Dunedin fun Facts!

Fun Facts about Dunedin (my city!)

·         It’s the Southernmost City in the world!

·         Dunedin is based off the same street plan as Edinburgh!

·         This makes sense, since it is the “Scottish City”

·         Dunedin is the world’s fifth largest city, in geographical size, offering lots of leisure and recreational opportunities. Until a few years ago it was the largest “geographically speaking” city in the Southern Hemisphere. The town border just does not end!

·          Apparently you can go surfing and skiing in the same day!

·         Dunedin is the Celtic name for Edinburgh.

·         The only mainland breeding colony of the Northern Royal Albatross, large majestic seabirds with a wingspan of thee metres, is at the Otago Peninsula. (I went and saw them.)

·         Dunedin, and its surrounds, is home to some interesting locals, including the world’s rarest penguin - the yellow-eyed penguin, New Zealand sea lions, New Zealand fur seals and little blue penguins. (I think I have seen the world's rarest penguin! What do you think?)

·         Dunedin’s Baldwin Street is the steepest street in the world.

·         Larnach Castle located on the Otago Peninsula is New Zealand’s only castle. (except it really is a large mansion, not a castle!”

·         Dunedin Railway Station is the most photographed building in New Zealand.

·         University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest university was the first in the country to admit women to all its classes. It is also the South Island’s largest employer.

·         Otago Girls’ High School was one of the first state run secondary schools for girls in the world.

·         New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is, in effect, New Zealand’s national sports museum, the only one of its kind in the country.

·         New Zealand’s first authentic Chinese Garden - only the third outside of China and the first in the Southern Hemisphere – is found in Dunedin.

·         The Otago Daily Times is New Zealand’s first daily and oldest surviving independent newspaper.

·         The Dunedin Public Art Gallery is New Zealand’s first public art gallery.

·         The Dunedin (1876–82) was the first ship to successfully transport refrigerated meat. In its capacity, it helped set the stage for New Zealand’s success as a major provider of agricultural exports, notwithstanding its extreme remoteness from most markets

·         Dunedin’s Ice Stadium has the biggest curling rink in the Southern Hemisphere. Curling is a game unique to only a few regions.

·         Dunedin recently hosted the Rugby world cup, which happened in the recently build dome, which can I see from my room

·         Dunedin is the main centre of, and the gateway to, the Otago region. Population – 123,000 (student population 25,000).(the majority of which live in unheated flats.)