As an university city of Scottish heritage, Dunedin, being New Zealand's oldest city, possesses a unique combination of cultural riches, fine architecture, and world-famous wildlife reserves on the Otago Peninsula.

Dunedin is the main centre of Otago, a region recognised for its spectacular scenery. The sheer physical beauty of Dunedin, dramatic bush-covered hills and valleys at the head of a long natural harbour, attracted Maori settlers to the site over four centuries ago.

From small settlement beginnings, Dunedin has became the centre for the nation's wealth. Soaring cathedral spires, a magnificent Flemish-style railway station, fine banks and office blocks, a nineteenth-century castle, old university buildings and a neo-gothic convent are among the city's architectural treasures.

Dunedin has flourishing niche industries including engineering, software engineering, bio-technology and fashion. Port Chalmers on the Otago Harbour provides Dunedin with deep-water port facilities.

Dunedin is also notable now as a centre for ecotourism. Uniquely, the world's only mainland Royal Albatross colony and several penguin and seal colonies lie within the city boundaries on Otago Peninsula.

There is thriving tertiary student population has led to a vibrant youth culture (so named 'Scarfies'), consisting of the Dunedin's unique music scene, and more recently a burgeoning boutique fashion industry. A strong visual arts community also lives in Dunedin and its environs, notably in Port Chalmers and the other settlements which dot the coast of the Otago Harbour.

Travelling from Dunedin is in modern buses and coaches with InterCity Coachlines operating a fleet of eco-friendly air conditioned buses with reclining seats and foot rests. Great Sights and Newmans Coachlines operate premier services using a fleet of modern eco-friendly air conditioned coaches featuring reclining seats with foot and head rests and onboard toilet/washroom facilities.

InterCity Coachlines operates the Starlighter overnight bus service between Wellington, Palmerston North, Taupo, Rotorua, Hamilton and Auckland or vice versa, connecting at Wellington with Cook Strait ferry services from Picton to Wellington that operating between the South and North Islands. The Starlighter service features reclining seats with foot and head rests, individual reading lights and air conditioning controls, onboard toilet/washroom facility and makes two refreshment/comfort stops on route.

If you want to explore and see New Zealand's unique scenic beauty from Dunedin, there is a range of 'Hop On/Hop Off' Bus and Coach Passes, that provides value for money travel.