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[anord]

So my boyfriend and I have been living in Dunedin for about a month, and now he's going back up to Wellington for a week or so to help his mother with landscaping. This means I'll be alone in a city where I know no one but him. I'm determined not to be bored, so I was wondering: What are the cool spots in town that a newcomer might have missed?

Comments

[octopusgrrl]

A few suggestions (I don't have much money, so most of the things I do are pretty cheap!):

- South Dunedin op shops and secondhand stores are great fun to fossick through
- take the bus to Andersons Bay Cemetary, to enjoy the views and read the gravestones
- walk along St Clair or St Kilda beaches
- the library in town is really good for books, magazines and music
- watch rare and unusual films at the Film Archive in the Public Art Gallery and checking out the current exhibitions
- both Otago Settlers Museum and Otago Museum are awesome: the Settlers is more social history but is great, and the Museum has Animal Attic, which is all sorts of creepy (stuffed Victorian specimens!)
- rifle through the bargain bins at Real Groovy
- Botanic Gardens for picnics and checking out the aviaries and the swings
- take the bus to Port Chalmers on a sunny day, it's a lovely trip and there's all sorts of interesting artsy and collectables places there
- if you have a car, go beachhopping: Allens Beach and Sandfly Bay (if you're feeling fit!) are a short drive up the Peninsula, Tomahawk and Ocean Grove are beautiful and close to town, and Purakanui, Aramoana and Long Beach on the Port side are also worth checking out.
- other car trips: Deborah Bay to try and spot the wreck of the Don Juan (rumoured to be a slaver and a pirate ship!), Tunnel Beach (a steep walk down from Blackhead Rd over the point from St Clair - never been, but would love to check it out), Brighton and Ocean View, two pretty little beaches about 15 mins drive from Dunners.
- as jampalhakyi mentioned, there's a series of books about Dunedin walks with stories and histories of most suburbs, which are fascinating. They're about $15 each at the Visitors Centre, but I have copies that you're very welcome to borrow if you'd like.
- I run a Stitch N' Bitch at a local cafe on Thursdays, it's sort of on hiatus at present since people are out of town so there's only a couple of us left, but we're always keen for new knitting blood *evillaugh!* Email me for details :)

Anyway, hope that helps!

[jampalhakyi]

hehe I like that Stitch N' Bitch if I have time I will join :) I think go for it knitting in all the cafe's :) is it at ARC? Orange Cafe in Moray place has comfy couches.. and does Trade Aid coffee..
more info...but what is being given is all great info! I always assume people know our Library is good.
Tunnel Beach is totally great just don't go in Lambing Season as they don't let you in for obvious reasons, same with Lovers Leap?? or is it stiff permanently shut to public?
on Sunday afternoons, after lunch till sunset, people can visit the Stupa on harbour Cone. (Peace monument, consecrated by the Dalai Lama)
yes the NZ film archive at the Art Gallery is great. good ole VHS!
another excellent bargain rummaging second hand shop is um can't remember its name but its between the 2 one ways way down at the Oval.. Bargain something.. run by the folk who help build houses for poorer people?
Records Records still is open up Stuart St in 1st block up from Octagon for second hand recordings...
plenty of used book stores - one way north, gardens, but the big keep an eye out for is the Regent Book sale later in the year.
I should have mentioned that any of the parks of course are perfect for tree climbing!!! my daughter says down at the Oval where the childrens playground is (near the bus depot end of Princes St) has excellent tree climbing trees too.
another thing to draw your attention to is Dunedin Freecycle. like trade me but FREEEE! and you can ask for whatever you need too.
High schools run adult education classes I know Logan Park had some great cooking nights on.. and Hilaire is right about the great courses clubs and socs run. all affordable.
You can always volunteer to help cooking at the $3 Hare Krishna lunches at clubs and socs.. once summer school finishes i guess..
this is great to get a refresher on peoples ideas of fun around town!
plenty of folk don't wear shoes here over the years..(myself included!!) but don't get too cold ey? not everyone knows that can deplete your kidneys somewhat. even though burning hot at moments, it often is a bit cooler here than Welly.. :)