Dunedin (Port Chalmers) – Penguins, Albatross & Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Waking up in Port Chalmers again reminded me so much of home.
Open the blinds and you see piles of logs. Open the balcony door and the smell of fresh wood fills the air.
One thing I have to say about both Australia and New Zealand—everyone we encountered was incredibly friendly.
But Dunedin seemed to level that friendliness up several notches.
As soon as we left the port area, there was an actual town greeter standing there welcoming visitors and sharing information about places to visit. Such a small thing, but it instantly made the town feel warm and welcoming.
A Quick Stop at the Craft Market
Some ladies from our group passed by and told us they had found a local craft market nearby.
Well… obviously we had to go.
And it did not disappoint.
Everything truly looked handmade—wooden Christmas ornaments, beautiful sewing tools, jewelry, and all sorts of creative items. I didn’t notice the mass-produced feel you sometimes get at markets.
Meeting Allison
After our quick market stop, we realized we were actually in the wrong area for our excursion meeting point, so we worked our way back and eventually found our guide, Allison.
The moment we climbed into the van, Allison was full of information and little bits of humor that made the whole day fun.
And honestly, one thing I really love about local excursions is hearing from people who genuinely know and love where they live. It makes such a difference.
The “World’s Steepest Street”
Our first stop was Baldwin Street, famous for being called the world’s steepest street.
Now, living in the Pacific Northwest, I have to admit… it didn’t seem that much steeper than some streets in downtown Seattle. 😄
Still, it was fun learning the history and hearing how the title was challenged by a street in Wales.
The Dunedin Railway Station
Next stop was the Dunedin Railway Station.
I’ll be honest—I wasn’t overly excited about this stop at first.
But wow, was I wrong.
The building is absolutely stunning. The details start on the outside and somehow become even more intricate once inside. Beautiful gardens surround the station, and I can only imagine how gorgeous they must be in full bloom.
Inside, the tilework completely blew me away.
Even what looked like a welcome mat was actually tiny individual tiles carefully arranged into patterns. Then the main floor… every inch seemed to tell a story through detailed mosaic work.
The stained-glass windows, engraved glass panels, ornate details—it all felt incredibly elegant and over the top in the best possible way.
I ended up loving this stop.
Penguins & Sea Lions
Then it was off to The Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance, The OPERA to learn about local wildlife and conservation efforts.
This was such a special experience.
We walked through lush native areas while learning about efforts to restore the landscape to its natural condition. Eventually the scenery opened up to incredible coastal views.
And then… sea lions.
They were just casually rolling around only yards away from us while others played in the waves below.
The views alone were breathtaking, even with the chilly wind.
We also learned about declining penguin numbers and the work being done to protect and rehabilitate them. Eventually we reached the rescue and rehab area where we were able to meet a few penguins currently being cared for before hopefully being released back into the wild.
If you ever visit Dunedin, I highly recommend stopping here. It truly felt like a meaningful and special place.
The Royal Albatross Centre
Next up: oversized seagulls.
Okay, not really—but that’s honestly what the royal albatrosses first made me think of. 😄
We headed to the Royal Albatross Centre, grabbed lunch together, and wandered through the information center learning about these incredible birds.
Did you know their wingspan can exceed 9 feet?
After a briefing and short video, we hiked up to the viewing area built into the hillside. The birds were everywhere, and the sound was almost overwhelming outside.
Inside the viewing area, though, it became peaceful.
We learned that royal albatross mate for life and can live incredibly long lives. Because the birds are carefully tracked, the guides actually know the histories of individual birds and even their offspring.
Watching them soar was amazing.
Unlike regular seagulls constantly flapping, these birds barely seemed to move their wings at all—they simply glided effortlessly through the sky.
They truly are incredible creatures.
Hokey Pokey Mission
As the excursion was winding down, I realized this might be my last chance to try one thing I had been hearing about the entire trip:
Hokey Pokey ice cream.
So I asked Allison if there was any chance we could make a quick stop.
What’s the worst she could say? No?
Instead, she was completely game.
Off we went to find a “milk bar” (basically what we’d call a convenience store). Unfortunately, they didn’t have individual servings—but they did have a giant tub.
And let me tell you: tourists are excellent problem solvers.
Someone found little aluminum tins to use as bowls, Allison tracked down disposable spoons, and before long we were all outside sharing Hokey Pokey ice cream together.
It was one of those silly, unexpected moments that somehow becomes one of your favorite memories.
When we couldn’t finish the tub, we spotted a group of school kids nearby and offered them the leftovers. Even funnier—one of the kids turned out to know Allison’s son.
Perfect ending to the day.
Final Thoughts
This ended up being one of my favorite excursions of the trip.
Amazing wildlife, incredible scenery, local culture, and a guide who truly made the experience special.
Thank you, Allison—you helped create a memory I’ll never forget.
If this sounds like an excursion you’d enjoy while visiting Dunedin, you can check it out here:
Dunedin Wildlife & Peninsula Tour
And if you have any questions about the excursion or what the experience was like, feel free to reach out to me at Dee@GowithDee.com ✨