Another sunshiny day for our bus tour of this city settled by the Scotch. Initially called New Edinburgh, the city fathers re-christened it Dunedin, the old Celtic name for their beloved Scottish city. Growth was assured when gold was discovered in 1861.
Splendid stone buildings in the Victorian and Edwardian tradition were built – among them: ornate stonework at Otago University and the Railway Station emblazoned with heraldic lions; a Victorian police station; and the creme de la creme, the Edwardian Olveston Mansion which offered us a glimpse of the life of a prosperous merchant at the turn of the century. This opulent house with 35 rooms was filled with antique furniture, silverware and an enormous collection of eclectic treasures gleaned from travels abroad.
Dunedin also boasts that they have the “World’s Steepest Street” (Baldwin St.) which we saw on our way back to Port Chalmers on Otago Bay.
Kathy returned from her hike in the village with some ginger cookies and non-alcoholic ginger beer.
