I recently had the pleasure of visiting Larnach Castle, and it was an unforgettable experience!…read moreFrom the moment I arrived, the stunning views of the Otago Peninsula took my breath away. The castle itself is full of rich history and charm, with beautifully restored rooms and fascinating stories that bring the place to life. Larnach Castle is a true gem, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Dunedin. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just looking for a beautiful spot to explore, this place has something special to offer. I'll definitely be returning! *It is quite pricey to get in though...

Beautiful historic building (name as castle only)! Will post longer review another time.read more

We only spent one night here but we wish it had been longer. The views were amazing from our room…read more I loved seeing the surfers enjoying the large waves. Our room was spacious. The bed was comfy. Shower was nice and hot. Staff was friendly. Room was clean. Good stay.

We have had some wild weather during our stay in New Zealand, and this time it worked in our favor…read more Albatross like windy days to fly on the currents. They don't flap their wings much. We had a perfect day for flying and we saw many albatross at the observation deck. The tour starts with a short video and guide led discussion. You then walk to the observation deck to see albatross in the wild. They provide binoculars to enhance your viewing. We saw birds sitting on their nexts, preening each other, and flying. It was a great show. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the albatross and many other birds within our view. I'm so glad we were able to go to this tour. I learned so much and the birds were amazing to see in the wild showing us their natural behaviors.

Fort Taiaroa here has hidden tunnels & a 1886 Armstrong Hidden Gun. Besides a military history…read morehere it's the only mainland breeding colony of Royal Albatross. There is a gallery, gift shop & cafe here. Many different tours are offered and a virtual :45 tour from their website. The albatross' are nesting on the grass now. They arrive in September, mate, lay eggs, incubate, have hatchlings & then guard them for a year. The albatross have a 9 Ft wing span & they gently lift off cliffs & glide not flap. They can live to 60 yrs & mate for life. The females go out further for food & are getting caught in fishing nets. There is a female shortage & there are same sex pairs now. The center was fascinating, unfortunately we didn't see any albatross, a lot of seagulls. Thought we saw some gem a distance near the lighthouse.

Excellent hotel. Perfect location. Lovely room w/ comfortable bed. Great free wifi. And in room…read morewasher, dryer. Very convenient for travelers. An elegant transformation of former central Post Office. Not too many $$ either.

We arrived for our cruise on a blustery day. I was so happy to see the warm jackets they provide…read morefor your ride. They also equipped you with your own set of binoculars. The best seats are in the front of the boat and they are also the coldest and sometimes the wettest. But you should still sit out there. The crew joins you in the front and are well skilled in spotting wildlife which they point out to you often. The captain provides a nice narrative as to the history of the area and fun facts about the wildlife you are viewing. We saw so many different kinds of birds. We had an albatross fly right over our boat. In fact, we saw more albatross on this tour than we did in the albatross tour (but still go to the Royal Albatross Center as it's a much closer experience). My fav was when the dolphins decided to play in our wake and at the front of the boat. Can't remember their name but they were patchy in color, the smallest dolphin, and clearly ready to play and have fun. Great experience, even on a windy, blustery day.

Sailing out of Port Ortago in Port Chalmers, New Zealand, Monarch Wildlife Cruises provided a 2 and…read morea half hour wildlife tour, expertly stopping at places where sightings could occur. It was a pleasant boat ride with some beautiful ocean scenery. The tour was purchased directly with the vendor which saved quite a bit of money. The meeting point for the beginning of the tour was in the same warehouse terminal for all the other non-cruise line sponsored tours, and started promptly at 10:00. A small shuttle was used to transport the 12 passengers to the boat, Vivian J. with Captain Dan. Our shuttle driver, Tim, became our guide and narrator. We did end up going out quite far, outside the harbor into open water, past Harrington Point going past the Royal Albatross Centre, going as far as 45°46'46.7"S 170°46'22.1"E. It was a gorgeous day, which Tim remarked is nice for everyone, but isn't the best for spotting of the albatrosses. He handed out some nice binoculars for bird watching. We did go past colonies of seagulls, and there were a few seals just floating the water. There were speakers on the boat, so Tim's narration could be heard pretty well. As part of the tour, tea and biscuits (chocolate chip cookie) was provided towards the end. Like any tours that involve wildlife sightings, it all depends on the day, weather, and luck. That being said, Royal albatross is the animal being watched here, and you will never get too close to truly understand how large they are.

Finally! After staying at many hotels during our trip in NZ, we found decent bed and pillows here…read moreto have a comfortable sleep through the night! Very grateful! The location was perfect! Walkable to Octagon, Otago Museum, train station and university. Our room was spacious and well furnished. The breakfast provided was simple but ok. The only frustration was the WiFi which was soooo bad that it was not acceptable! No excuse!

The Scenic Hotel is located in a convenient spot on Princes St., not a long walk from shops…read more(including the Meridian Mall), restaurants, and a few sights. The rooms are nice, clean, and spacious, and there are very good views from the upper-floor balconies. The staff members were friendly and helpful.

Great place to visit for a brisk hike, the pano views of the rugged coastline, and the namesake…read moretunnel. The hike can be a strenuous one coming back up as it is steep incline on a dirt path, so allow an hour to fully do the hike down, enjoy, and the hike back up. The "tunnel" where the stairs take you down to the actual beach can be slippery when it rains and you have to climb over several large rocks to get to the beach from the end of the tunnel, which can be a bit perilous, especially in the rain. You do traverse private property, so there are signs everywhere stating to not stray from the marked trail. It is a pretty easy place to find via GPS and there is not really designated parking, so I just pulled up along a fence in front of the entrance and did not have any problems.

Absolutely beautiful place to take a walk! The path down was steep, so have good traction on your…read moreshoes, but it's an easy enough walk. Long, but easy - fine to do with kids. The views of the beach and the cliffs are stunning.