View of Dunedin’s residential hillside with vibrant historic houses and lush green hills in the background.

Dunedin, New Zealand

Cruises to Dunedin, New Zealand

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Things to do in Dunedin

Welcome to the city where bagpipes meet blue penguins. Dunedin mixes Scottish roots with Kiwi character — think stately stone cathedrals, cheeky sea lions and a train that climbs into pure cinematic scenery. From the historic streets around The Octagon to the wild cliffs of the Otago Peninsula, this city balances refinement and raw nature in one perfectly odd duet.

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  • Larnach Castle in Dunedin framed by white daisies and manicured lawns on a bright, overcast day.

    Visit Larnach  (New Zealand’s only castle), and roam gardens that feel just a little melodramatic.

  • A yellow train curving along a wooden bridge through Taieri Gorge, surrounded by rugged cliffs and a narrow river below.

    Ride a scenic train through the Taieri Gorge, where the landscape folds into green ribbons and viaducts hang like something out of an industrialized version of Middle‑earth.

  • A steep residential street in Dunedin lined with greenery, leading down to colorful houses and rolling green hills under a blue sky.

    Sample small‑batch whisky, chocolate and cheese in Dunedin’s walkable city center.

  • Fishing boats docked at Port Chalmers with colorful hillside houses and lush green trees rising above the waterfront.

    Explore Port Chalmers, the laid‑back harbor town where art galleries share space with fishing boats and the coffee smells better than reason should allow.

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Shore excursions to explore in Dunedin

History, castles, wildlife, craft beer… Dunedin has it and is ready to share. Your ship’s docked, the city's buzzing and these tours know exactly where to take you.

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  • Close-up view of Larnach Castle’s main staircase with two stone lion statues and ornate architecture under a clear sky.

    City Drive & Larnach Castle

    Begin with a drive through Dunedin’s elegant streets, passing grand Victorian facades and The Octagon (the city’s quirky eight‑sided heart). Your guide spins tales of fortune hunters and architects as you head into the countryside toward Larnach Castle. Built in the 1870s by a politician with serious over‑compensation issues, it’s equal parts romance and ruin, with sweeping harbor views and a garden worth losing yourself in.

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  • Close-up of a spotted shag standing on a rocky ledge, showing its grey plumage, green eyes and tufted crest.

    Otago Wildlife Cruise

    Trade the streets for the sea on this harbor cruise that glides past volcanic headlands and lonely lighthouses. The Otago Peninsula is home to royal albatross, fur seals and blue penguins — and your captain knows where they hang out. You’ll understand why locals call this place the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand. Keep your binoculars ready — that ‘rock’ might be a sea lion taking a nap.

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  • A large albatross gliding gracefully with wings outstretched above grassy terrain on the Otago Peninsula.

    Albatross Cruise & Nature’s Wonders

    Start with an albatross cruise past Taiaroa Head, where wingspans stretch wider than most cars. Then roll across a family‑run sheep farm in an 8‑wheel‑drive Argo, bouncing over ridges toward fur seals, sea lions and yellow‑eyed penguins. This tour is part wildlife safari, part off‑road rodeo — expect a few bumps and a lot to brag about to your friends back home.

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  • Tree-lined walkway between gothic-style stone buildings at the University of Otago on a bright, sunny day.

    Local Connections: Craft Dunedin

    Follow your stomach through the city of gold rushes and great beer. Meet the makers behind small‑batch gin, artisan cheese and award‑winning chocolate while your guide dishes on Dunedin’s history — equal parts Scottish grit and student mischief. You’ll stroll cobbled lanes lined with Victorian architecture and experience taste sensations that will haunt you for years to come.

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  • Aerial view of the Otago Peninsula’s curving beaches, green pastures and vivid blue coastal waters under a bright sky.

    Local Connections: Nature’s Wonders

    If your ideal souvenir involves seal interactions and penguin sightings, this is your calling. Journey along the coast to Nature’s Wonders, a conservation‑minded farm where off‑road Argos bump through fields of fur seals and sea lions lounging like retirees. The views over the Otago Peninsula are the kind that make you forever grateful that your phone has a built-in camera. It’s pure wild, done the Kiwi way — with heart and horsepower.

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  • Yellow passenger train crossing a green iron bridge through the steep, grassy hills of Taieri Gorge.

    Best of Dunedin: The Taieri Gorge Train Tour

    Ride a scenic train that snakes through tunnels and across wrought‑iron viaducts high above the Taieri River. This 19th‑century engineering marvel feels more dreamscape than railway, with plunging gorges and storybook valleys rolling by your window. Onboard commentary fills in gold‑rush history as you watch the South Island unfold. By the time you return to Dunedin’s ornate railway station, you’ll understand why trainspotters are a thing.

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Explore itineraries with cruises to Dunedin

Ships dock in Port Chalmers, a working harbor turned art enclave just a short shuttle away from downtown Dunedin. Cafés and galleries cluster near the pier, and it’s the perfect springboard to visit the Otago Peninsula or explore nearby beaches (where sea lions are anything but shy). As part of your New Zealand or Australia cruise itinerary, Dunedin delivers both grit and grace — heritage in one direction, penguins in the other.

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Castles overview

13-Day Australia & New Zealand

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Port Arthur - Tasmania, Australia

15-Day New Zealand

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Aerial view of the beautiful tropical Gili Islands off the coast of Lombok in Indonesia.

28-Day Australia, New Zealand & Indonesia

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Discover Dunedin on your next cruise

Dunedin doesn’t whisper its charm — it belts it through a bagpipe. Between its neo‑Gothic architecture, lively student buzz and untamed coastline, the city manages to feel both centuries old and freshly unbothered. A Dunedin cruise with Princess delivers the full spread: Scottish spirit, local flavor and a coastline that could double as a wildlife documentary. With refined comfort onboard and wild encounters ashore, this is one stop that lives up to its nickname — the ‘Edinburgh of the South.’

Cruise to Dunedin
Steep sandstone cliffs and sea stacks rising above turquoise water at Tunnel Beach under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

Wander the windswept cliffs of Tunnel Beach, where sea-carved rock formations meet turquoise waves.

Close-up of Dunedin Railway Station’s ornate stone façade and tower under a bright blue sky.

Step into a storybook scene at Dunedin’s iconic railway station, a standout of grand design and local history.

A smiling couple stands at the railing of a Princess® cruise ship, enjoying the open sea and blue sky.

A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

Front-facing view of a Princess® cruise ship sailing through calm ocean waters.

Cut through the world’s waterways and experience the planet’s most exciting coastlines from a sea-side perspective; our fleet is your luxury-and-entertainment-packed transport to adventure.

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Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards. 


No two ships are identical, but they all share one mission: turn your vacation into a standing ovation.

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Cruises to Dunedin FAQs

*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

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The beautiful Piazza lets the light shine in.

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