Why DUNEDIN should be on your South Island list! New Zealand

[@The_Absolute_Dog]

"Yeah nah" I saw that, you using the lingo correctly you.

[@donovankelly12]

Haha thanks for noticing!

[@xSixSx]

Glad you enjoyed your stay, I’m born and raised, I’m a firm believer that Dunedin is the heart of the South Island 🤙🏻 Ross creek reservoir and tunnel beach are a couple of my favs 🇳🇿

[@oliviamatheson5601]

Whoop! Dunedin! I've been here my whole life and still never get over the stunning views around the peninsula. I'd recommend Flagstaff walk (Starting at the Bull Ring), St Clair Beach and the restaurants along the esplanade, Emerson's Brewery, and the Craft Beer Fest.

[@donovankelly12]

Ah that is so awesome, the views really are impressive. Thank you for the recommendations! We did hit up Emerson’s brewery and the Craft Beer Festival sounds pretty amazing!

[@theaaronimal]

Great video! I was born and raised in Dunedin and now a US Citizen living in Washington DC. Dunedin is a gem! 💎 it’s easy to look over but it has a lot of charm! The most underated thing about that city is how easy it is to get around. You can be anywhere within 5-10 mins or less!

[@Krypto_Knight_33]

I’m from the UK and have lived on the Otago Peninsula for 12 years. It’s definitely a little gem and you’ve done a great summary and review. For what Europeans or Americans would call ‘a large town’, it definitely punches above its weight with so much to do within an hour. Also only half a day drive to completely different worlds of Catlins, Fiordland’s, ski fields of Queenstown and Wanaka, and Central Otago.

[@donovankelly12]

Thank you for saying that, I really appreciate it. You have added in a lot of great points and I could not agree with you more!

[@Krypto_Knight_33]

@@donovankelly12 BTW - the train station is now finished, as well as the Tunnel Beach car park. You’ll have to make sure you make it all the way to the beach next time you’re in town!!

[@elettewheeler7893]

LOVE DUNEDIN! My favorite NZ city! Went to Art school there. Lived there for 6 years. Very cool with so many creative NZers; playwrites, writers, artists, potters, actors, etc... it has a certain creative energy. Walked through the gardens to get to town. Wonderful. The town belt is unique and magical. Only parts of Wellington can compare. Good coverage and respect. Thanks.

[@donovankelly12]

Thanks for the awesome comment! We love Dunedin ❤️

[@Theobfool]

As a local I recommend visiting the museum sometime, it’s really big with lots to look at and even has an indoor butterfly garden! (Costs extra but it’s worth it)

[@donovankelly12]

Good call! I had coffee and checked out the gift shop there before we hit the road but never went in. Great recommendation!

[@Theobfool]

@@donovankelly12 the gift shop is expensive lmao

[@thrashinwebster]

Yeah the just shop is pretty much targeted at well off tourists with cash to throw around rather than most of us that can see how over priced things are’ the museum is pretty rad tho’ the satellite dishes that are outside to talk to each other through are pretty rad’ ✌️

[@connorsmith5924]

Thank you for doing my home justice :)

[@donovankelly12]

My please! So glad you enjoyed 😃🍻

[@trazyntheinfinitehereforur828]

its weird seeing dunners in a video but also realising how familiar things in town are to the point i didnt even know that you could refer to the octagon as "downtown" like all my life its always been the center or "town" also the Speights kit is classic and sometimes at rugby games in dunners esp in the zoo youll see half of the locals in team shirts whether thats otago or highlanders and the other half in Speights kits

[@focusofthefuture8689]

Shout out from Dunedin my bro

[@parkiwi4787]

I was born in Dunedin and remember visiting during school summer holidays, Grandparents lived right on St Clair beach. Fond memories, thanks.

[@donovankelly12]

So glad you enjoyed 😊 thank you for watching!

[@mirandahotspring4019]

That "creek" running through the university is the Waters of Leith and, with a licence, you can fish for trout there, right in the middle of the city! Mt Cargill is also a good lookout spot, you can drive all the way there. The museum and Early Settlers museum, both free, are also worth a visit.

[@thrashinwebster]

Yeah the water does come from up the leith valley but it’s not really called “the waters of leith” it is just the creek running g through the uni that comes from the leith valley’ and if u can catch trout in there that would be pretty rad but it’s a concrete man made water pathway’ and I can’t say I have ever heard of anyone catching any trout in there….. and surely u wouldn’t need a license to catch fish in the uni part of the leith valley creek’ but hey! I could be wrong! U would probably have more of a chance of catching a shopping trolley in there before catching any fish 😂

[@mirandahotspring4019]

@@thrashinwebster You must have a licence to catch trout anywhere in New Zealand. There are videos on KZbin of people catching brown trout in the Leith and I have fished there myself. It really is named "Water of Leith" after the same named river in Edinburgh, Scotland. Have a look on Google maps!

[@nangapruan]

I was there recently. Love Dunny to death. The 2 years I spent there were nothing short of awesome. Thanks Dunedin. Scarfies for life!!

[@donovankelly12]

Very glad you enjoyed your time there! It’s a great town

[@forreez]

Kia ora, Donovan. I'm pleased you enjoyed your latest trip to Dunners. Next time you come, check out Arc Brewery which is just north of Dunedin in Blueskin Bay (Waitati). I'll look out for you at the Beer Fest. 😊

[@donovankelly12]

Thank you! I will absolutely add that to the list, sounds great! 🍻😃

[@nzbrent]

brilliant......onya

[@donovankelly12]

Thank you….Cheers 🍻

[@thies7831]

The Museums and Art Galleries. Amazing objects in them, especially, find the painting (yep, it is a painting !) of the Maori Chief. What a shame they stopped direct flights to Melbourne, AUS. It would be ideal for weekend excursions.

[@jezza9482]

Also if you follow the “Water of Leith” up the valley there are a number of cool bush walks and even glow worms can be found about 10 mins walk from the road without having to go into a cave.

[@donovankelly12]

Ah that sounds really cool! Thanks for the comment 🍻😃

[@jezza9482]

Whilst there are a couple of places that have glow worm tracks along the valley, my preference is for Nicols creek glow worms. Best to go after dusk with a torch!

[@chanceferrari]

Great video bro, just stumbled on your page!! I am a kiwi that is now living on aus, I miss home alot. And I love watching your vids

[@donovankelly12]

Hey thanks a lot! It’s always great to hear that a kiwi enjoys these videos, thank you for letting me know 🍻

[@Andy_M986]

We used to see Albatross everywhere along the coast, all over NZ when we were Kids.

[@donovankelly12]

That’s just so awesome. My camera and lens definitely doesn’t show off the sheer magnitude of their size but I tried haha. Royal Albatross Centre was just so cool.

[@theunknownunknowns256]

Scarfies 1999. Must see Dunedin movie.

[@donovankelly12]

That’s the second time that’s been mentioned, interesting! I will have to see if I can find a way to watch it!

[@Nizzleson]

​@@donovankelly12I'm in that movie. Mind you, so was every other theatre major in town.

[@madhavamurthy5687]

Hi Donovan, I liked the presentation of your videos.. I am in NZ for couple of months.. I am going to visit all the places as per your video.. love from India

[@donovankelly12]

Hey thanks so much! I really appreciate that. Glad I could be of help 😃🍻 safe travels my friend

[@SupersetEverything]

I love your music choices. Are they random songs that you find searching through one of the music providers or how do you find such creative music?

[@donovankelly12]

Hey thanks man, that means a lot. Sometimes I get ahead and make a playlist of songs that I can use in future videos but the reality is I spend as much time editing as I do looking for music that fits lol

[@poolburn123]

I agree I lived there for 9 years

[@michaellehmann9951]

That’s so cool, I loved to live there 🖤🖤

[@donovankelly12]

Dunedin has been so great to us 🍻

[@grantmaclennan4397]

Harington Point gun emplacements (old WWII stuff), just before the albatross colony, is free and pretty cool to explore, though it's been decades since I've done that. Must do it next time I'm home

[@donovankelly12]

Oh that sounds really awesome! I know there was a WWII tour you could pay to see at the Albatross Colony but we didn’t do that due to time unfortunately but that sounds awesome.

[@grantmaclennan4397]

There's WWII stuff on private land on the ocean side of the peninsula - big gun emplacements and barracks I think - but the emplacements (including creepy tunnels) on the harbour side are free to explore. Just don't risk your life trying to get to a building you can see by climbing along the steep hill/cliff. Stairs and tunnels are there if you can find them

[@kingcountrykiwi7429]

My father was born in Dunedin in 1945. I’ve visited once. Did you know the original name of Edinburgh in Scotland is Dunedinburgh? That’s what Dunedin is named after hence the rock. Great compilation. Kia Ora.

[@donovankelly12]

I did not know that, thanks for the fun fact! Thank you, so glad you enjoyed 😃🍻

[@kiwihib]

The weeks before you were down, the weather was great, I was down for the Football, New Zealand V Switzerland All five days sunshine..

[@donovankelly12]

Nice! Yeah we had good weather 2/3 times there. Fall/ autumn was amazing.

[@nos.comoficial]

Hey man, great video! I just found out your channel. I live in dunedin and for sure you get me new ideas of things to see around here

[@donovankelly12]

Hey thanks a lot! Very glad you enjoyed it 😃

[@flippa_da_boss9998]

check out Orokonui sanctuary next time!

[@donovankelly12]

Will do!! Thank you 🍻😃

[@jasonjohnson1178]

Outstanding brother

[@donovankelly12]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@NZ2STROKE]

We stayed the night at the castle and had dinner inside the castle,was pretty epic when the gates closed to the public and their were only 3 other couples there

[@donovankelly12]

Oh nice! I can’t imagine how cool that would have been. Thanks for sharing :)

[@RT-vf1er]

Hey Donovan, glad to find your Chanel, I’m going to spend my next week in New Zealand, I’m from Canada as well, I know that one week is too short, but would you suggest me to stay on one island for explore it, or might get driving across both islands to make a loop around? Thanks.

[@donovankelly12]

Thanks for reaching out! Where in Canada are you from? Yeah one week is really short haha I would suggest staying on one Island. You’ll get to actually see places rather than just drive past them. What places have peaked your interest the most??

[@RT-vf1er]

@@donovankelly12 Here is the thing that I’m landing in Auckland, but most of my interest is South Island.. And I’m from Manitoba yeah..

[@donovankelly12]

@@RT-vf1er ahh yeah well you could probably grab a cheap flight to the South Island and start touring around if you wanted to start there. The drive from Auckland to Wellington and the ferry ride over would probably be worth it though it is time consuming. Yeah I’d say Milford Sound has been one of the most eye opening places we’ve had the chance to see… I think the North Island has a lot of tropical areas, volcanoes, and beaches that are a lot different from the Canadian landscape and the South Island has a lot more similarities because of the mountains, but it’s still quite different. The water, marine life, Fiordland national park, west coast, etc. I hope you have a wonderful time and get to see a fair amount!

[@RT-vf1er]

@@donovankelly12 Thanks man appreciate.

[@donovankelly12]

@@RT-vf1er anytime! Feel free to DM me on Instagram if you have any questions. I know we had a lot when we first got here lol

[@exploreearth6275]

Amazing Dunedin 🤩

[@baileyscoolgamingvideos6039]

Hi what editing software do you use?

[@donovankelly12]

Hey Bailey I used premiere pro for the first couple of years of making videos but I use Final Cut Pro now.

[@ash3rr]

Hello, hope you are enjoying New Zealand. I used to study at Otago University, and moved down there from a good 10 years. Have you been to Port Chalmers, Aramoana, Portobello, Sandfly Bay, Royal albatross colony? I think those are some of my most memorable times in NZ. I much prefer Dunedin than my home tow, Auckland :) It brings my happiness to see a foreigners perspective on my country, even the bad things I can surely relate. A Kiwi in Finland

[@donovankelly12]

Thank you, I am enjoying it very much. Yes we were able to visit the Royal Albatross Colony as shown in the video and I drove by sandfly bay and walked down to the lookout. I would have to say I prefer Dunedin over Auckland as well. I am very glad you enjoyed it and I hope you’re having an awesome time in Norway!

[@kiwihib]

You should have gone to the Mt Cargill lookout, much better views than Signal Hill as long as the cloud cover is not too low.

[@donovankelly12]

Oh good to know, I’ll have to check that out next time!

[@Nizzleson]

​@donovankelly12 The Mt Cargill road is sometimes more like a logging track. But the walk up from Bethune's Gully is a good hike if you're reasonably fit. Do the Organ Pipes too. Stunning area.

[@kiwihib]

@@Nizzleson I have walked up from Bethunes Gully and one day I went to do that it was closed so walked up to the start of the organ pipes walk and walked up from there, also have walked up from Leith Valley, I don't drive, so walk or bus everywhere.

[@alman-world]

You missed Emersons Brewery !!! Next time pop in. NZ's oldest craft brewer (subject to dispute) - but yes they sold to a big brewer but it has helped them. PS: Don't tel anyone from Shag Point, Kaitaki Point or Moerak that its Dunedin as it isn't - it is a separate district WAITAKI with the main town being OAMARU. Definitely worth the visit.

[@donovankelly12]

I ended up going to Emerson’s a few times and I featured them in different videos. Probably the best brewery that’s owned by a large corporation that I’ve ever been too. That kiwi Pilsner is so dang delicious 🤤 🍻👌 Yeah I was more or less stating that Dunedin is a little out of the way but there’s a lot of really great sights like Shag Point, Moeraki, etc. not too far away. Haha definitely not Dunedin! Thanks a lot for watching!

[@michaelaotearoa3839]

Did you make it to Welly for Beervana?

[@donovankelly12]

Sure did! Still recovering while trying to see as much as we can in Wellington haha it’s a great town too!

[@michaelaotearoa3839]

@@donovankelly12 Cool. A few things you might like to do, if you have time. Rivendell located at Kaitoke Regional Park, 5 minutes north of Upper Hutt. Also the Weta Cave is worth a visit. Just passed the Airport in Miramar. Brewtown in Upper Hutt. Cheers.

[@donovankelly12]

@@michaelaotearoa3839 thanks, Michael! We just hit up Weta and the cable car today as well as a walk around downtown. Had a blast! We are not gonna make it to Upper Hutt this go around but I think we will be back in about two months or so. I’ve heard of Brewtown but didn’t know Rivendell was up there too, that’s awesome

[@duskfallmusic]

MOERAKI IS UP BY OAMARU XD -- I can FORGIVE Shag Point and the Lighthouse, that's fairly close -- but MOERAKI IS LIKE -- 20 minutes from OAMARU XD

[@donovankelly12]

Yeah fair enough.

[@nathanmora7338]

That would be a great idea actually, get New Zealanders to make a playlist for you to listen to during your road trips around the country.

[@donovankelly12]

That would be pretty sweet!

[@sarahford6609]

Aramoana 😊

[@MrAdamred]

ill keep an eye oot for ya at Beerfest if ya make it

[@donovankelly12]

Sounds awesome! Thanks for the oot haha🍻😃

[@MrEnergee1987]

Try and compare Dunedin with Dublin (Ireland)

[@donovankelly12]

Never been to Dublin! Going next year though 😃

[@nicoleflee]

I live in Dunedin

[@HannahO__O]

Im confused why you are calling central dunedin "downtown" haha but its fun seeing it from an outside perspective :)

[@HannahO__O]

I would also reccommend Emmersons brewery, a mate of mine does the beer tour there and its a great time. Shag Point is also where they found the full Pleisosaur skeleton that is in the Otago Museum! Amazing spot

[@margaretp1465]

Next time visit Olveston.

[@donovankelly12]

Thanks for the tip!

[@eugenewaterslide7328]

And while yr at it come 2 green island for 2g tins

[@snoopy13946]

You missed the castle. Big mistake.

[@donovankelly12]

Is that right? I mean it looks pretty cool but hearing that's a big mistake is interesting. Might go back one last time!

[@ek-nz]

It’s just a fancy old house (not that old either, Victorian) not a real castle. If you’ve seen castles in Europe you’ll be disappointed and it costs an arm and a leg, even just to visit the garden. Even made it onto the list of most overrated attractions in the world.

[@Roachichan]

You didn't go to Natures Wonders

[@donovankelly12]

Nope, we were close though!

[@M.B.ChalliesNZ]

🌿❤️🇳🇿

[@modfus]

Haha, you've actually made Dunedin seem somewhat interesting 😉 j/k

[@donovankelly12]

Haha thank you!

[@BlackSlimShady]

Dunedin restaurants, bars and breweries just try so hard with their decor to match some kind of Instagram, LA, Auckland, Christchurch Hipster vibe. Cramming the place filled with raw steel furniture, plants crawling up the wall, chalk boards, crazily shaped lights, neon backdrops, water features, blah blah blah. And in the end, the food/drinks are average, but cost like 14 bucks for a beer, or 30 for a pretty small meal. I'm a local so I just avoid eating out at this point, seen it all. And most of its pretty bad and overrated

[@HeldIntegral]

Ive met ppl from dunedin.. no thanks 😅😂

[@Eurynomos326]

Please no, leave us alone. Edit to clarify: QTown and Taupo and tourist traps. We put them there on purpose for you. But that wasn't enough and you tourists snapped up like most of central Otago at this point. If East Otago turns in to a tourist trap as well I'm gunna need to move to find a job and accommodation. Please just go to QTown. It's like, world renowned, and literally right there next to us for you.

[@ek-nz]

I don’t see why everyone loved Dunedin so much. When I was there it was freezing cold and raining (in summer) and there was literally nothing to do except see old houses and maybe a bird or two if you’re lucky (we weren’t). If you’re in a camper the only place you can overnight is a giant carpark in an industrial area behind the railway - everywhere else it’s banned to camp overnight. Add to this that the locals were pretty hostile, the broken glass everywhere and no interesting shops and I honestly don’t know why people really visit.

[@donovankelly12]

Thank you for sharing your experience, it is unfortunate you didn’t have the best one. I could see it being difficult if you’re in a camper van. I do wonder why you’re saying “I honestly don’t know why people really visit” on a video that breaks down a lot of cool things that Dunedin and the area has to offer. Did you watch the video and disagree with all of the points? I ended up returning to Dunedin twice since this video was posted, once for a fantastic beer festival, and another time to show it to my parents and they found Dunedin extremely European and charming. It was one of their favourite cities in New Zealand. It also helps that everyone we spoke to was extremely friendly and the weather was pretty great.