Otago Shore Tours for Cruise Boat Passengers - Port Chalmers

OTAGO AND DUNEDINSHORE TOURS FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS

Dunedin (Port Chalmers) is a fascinating cold water Pacific port to visit. From Penguins and Sea lions to castles and ruins, to gold rush history and up to the minute cafe culture and fashion, this tiny former capital has it all.

About the Port:

In March 1848, some hardy Scots aboard the John Wickliffe arrived in the tranquil Port Chalmers on their way to establishing “the Edinburgh of the South”: the city of Dunedin. Today Port Chalmers is a quiet, unassuming village, just a 10- minute harbour-side drive from Dunedin. A haven for artists and bohemians, the village has a relaxed lifestyle that’s attracted the likes of painter Ralph Hotere and poet Cilla McQueen.

A short drive up Flagstaff Hill gives visitors a panoramic view of Port Chalmers and its surroundings; as far out as Aramoana spit and across to Taiaroa Heads, where the albatross colony can be found. Flagstaff also provides a prime vantage point for views of Port Otago.

Here you’ll see the massive containers used to export meat, dairy, fish, fruit, and timber products to the world. The port had its most significant moment in 1882 when the ship Dunedin carried the first cargo of frozen meat from New Zealand to London. The frozen mutton and lamb carcasses arrived in London three months later in perfect condition, signalling the opening up of a major economic avenue for the country. The historian Michael King wrote: “For New Zealand, the world was suddenly a less frightening place than it had been”.

Port Chalmers was also a stop-off point for Antarctic explorers Robert Scott, Ernest Shackleton, and Richard Byrd. Scott’s expedition, which sailed for Antarctica from Port Chalmers in 1910, is honoured by the Scott memorial on Purakanui Road.

As in Dunedin, historic buildings abound in the village. Port Chalmers bluestone was an important material for such buildings, and is evident in the old churches and hotels. The area’s maritime history is documented at the Port Chalmers Museum. Here visitors can see sailing and shipping artefacts, and enjoy the settlers’ collection, which celebrates the area’s pioneers. The museum is housed in the original stone post office building on Beach Street, built in 1877.

Perhaps Port Chalmers’ best feature, however, is its location. As well as being close to the city, the village is a short drive from beautiful beaches at Aramoana, Purakanui, and Long Beach. These beaches offer walking tracks, good surf, and an impressive array of wildlife, including seals and yellow-eyed penguins.

Image Credits: Derek Smith and Maclean Barker Photography

DUNEDIN AND OTAGO ACTIVITES TOURS AND SHORE EXCURSIONS FOR CRUISE BOAT PASSENGERS