Dunedin in the Rain

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After leaving Christchurch, the most English of New Zealand's cities, with it's parks, gardens, Gothic buildings and lazy River Avon, the next stop is Dunedin, the most Scottish of New Zealand cities. Dunedin, rich with fine architecture and world-famous wildlife reserves is surrounded by hills that form the crater of a volcano which we cannot see due to the low clouds. The weather is still "yucky". More rain and high winds plus is has gotten much colder.

But we are not deterred as we head for the town square which is really not a square at all, but and octagonal. Dunedin, meaning 'eden on the hill', was settled by Scottish immigrants. Mark Twain said: "The people here are Scots. They stopped here on their way to heaven, thinking they had arrived."

Our party of six (all of us dine together at night) decided to stay out of the weather for a while so we joined a bus tour around town to see the major points of interest which included heritage buildings, mainly of Scottish Edwardian architecture as seen in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Town Hall and the stately Dunedin Railway Station. The Railway Station is huge with grandiose style and rich embellishments which earned architect George Troup the nickname "Gingerbread George". It is said to be the second most photographed building in the Southern Hemisphere. Another stop was at Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world and place of the annual "Gut Buster" race to the top.

Later, we took refuge under a building canopy and out of the wind and rain for a Bagpipe Parade, a competition of bagpipe bands from all over New Zealand. The parade drew quite a large audience and gave us a chance to talk with many of them. Some of the rules and elements of the competition were explained to us by a lady whose nephew was competing. The parade was fun and entertaining. Afterward, we took even further refuge in a local pub.

We missed out on the panoramic views, alpine vistas and beautiful beaches and bays, but know they are there, somewhere in the mist.

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Photos

Dunedin
Railway Station Detail (We love architecture and details)

Dunedin
The famous Dunedin Railway Station, the second most photographed building in the Southern Hemisphere. You can guess the first.

Dunedin
Stained glass window in the Railway Station

Dunedin
Inside Train Station

Dunedin
Dunedin Railway Station

Dunedin
St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral

Dunedin
First Church

Dunedin
Stain Glass in the First Church

Dunedin
Stain Glass in First Church

Dunedin
First Church

Dunedin
Baldwin Street - The Steepest Street in the World

Dunedin
The Steepest Street in the World according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Each year a race is held called "The Gut Buster".

Dunedin
Bagpipe Parade

Dunedin
Bagpipe Parade

Dunedin
Bagpipe Parade

Dunedin In the Rain
Rod along with Debra and Tom from Virginia. The lady in the red is from New Zealand. She and all New Zealanders were wonderfully friendly.

Dunedin
Milage Sign to Far Away Destinations