Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This artistic bent is evident in Olveston's grand interiors, which include works by
Charles Goldie and Frances Hodgkins (a family friend). A particular passion was Japanese
art, and the home is liberallly peppered with exquisite examples. The family was Jewish,
and the grand dining table is set up as if for Shabbat dinner.
Entry is via fascinating guided tours; it pays to book ahead. There's also a pretty little
garden to explore.
Otago Museum
(
www.otagomuseum.govt.nz
;
419 Great King St; admission by donation; 10am-5pm)
The centrepiece of
this august institution is
Southern Land, Southern People,
showcasing Otago's cultural
and physical past and present, from geology and dinosaurs to the modern day. The
Tangata Whenua
Maori gallery houses an impressive
waka taua
(war canoe), wonderfully
worn old carvings, and some lovely
pounamu
(greenstone) weapons, tools and jewellery.
Other major galleries include
Pacific Cultures, People of the World
(including the re-
quisite mummy),
Nature, Maritime
and the
Animal Attic
. The hands-on
Discovery World
(adult/child $10/5) is mainly aimed at kids, although the tropical forest, filled with colour-
ful live butterflies, is an all-ages treat.
Check the timing of the daily guided tours ($12) and free gallery talks on the website.
MUSEUM
Dunedin Botanic Garden
MAP
GARDENS
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.dunedinbotanicgarden.co.nz
;
cnr Great King St & Opoho Rd; dawn-dusk)
Dating from 1863,
these 22 peaceful, grassy and shady hectares include rose gardens, rare natives, a four-
hectare rhododendron dell, glasshouses, a playground and a cafe. Kids love tootling about
on the Community Express 'train' (adult/child $3/1).
Baldwin St
MAP
STREET
The world's steepest residential street (or so says the
Guinness Book of World Records
),
Baldwin St has a gradient of 1 in 2.86 (19°). From the city centre, head 2km north up
Great King St to where the road branches sharp left to Timaru. Get in the right-hand lane
and continue straight ahead. This becomes North Rd, and Baldwin St is on the right after
1km.
