Start your visit at the Otago Museum where the Southern Land, Southern People exhibition offers the opportunity to see the Otago story in context. Gain an understanding of where you are in the world and discover where else you may wish to visit in this comprehensive gateway to the region.

If you have time, enjoy the Museum’s other galleries and its ever-changing special exhibitions. If you have children with you make sure you visit Discovery World.

You can enjoy a coffee or lunch at the Museum Café and shopping in the well-appointed Museum Shop.

From the Otago Museum, walk through the tree-lined museum reserve and on to George Street. Make your way south through the central shopping district to the Octagon. Enjoy the appealing architecture of this fine city along the way. Be sure to see in particular First Church, the Robbie Burns Statue in the Octagon and the historic Cathedral and Municipal Chambers.

Down the alley beside the Visitor Centre in the old Municipal Chambers you will find the Dunedin Public Libraries/Dunedin Public Library. As well as its special collections in the Reed Collection and McNab room, the library offers Internet facilities and newspapers from around the world. A great chance to catch up on news from home!

Around the Octagon, past the Cathedral and Hoyts Cinemas you will find the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Right in the heart of the city, the gallery holds significant New Zealand and international collections, regularly shown in its galleries. Enjoy an outstanding collection of works by internationally renowned Frances Hodgkins.

Sample excellent coffee and food in the adjoining Nova café or browse in the Gallery’s shop.

From here, walk around the Octagon to lower Stuart Street and follow it three blocks to the end. There on the corner you will find the Dunedin Court House, a beautifully restored historic building and in front of you, the Dunedin Railway Station – also restored and regarded as the finest example of its kind in the country. Walk south along the one-way street and you will find the Otago Settlers Museum.

The Museum holds a wealth of information about Otago’s early settlers, and has regularly changing exhibitions. It connects the history of the region with the twenty first century.

Your next stop should be the Hocken Library. If you are walking, return to the Railway Station then follow Anzac Avenue. If you're driving, make your way one block over toward town and onto Cumberland St, the one-way north. Follow this to Frederick Street where you turn right then at the end left onto Anzac Ave – the Hocken Library will be just ahead of you.

You can also catch the Port Chalmers bus on Cumberland St outside the Countdown supermarket to Anzac Avenue. The driver will drop you off as close as possible to the library if you ask.

The Hocken Library is a treasure trove of archives and photos and has a substantial art collection, presented in regularly changing special exhibitions.

From the Hocken Library, you can walk or drive to the Botanic Garden using the map, through the University of Otago campus and student accommodation areas, or catch a bus back to the central city and then take a Normanby or Opoho bus on the main street, George Street, to the garden.

You will find displays of native and exotic plants, relaxing places to catch the people passing by and some interesting walks through the vast garden estate. An “oasis in the city” the garden is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the easy going nature of Dunedin.

Take this tour over a few hours, a day or make the most of these wonderful collections and spend several days enjoying all the details. Where ever you go you’re sure to be surprised and impressed with the quality and quantity of the collections!

We wish you a wonderful journey through Dunedin’s Collected Stories. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask one of the friendly staff at any one of these outstanding institutions.

Dunedin’s Collected Stories – truly world class experiences.