our car and drive back to the hostel.