Dramatic Dunedin An autumn of events to call you south
Come for the VOGUE, stay for the VINTAGE
One for the fashionistas. In homage to the astounding array of fashion that has taken the stage in Dunedin over the 16 years as part of the iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards, the Otago Museum’s Fashion Forward exhibition opens on 27 March. The exhibition showcases previous emerging designer entries from all over the world, alongside selected pieces from the museum’s historic textile collection. Make a long weekend of it and scour Dunedin’s awesome vintage stores for retro treasures from bygone eras.
Come for the FAUNA, stay for the FLAVOUR
Get to know Dunedin’s wild side — the land, water, plants, food, wildlife, sea and sky — by taking part in the family— friendly Wild Dunedin Festival, 22—28 April. Enjoy six days of fun and informative events including the popular ‘wild bus’ to explore special wild places, happenings at the Royal Albatross Centre, Larnach Castle, Penguin Place and more. Whilst in town, discover the fantastic foodie scene that abounds here, from thriving cafes and cheap eats through to experimental and sophisticated fare.
Come for the HAIRPINS, stay for the HAUNTED
The hugely popular Otago Rally on 16—18 April brings all the adrenalin of motorsport action to the city streets and surrounding hinterland. Catch the race at one of the many rural vantage points or head straight for the downtown Tarmac Superstage, to watch these finely tuned machines make laps in spectacular style. Balance all this action with thrill of a more supernatural kind on a Hair Raiser Ghost Tour, which explores the mysterious and dark past of Dunedin through the stories of some of its otherworldly inhabitants.
Come for the AVANT—GARDE, stay for the AWE—SPIRING
The biennial Dunedin Arts Festival will take centre stage from 6—26 April, presenting an incredible range of theatre, dance, visual arts and community events in a celebration of the excellent and the extraordinary. You can also catch a spectacle of a different kind as the heavens unfold before you while exploring the renowned dark skies of the Otago Peninsula and wider Dunedin. Horizon Tours weave a magical experience by sharing Maori tales of the celestial bodies and waiata under the stars, as you sit in snugly wrapped in blankets, plied with hot soup and garlic bread.
Come for the STORIES, stay for the SERENITY
For bibliophiles and literature lovers, the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival from 6—9 May is a celebration of the written word in its many forms. This year’s festival highlights the significant home—grown talent of Kiwi authors from around the country with over 40 events covering a wide spectrum of literary tastes. The autumn months have a special beauty of their own, unveiling epic starlit nights and an abundance of rare wildlife just minutes from the city centre. In between events, strike out for Dunedin’s beautiful coastline for a stroll and soak up the serenity.