Information for delegates
Accommodation
Booking accommodation is the responsibility of each individual delegate.
The following accommodation providers are all located within a 1km radius of the St David Street Complex at the University of Otago (corner of St David and Cumberland). All have reasonable facilities & rates. Please visit their websites to view images, facilities and to book your accommodation. We advise you make your bookings early in order to avoid disappointment.
Hotels
Hotels – with onsite restaurant facilities - From $120NZD per night
Hotels with kitchenette facilities - From $90NZD per night
- Living Space
- Quest Apartments - search for Dunedin
Motels
Motels – fully self-contained units - From $90NZD per night
If you require further assistance please contact the Dunedin iSite the tourism information centre
Tel 64 3 474 3300
Email dunedin@i-SITE.org
Website: www.dunedin.govt.nz/visitor-centre
General information
Air Travel to and from Dunedin
Warning:
Flights to and from Dunedin are at a premium in February, as is accommodation.
Most international flights from the Northern Hemisphere arrive in NZ at Auckland airport, or in some cases (in particular from Australia) Christchurch airport (which is far better for travel on to Dunedin as it's the closest and has many direct flights to Dunedin), or in a few cases (mostly ex Australia) Wellington airport. There are only two direct flights Akl-Dun per day (flight takes about 1 hr 40min); all other flights go via either Wellington or Chch (or both if you are not careful!) so take a lot more time. There are many direct flights Chch-Dun (flight takes 50 min on 737 jet or 1 hr on an ATR). As it takes approx. 5 hour to drive by road from Chch to Dun, please ensure you book to fly to Dunedin unless you have time to enjoy the drive.
There is no passenger train connection Chch-Dun, but it is possible to bus (5 hrs or so, eg. Intercity).
Flights from Europe-NZ typically go either via Asia (typically Singapore, Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur) or via the USA (typically LA). Asia means less luggage allowance but nicer airports; LA means a large luggage allowance. Our national airline, Air New Zealand (a member of the Star Alliance) flies London Heathrow - Hong Kong - Auckland - Dunedin. It also flies London Heathrow - LA - Auckland - Dunedin. Other European airports such as Frankfurt have Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines flights (both Star Alliance) direct to Singapore (a really lovely airport!), and Singapore Airlines flies on to Christchurch, where you change to AirNZ to fly direct to Dunedin.
Emirates/Virgin/Pacific Blue is another round the world option to NZ. Qantas (One World) is another round the world option to NZ. Neither Emirates nor Qantas currently fly into Dunedin. However Pacific Blue has some direct flights from Australia to Dunedin at present, and it is in the same group as the Virgin family of airlines (Richard Branson) and Jetstar flies Akl-Chch once a day and is the budget operation of Qantas.
Please take care to check the date of arrival in NZ as we are 'ahead of most of the world' so this is likely to be very different to what you might have expected it to be…
Air New Zealand provides by far the majority of domestic flights so you are highly likely to fly into Dunedin with them. The other airline with limited domestic services into Dunedin is Jet Star (Pacific Blue flies into Dunedin too, but only from Australia, not from other NZ cities). It is advisable to book domestic flights into Dunedin early as these are at a premium in February.
Some flights from Australia come direct to Dunedin airport from some cities at some times of the year. At present the airlines we are aware of that offer this service are Air NZ and Pacific Blue, but this is subject to change.
Disclaimer: all of this information is intended to be helpful but we take no responsibility for its accuracy
In summary:
International:
Air New Zealand
Regular flights between Dunedin and Brisbane. Seasonal flights Dunedin-Melbourne and Dunedin-Sydney.
Pacific Blue (Virgin)
Regular flights between Dunedin and Brisbane
Domestic:
Air New Zealand
Daily flights to/from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with connections to other cities in New Zealand. Direct flight Akl-Dun takes about 1 hr 40min (but most go via either Well or Chch). All Chch-Dun flights, and there are many, are direct (50 min-1 hr).
JetStar (Qantas)
Offer a once daily flight to & from Auckland.
Airport Transfers
Dunedin International Airport is situated 30 kilometres south of Dunedin
Local Taxi companies
Super shuttle
Tel 0800 748885
Wbesite:
www.supershuttle.co.nz
City Taxi
Tel
64 3 477 1771
Website: www.citytaxis.co.nz
Dunedin Taxis
Tel
64 3 477 7777
Website: www.dunedintaxis.co.nz
Southern Taxis
Tel
64 3 476 6300
Website: www.southerntaxis.co.nz
The costs of these services from the Airport to the University & the University to the airport are; one way pre-booked Super Shuttle from $30.00; Taxi in excess of $90.00. Transfers will take 30-90 minutes depending on whether you use a taxi or shuttle service. We strongly recommend pre booking shuttle transfers prior to arrival in Dunedin via the websites.
Train and bus
There is no train to Dunedin (but once here you can enjoy the Taeri Gorge train trip).
There are many bus companies that operate services from Christchurch to Dunedin (takes about 5 hours). eg. Intercity.
Venue
The Conference Venue is the St David Street Complex situated within the University of Otago campus on the corner of Cumberland and St David Street. The lectures will be presented in the comfortable and modern main auditorium. Posters will be displayed in the break out rooms adjacent to the main auditorium. The venue is a warm, modern inviting building situated at the gateway to the university.
Weather
Temperatures reach 20°-25°C in the summer months December - March, with cooler evenings. Dunedin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, all of which often occur in the same day.
We recommend that you bring some clothing for every season, as usually in a week in NZ you will experience a little bit of everything. A warm jersey, trousers and a raincoat are advisable, along with shorts/skirt, a sunhat and sunscreen. Sensible walking shoes will allow enjoyment of the many outdoors opportunities, for example a tour to see the yellow eyed penguin and/or albatross chicks or a wander along one of the many secluded beaches on Otago Peninsula.
- Average annual rainfall (mm): 812
- Average annual sunshine hours: 1,585
Sightseeing
Set between rolling hills and rugged coastline, Dunedin is popular for its unique combination of a bustling university, architectural heritage and exotic wildlife. The city is framed by a magnificent harbour. It is a picture postcard of historic buildings and houses, set against a backdrop of the city's lush greenbelt of native bush.
Dunedin is located in the region of Otago, well known as a natural playground offering everything from skiing, bungy jumping and white-water rafting to the quieter pleasures of wildlife, enchanting scenery and local cuisine.
Dunedin has an incredible variety of local tours and activities. We recommend to registrants interested in sightseeing the following websites:
- www.atoz-nz.com
- www.seenindunedin.co.nz/links/tourist_information.html
- www.cityofdunedin.com
- www.queenstown-nz.co.nz
These websites provide a comprehensive guide to the city and the Otago Region.
From trips up the Taieri Gorge in a heritage train, to the Otago Peninsula with its wildlife cruises and excursions, Dunedin has it all! The city is awash with award winning museums and art galleries, cafes and designer boutiques. Tours are available of Cadbury Chocolate factory and Speights brewery as well the beautiful and grand Larnach's Castle and Olveston House.
We recommend that you aim to arrive a few days early in Dunedin, so that you have time take a look around the city and Otago Peninsula before the conference starts at lunchtime on Sunday. If you decide to stay on after the conference then please be aware that accommodation will be at an absolute premium as the NZ Masters Games will start that weekend (4 February). i.e. book your additional accommodation early!
Other events
The NZ Masters Games are being held in Dunedin 4-12 February 2012
Waitangi Day (a national holiday, with many shops closed) is on Monday 6 February 2012.
