Dunedin,

New Zealand

Photo by trabantos on iStock

111

For all emergencies.

Emergency Number

New Zealand dollar ($)

Local Currency

136,000 (2024)

Population

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Local Time

UTC+12 until 3:00am on 28Sep25, then UTC+13

Time Zone

English

Māori

New Zealand Sign Language

Official/Primary Languages

Port Essentials

Everything you need to know for your visit to Dunedin.

Cruise Terminal

Address Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, 9023, New Zealand

Distance to CBD 14 km (8.7 miles)

Tender Required No

Walk Off/Shuttle Both Options

Notes The Port Chalmers cruise terminal is located approximately 14 km (8.7 miles) from Dunedin city center. Small ships may dock closer to the city center.

General Information

Current Offset UTC+12

Daylight Saving Start Sunday, 28 September 2025 at 3:00am local time. The offset moves to UTC+13.

Daylight Saving End Sunday, 5 April 2026 at 2:00am local time. The offset moves to UTC+12.

Primary Local Currency

New Zealand dollar (NZD $).

Currency Conversions

Below we've listed some conversion rates for the New Zealand dollar against popular international currencies. The exchange rates are based on 100 NZD, are refreshed once per day and were last updated on 03 Jul 2025

Currency	Equivalent
USD	60.66
EUR	51.61
GBP	44.45
AUD	92.32
CAD	82.28
JPY	8799.59
CNY	434.86

To convert custom amounts, or to see the exchange rate of the New Zealand dollar against different currencies, try our currency converter by clicking the button below.

Credit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, are commonly used and accepted throughout Dunedin. You can use credit cards for most purchases, but it's always a good idea to carry some cash for smaller businesses or markets. Additionally, American Express may attract an increased processing fee.

Tap-and-pay options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted and available.

Overall expectation Tipping is not customary in Dunedin, as staff are paid a living wage.

Weekdays 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM

Saturdays 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Sundays 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Notes

Supermarkets and essential services often have extended hours, sometimes opening as early as 7:00am and closing as late as 10:00pm, seven days a week.

Shops are required to close on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and until 1:00pm on Anzac Day. Easter Sunday trading is complex, with variations depending on local council policies and exemptions for specific locations and shop types.

Staying connected in Dunedin, New Zealand, is straightforward, thanks to a robust network of free public Wi-Fi hotspots across the city:

Dunedin Public Libraries: All branches offer free Wi-Fi 24/7 via the APNK and GigCity networks. Access is available both inside and around the library buildings.
GigCity Wi-Fi Hotspots: The city's GigCity network provides free, high-speed Wi-Fi at various locations, including:
- The Octagon
- Dunedin Railway Station
- Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
- Dunedin Chinese Garden
- Wall Street Mall
- Dunedin Public Art Gallery
- St Clair Esplanade
- Macandrew Bay
- Port Chalmers Library
- Mosgiel Library and playground
- Dunedin Botanic Garden
- South Dunedin Pop-Up Hub
- Lorne Street
- Museum Reserve
- The Exchange
Vogel St Kitchen: A popular café located at 76 Vogel Street, offering free Wi-Fi alongside great coffee and food.
Nova Café: Situated at 29 The Octagon, Nova Café provides free Wi-Fi in a cozy setting.
The Nectar: Located at 286 Princes Street, The Nectar offers free Wi-Fi in a relaxed atmosphere.
315 Euro: This accommodation at 315 George Street provides free Wi-Fi for guests.
St Clair Beach: Enjoy free Wi-Fi while taking in the ocean views at this popular beach spot.

A note of caution: Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it's not always secure. Avoid logging into sensitive accounts or entering personal information when connected to open networks. Consider using a VPN for additional security.

PortQuest recommends Nomad eSIM

Whether you're checking maps, messaging friends, or booking last-minute tours, staying connected matters. That’s why we recommend Nomad eSIMs — one of the best travel eSIMs on the market (and we've tried a few!)

Nomad offers reliable, affordable data in over 100 countries, including most cruise ports. No physical SIM swap, no roaming surprises — just install and go.

Get a Nomad eSIM

Outlets Type I

Voltage 230/240 volts at 50 hertz

Outlet and Plug

Transportation

Below is a list of common transport options for cruise ship visitors. We haven't included every possible choice — public transport, for example, is not listed since most visitors won't need it for a short, one-day stay.

Ride-share

Uber

Website: Click here.

Phone: 0800 46 8237

E-Scooter

Flamingo

Website: Click here.

Phone: 0800 FLAMINGO

Bike Rental

BikeHouse

Website: Click here.

Phone: +64 3 477 7473

Dunedin Bike

Website: Click here.

Phone: +64 21 175 0832

iBike Hire

Website: Click here.

Phone: +64 21 973 112

Taxi

Dunedin Taxis

Website: Click here.

Phone: +64 3 477 7777

Kiwi Cabs

Website: Click here.

Phone: 0800 003 439

Private Driver

Freedom Companion Driving Services

Website: Click here.

Phone: +64 3 471 8177

Dunedin's city center, The Octagon, is compact and pedestrian-friendly, making it easy to explore key landmarks on foot. However, the city's hilly terrain, including the famous Baldwin Street, presents a challenge for some visitors.

While the central areas are easily accessible, venturing further out may require alternative transportation. Be prepared for some steep inclines and consider utilising public or private transport for longer distances.

Safety & Health

Universal

Call 111

Notes: For all emergencies: fire, police, ambulance.

Current Travel Advisory for New Zealand.

Level 1 – Exercise Normal Safety Precautions

The security environment is similar to that of a large Australian city.

Use common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour.
Monitor media for changes to local conditions.
Check entry requirements before you travel.

Not sure what these levels mean? Learn more about travel advice levels.

Smartraveller is the official travel advice service of the Australian Government. While primarily aimed at Australian citizens, PortQuest believes it offers practical, up-to-date safety guidance for travellers worldwide. See the full advisory on Smartraveller.gov.au .

Last updated: 17 Mar 2025

Safe to drink? Yes

Precautions Tap water in Dunedin is generally considered safe and is regularly tested.

Weather

Monthly weather in Dunedin

°C °F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum Temp	18.5	65	18.6	65	17.4	63	15.1	59	12.7	55	10.1	50	9.7	50	10.9	52	12.4	54	14.1	57	15.6	60	17.5	63
Minimum Temp	11.4	53	11.4	52	10.3	51	8.2	47	6.1	43	4.2	40	3.6	39	4.1	39	5.1	41	6.6	44	8.5	47	10.6	51
Avg Rainfall (mm)	96	89	69	73	73	65	69	47	61	101	86	94
Avg Rainy Days	13	11	12	12	12	11	10	11	13	15	15	14
Daylight Hours	15.3	14	12.4	10.8	9.4	8.7	9	10.2	11.8	13.4	14.9	15.7
Avg UV Index	8.6	8	6.7	4.8	3	2	2.4	3.8	5.6	7.2	8.3	8.7

Best Time to Visit

Cruise ships usually just spend one precious day in port — and we want to help you make the most of it.

To give you the best chance of an enjoyable visit, we’ve created a custom “Best Time to Visit” score for each month, unique to each destination. The score is calculated using factors that are likely to matter the most:

Comfortable temperatures
Lower rainfall and fewer rainy days
More daylight hours
Moderate UV levels

Each score is based on historical monthly averages and adjusted for each port’s climate. We weight the above factors — for example, long daylight hours and fewer wet days matter more when you're only ashore for part of the day. That's also why no month gets a 10/10, as there's always a trade-off. For example, warmer weather and clear skies comes with higher UV (and more sweat!).

This chart isn't meant to suggest that a port is bad to visit outside the highest rated months — each season provides something memorable for each location. But if you’re deciding when to cruise, this will hopefully give you the best chance of having perfect weather on your visit.

Temperature Chart

Rainfall Chart

UV Index Chart

1–2: Low

3–5: Moderate

6–7: High

8–10: Very High

>10: Extreme

Tours & Experiences

Each tour you see below has been selected for cruise ship visitors. For example, each tour has Free Cancellation, as most of us have experiened the stress of trying to refund a tour when a port visit is cancelled or an itinerary changed on short notice. They're also no more than 6 hours in length, leaving you plenty of time to make dinner on the ship, or explore the port further on foot.

By booking through our links, you help support PortQuest and allow us to continue providing valuable content to enhance your port visits (at no extra cost to you).

Top Attractions

Discover the top attractions in Dunedin, selected for cruise passengers!

Baldwin Street

★ 4.8 (1594)

View Details

The Octagon

★ 4.8 (1026)

View Details

Signal Hill

★ 4.8 (703)

View Details

Dunedin Cruise Port (Port Chalmers)

★ 4.8 (1863)

View Details

Royal Albatross Centre

★ 4.8 (148)

View Details

Larnach Castle

★ 4.7 (1214)

View Details

PortQuest Picks

Our team has hand-selected these tours to showcase the best and most unforgettable experiences each port has to offer — ones we've either personally enjoyed or have at the top of our bucket list.

Heritage City and Larnach Castle Van tour with Historian Guide

A tour with Gregor is like no other. Emerging business award finalist, Tales From Darkest Dunedin and Gregor Campbell, respected historian and expert story tell...

$151 USD (≈ 249 NZD)

5h 0m

★ 5.0 (57)

Dunedin,

New Zealand

Dunedin, New Zealand

111

New Zealand dollar ($)

136,000 (2024)

Loading...

UTC+12 until 3:00am on 28Sep25, then UTC+13

English

Māori

New Zealand Sign Language

Port Essentials

Cruise Terminal

General Information

PortQuest recommends Nomad eSIM

Transportation

Ride-share

E-Scooter

Bike Rental

Taxi

Private Driver

Safety & Health

Weather

Best Time to Visit

Temperature Chart

Rainfall Chart

UV Index Chart

Tours & Experiences

Top Attractions

Baldwin Street

The Octagon

Signal Hill

Dunedin Cruise Port (Port Chalmers)

Royal Albatross Centre

Larnach Castle

PortQuest Picks

Browse Tours

Heritage City and Larnach Castle Van tour with Historian Guide

Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour

Clearwater Wildlife - Small Guided Tours (10 max) Otago Peninsula

Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience

Private Guided Tour of Dunedin City Heritage and Unique Wildlife and Scenery

Iconic Shore Excursion: Iconic Larnach Castle Tour

Larnach Castle & Dunedin City Highlights Tour

Half-Day Private City, Sights & Wildlife Tours

天际线 Private Dunedin City &Peninsula Scenery Day Tour ( up to 4 )

Dunedin Castle to Cruise Tour

天际线 private Dunedin City & Otago Peninsula Day Tour (up to 8 )

Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & Albatross Guided Tour

天际线 private Dunedin city & Otago Peninsula Day Tour (up to 4)

Otago Peninsula Tour and Larnach Castle City Sights (min 4 )

Dunedin City - Settlers & Voyages Tour

Castle, Coast & City Small Group Tour (8 pax max)

Private Tour Dunedin

Dunedin Adventure: Family Heritage & Nature Walk

Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

天际线 Dunedin City & Otago Peninsula Scenery Day Tour Sharing

Private Wildlife and Penguin Tour in Dunedin with Ticket

Dunedin 4 Hrs halfday Private Tour

Half day Private Tour of Dunedin City Highlights and Peninsula Scenery

Albatross, seals, and sea birds-Wildlife Cruise

City to Sea Wildlife Cruise + Peninsula Bus Tour

City Highlights, Larnach Castle & Peninsula Views

Water Taxi and Shuttle to Larnach Castle

Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

Otago Peninsula Scenery and Dunedin City Highlights Tour

Dunedin City and Coastal Views 3-Hour Small-Group Guided Tour

Dunedin City, Wildlife and Larnach Castle

Otago Peninsula and Larnach Castle Tour FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS

Dunedin Shore Excursion: Small-Group Tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula

Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & a Guided Penguin Reserve Tour

Emerson's Brewery Tour

Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting

Heritage Highlights Walk

Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & Albatross Guided Tour

Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour

Twilight at the Opera

Dunedin Adventure: Family Heritage & Nature Walk

Emerson's Brewery Tour

Wildlife and Penguin Tour