Dunedin Cruises
Dunedin is nestled in a natural harbour of the Otago region. It is the fifth largest city in New Zealand and the second largest in the south island. The name comes from the Gallic word for Edinburgh ; dun edin. This shows the history of the Scottish immigrants that populated the area, who originally wanted to call the city New Edinburgh. The climate is generally temperate, however its proximity to the ocean and mountains means the climate is affected. The city is, unusually home to New Zealand's steepest street; Baldwin Street. The botanical gardens are one of the natural attractions of the city, however the hills of the extinct volcanoes that surround the city attract many hikers. The city also attracts many visitors via the museums that dot the city. These include the Cadbury's Chocolate factory, Otago Museum, The Settlers Museum and the famous Art gallery. The Gothic architecture means that the city itself is reason enough to explore Dunedin.
Inhabited by the Maori culture since 1100 AD the land was first discovered by Europeans when James Cook visited the island in 1770. Established as a whaling port, the feud between Maori and European settlers sparked the ' 'sealer's war'. In 1852 the discovery of gold lead to an influx of population and made it the fastest growing city in the country. The post war city led to a generation that rejected Victorian principles and started to demolish buildings turning it into the city of today.