Dunedin

Dunedin sits at the head of Otago Harbour and wears its Scottish roots openly. Street names are Scottish, the stone buildings are Scottish, and a Robert Burns statue stands in the Octagon, the city's eight-sided central square. Most large ships dock at Port Chalmers, a 20-minute drive away, with taxis and shuttles available. The Edwardian Railway Station, covered in ornate tilework and stained glass, is one of New Zealand's most photographed buildings. Baldwin Street, officially the world's steepest residential street, is a short detour. The Otago Peninsula is the main draw outside town. The Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head lets you watch these enormous seabirds from close range, and yellow-eyed penguins nest along the coast. Back in the city, Speight's Brewery runs tastings of its Gold Medal Ale. George Street near the Octagon has shops, cafés, and restaurants. The public bus runs every 15 minutes on the main routes.