Discover Dunedin Scavenger Hunt
Discover the Edinburgh of the South with a scavenger hunt across Dunedin. Climb the steepest residential street in the world, stand under Robert Burns in the Octagon, photograph the Edwardian gingerbread of the railway station and pour a pint at Speight's. Scottish bagpipes, student energy, the Otago Peninsula at the edge of the world.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
The Octagon
Navigate to the Octagon in the heart of Dunedin and check in by the Robert Burns statue.
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2
Dunedin Railway Station
Walk east to the Dunedin Railway Station on Anzac Avenue and check in at the front entrance.
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3
Baldwin Street
Drive or rideshare northeast to Baldwin Street in North East Valley and check in at the bottom of the climb.
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4
Speight's Brewery
Drive back to central Dunedin and check in at Speight's Brewery on Rattray Street.
Challenges (20)
Dunedin kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Dunedin backdrop (a tartan storefront, a Victorian facade, a Robert Burns plaque) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: The Octagon
Navigate to the Octagon in the heart of Dunedin and check in by the Robert Burns statue.
Robert Burns pose
The seated Robert Burns statue in the Octagon nods to Dunedin's Scottish founders. Find Burns (he is facing the cathedral, his back to the pub), line the team up around him and take a group photo in proper Burns-night reverence.
St Paul's Cathedral spires
St Paul's Cathedral rises over the Octagon with twin Gothic spires. Find an angle on the facade and take a group photo with the cathedral spires above the team.
Trivia: Otago University founded
The University of Otago, New Zealand's oldest university, was founded in Dunedin in what year?
Answer: 1869
Checkpoint: Dunedin Railway Station
Walk east to the Dunedin Railway Station on Anzac Avenue and check in at the front entrance.
Railway Station gingerbread shot
The Dunedin Railway Station is one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand: black basalt, white limestone, Royal Doulton tile floor inside. Find the front facade and take a group photo with the team posed under the clock tower.
Trivia: Railway Station opened
The current Dunedin Railway Station opened in what year (within 2)?
Answers: 1906 / 1904 / 1905 / 1907 / 1908
Checkpoint: Baldwin Street
Drive or rideshare northeast to Baldwin Street in North East Valley and check in at the bottom of the climb.
Baldwin Street summit shot
Baldwin Street holds the Guinness World Record for the steepest residential street in the world. Walk to the top (or as far as your knees allow), turn around and take a group photo looking back down the slope.
Trivia: Baldwin Street gradient
The steepest section of Baldwin Street climbs at roughly what percentage gradient (within 3)?
Answers: 35 / 34 / 36 / 33 / 37 / 38
Checkpoint: Speight's Brewery
Drive back to central Dunedin and check in at Speight's Brewery on Rattray Street.
Speight's facade pose
The original Speight's Brewery has been brewing on Rattray Street since the 19th century. Find the front facade with the green Speight's sign and take a group photo with the team posed in front. Pop into the Ale House for a Pride of the South pint if time allows.
Trivia: Speight's founded
Speight's, the "Pride of the South", was founded as a brewery in Dunedin in what year (within 2)?
Answers: 1876 / 1874 / 1875 / 1877 / 1878
University clocktower pose
The University of Otago's clocktower is a basalt-and-limestone landmark on the Leith. Walk through campus, find the clocktower and take a group photo with the team posed on the lawn in front.
Tartan / Scottish nod
Dunedin is the Edinburgh of the South. Find a tartan storefront, a bagpipe statue, a Scottish flag or the kilted Robbie Burns Festival sign and take a group photo with the team showing their Scottish spirit.
Otago Peninsula nod
Larnach Castle is the only castle in New Zealand, sitting on the Otago Peninsula. If you can drive out, take a group photo at the castle. Otherwise find any Otago Peninsula or albatross-themed shop or sign and take a team photo with it.
Dunedin sweet taste
Cadbury chocolate ran a factory in Dunedin for a century. Find a Cadbury display, a Whittaker's bar or any local sweet shop and take a group photo with the team about to share a chocolate moment.
Local Dunedinite tip
Convince a local Dunedin resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Dunedin finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Dunedin spot (the Railway Station at golden hour, the Octagon at dusk, the harbour at sunset) and take an amazing closing group photo. Kia ora from the Edinburgh of the South!
Frequently asked questions
Four hours covers the Octagon, the Railway Station, Speight's, the University of Otago and Baldwin Street at a relaxed pace. Baldwin Street sits 3.5 km northeast of the centre, so rideshare or drive (and bring good shoes for the climb). The rest of the route is walkable through the CBD.
Yes, but pace yourself. The street climbs at a 35% gradient on the steepest section, the equivalent of one floor of stairs every five steps. The top half is concrete (laid for snow grip) and not asphalt. Pause halfway, drink water and take the photo at the top.
Yes if you have an extra half day. Larnach Castle, the Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head and the yellow-eyed penguin colonies are all on the Peninsula, a 30-minute drive from the city. The hunt focuses on the urban core; treat the Peninsula as a separate excursion.
The Octagon is the natural starting point: parking on Princes Street, the Robert Burns statue anchors the kickoff photo and the Railway Station, St Paul's Cathedral and the Town Hall are within a block. From there walk south to Speight's, then drive to Baldwin Street.
Yes. The Octagon, the Otago Museum and the Dunedin Botanic Garden welcome families. Baldwin Street is steep but children love the chocolate-roll race down it (held annually for charity). Speight's offers brewery tours that allow kids and serve soft drinks too.