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Trips
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Waipori
Falls Village is not only a haven of peace and tranquillity for
a holiday, but an excellent base for exploring the surrounding
area in day-trips, as well as a base for visiting all the great
attractions of South Island further afield – trips where you
would need two to three days away. |
LOCAL (DAY RETURN)
TRIPS
If you have hired a
car there are plenty of trip options to do on your own. Some places of
interest, which you can see on day-return trips, are as follows:
Brighton Beach
 A
few minutes drive out of Dunedin is Brighton Beach – a long beach with
perfect golden sands. This is a relaxing way to spend a day, and walking
along the beach with its variety of birds and lighting effects, especially
at sunset, is an experience to remember. Occasionally riders on horseback
gallop by on the firm sand close to the water’s edge. Joanne wrote: “We went to Brighton beach, only about 10 miles from Dunedin – a very long
beach with lots of large tumbling waves. As it was dusk the lighting and
colours were soft and sublime – you know that sort of misty hue one gets in
the evening sometimes with the colours of the landscape oozing into it?
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The pink
hue of the sky oozed into and shone from the wet sands of the beach.
There were
two majestic horses cantering along the beach.” |
Taieri Gorge
Railway
 The
Taieri Gorge Limited train is Dunedin's prestige tourist train operating
from the historic Dunedin Railway Station.
With
daily trips (excluding Christmas Day) on offer, the train takes you on a
journey through the rugged and spectacular Taieri River Gorge, across
wrought iron viaducts and through tunnels carved by hand more than 100 years
ago. Enjoy full commentary, photographic stops and on board refreshments on
your journey. One-way and return trips available. Tickets can be purchased
at the Dunedin Railway Station.
Website
Otago Settlers
Museum
 Right
next to the Dunedin Railway Station is the Otago Settlers Museum – one of
New Zealand's finest social history museums. The remarkable exhibits
recreate the story of Dunedin and Otago's people in an informative yet
enjoyable manner. Established in 1898 and originally created to tell the
story of the early British settlers to the Otago region, the museum now
proudly celebrates all the people of Otago, including indigenous Maori, the
Chinese who worked the goldfields in the 19th century, and successive waves
of migrant groups.
The Museum building is
an attraction in its own right, featuring original Edwardian galleries
within the classic Art Deco building of Dunedin's former NZR Road Transport
Building. The old cars and steam engines are a joy to see!
Dunedin Botanic
Garden
Entrance
is free! Located in North Dunedin, the gardens are open from dawn to dusk
and provide a wonderful ambience for a relaxing meander through the stunning
gardens. The gardens also have an Information Centre, Shop and cafe.
Sprawled over 28 hectares, there is plenty to see and do, from feeding the
ducks with free duck food from the information centre to visiting the Winter
Garden Glasshouse.
The flat lower garden
features traditional formal displays of herbaceous borders, a rose, herb
garden and camellia collection. From here you can follow several pathways
that lead up the hill to the more naturalistic upper garden. This is where
the Geographic Collection has species plants from around the world including
Australian Plant Collection surrounding the aviary. This is also a great
area to view New Zealand native plants that are spread along the ridge at
the top of the upper garden
Royal
Albatross Colony
 Nestled at the foot of
Taiaroa Head, the Royal Albatross Centre is the roosting place of those
massive birds – Albatrosses. It’s a lovely drive there and one might even
see a bull seal sunbathing on a small beach. From the Albatross Centre take
a short walk to the Observatory for the privilege of seeing the Albatrosses,
the greatest of all seabirds. Be prepared to be awe inspired as you watch an
Albatross as it majestically soars across the sky – with slim wings up to 3
metres across, this utterly magnificent bird is pure balance, dignity and
speed in the air and magic to watch!
Otago
Central Rail Trail
 Beyond Middlemarch is
the now defunct course of the Taieri Gorge Railway, now a popular route for
cycle expeditions and holidays. It is now known as the Otago Central Rail
Trail, and one can hire a cycle and follow the trial, even through the old
tunnels! Wayne will be happy to take you to Ranfurly where you can hire a
fully serviced bike, and pick you up later at another part of the trial
where the bike can be left. Wayne can even book you into a hotel or B&B
overnight if you wish to extend your cycle trip on the Trial beyond one day.
Or you can, of course, use your hire car to access the Otago Rail Trail. See
the Otago Rail
Trail website
Central Otago
It’s quite feasible to
do a day-return trip from Waipori Falls Village exploring the closer parts
of Central Otago – which is a memorable experience driving through endless
rolling plains of tussock grassland and old colonial towns that might make
you feel you’re in the wild west!Read
more......
Click here for Stewart Island
Elm Wildlife Tours
This multi-award
winning tourism company is located in Dunedin and offers unrivalled natural
and wildlife experiences around the Otago Peninsula and southeastern coast
for visitors keen to enjoy some of the most spectacular wildlife spots in
the country.
A range of tours is
available, including the West Coast and Catlins.
Website
A
fabulous opportunity to view New Zealand wildlife, including Royal
Albatross, Little Blue Penguin, New Zealand Fur Seal and Sea Lions, Yellow
Eyed Penguin and much more
Tours with Wayne &
Trish
Wayne
McDonald & Trisha Keast, who live just next door to Falls View, are, if you
wish, able to take you on conducted visits or tours – and can even pick you
up from the airport (and return you to the airport) if you don’t wish to
hire a car. Here are just a few trips that Wayne offers, with some idea of
the prices:
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Helicoper/Fixed
Wing/boat – Frankton – Milford Sound = $570 per head (min 3 persons) –
max 6.
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Helicoper (2 hrs
Fjordland) – Dusky Sound/Breaksay Sound/Doubtful Sound –
$3900 for 2 hrs – max six passengers, i.e. $650 per person if all 6 are flying.
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For trips with
Wayne in his 4x4 USV: $300 per day.
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Airport uplift and
dropoff: $50.
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Wild-life tours:
bird sanctuary: observation points;
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Hunting/fishing
tours: pig, deer, duck (mallard – seasonal: May), trout fishing.
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Gold panning
outings: Waipori, Gabriel's Gulley, Museum in Lawrence (the Gold Trail);
The Otago Rail Trail.
Wayne can be your guide. Trish - a rich source
or Maori culture and hospitality
Central Otago
Stewart Island
Lakes & Mountains
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