Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Sights with additional focus on NZ wide Polynesian and European History

This isn’t a typical run-of -the-mill City Sights tour. This 4-hour tour has a perfect mix of sightseeing from our spacious vehicles, places we visit on foot (most people can participate) and fascinating detail about different groups of people to these shores. To top it all off, a light lunch is included (a selection of cold cut meats, cheese and crackers, fruit and nuts).

This is an educational tour where we dive into the human history of New Zealand. You will learn about where Polynesians (Māori) came from, how they navigated to New Zealand with such pin-point accuracy from Islands thousands of kilometers away, what they bought with them, and what challenges they faced.

Within a short time span, they had traversed and explored the majority of the land - creating stories and legends along the way to help explain the geological diverse landscapes and new creatures they encountered.

European arrival was tumultuous, on Aotearoa’s people and landscape. Various nationalities were vying for control of these lands for colonial expansion. Learn about where these different groups settled and understand the importance our nation’s most important document, the Treaty of Waitangi.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

This small group (max 8 guests) tour starts at the cruise ship terminal building at Port Chalmers. Meet your guide inside before we head towards the city of Dunedin. We discuss how the 1860’s gold rush shaped this town. We detour past significant buildings such as St Paul’s Cathedral, Otago Boys High School, First Church and the Dunedin Railway Station before we head out and high up onto the vast Otago Peninsula for scenic viewpoints. Here we go in-depth to learn about Polynesian arrival (Māori) from distance shores. Learn about how Polynesians found not only this landmass but what lead them to find equally distance and remote Islands such as Rapanui (Easter Island), Hawaii and all the Islands in-between.

Back in the vehicle we detour downwards to the outskirts of the city to check out St Kilda and St Clair surf beaches.

Next we have another opportunity for a bathroom break before a light lunch is served.

Typically, our lunch includes cold cut meats, cheese and crackers, nuts and fruit and your choice of a hot coffee/tea/chocolate or water. We can easily cater for vegetarians and gluten-free folk too.

During lunch, we expand on the impacts of European arrival on Māori, history that isn’t well-known, and discuss where and why different Europeans settled

A different route back through the city to visit Baldwin Street, the World’s steepest street. It’s worth walking part way up this for an iconic photo.

Next stop is a short walk (or drive) through the University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest university.

We will take you back to your ship in plenty of time before its departure.