Preparing to Travel to NZ
Please see the NZ Immigration website for visiting visa requirements
Visit the NZ Immigration website
Important information for visa waiver countries:
From 1 October 2019, all air travellers from 60 visa waiver countries, and all cruise travellers, will need to hold an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before travelling to New Zealand. An ETA will last up to two years and cost NZD$9.00 for mobile application requests and NZD$12.00 for web browser requests.
New Zealand citizens (provided they travel on their New Zealand passports) and holders of valid New Zealand visas (both resident visas and temporary visas) will continue to be able to enter New Zealand without an ETA.
Exemptions
Australian citizens will be exempt, however Australian permanent residents will need to hold an ETA but will not be required to pay for an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).
Please visit NZ Immigration for more information:
Visit the NZ Immigration website
Visa Letters
Please contact the conference organiser (sally@events4you.co.nz) for a letter of invitation for visa requirements.
Air travel to Dunedin and airport transfers
Most international flights arrive in New Zealand at Auckland airport, but in some cases (in particular from Australia), Christchurch or Wellington airports. There are regular flights each day between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.
Christchurch is the closest of these cities, and typically offers the most frequent direct flights to and from Dunedin. Currently, the only direct international flights from Australia to Dunedin are from Brisbane.
Those of you considering some travel and sightseeing before or after the conference may also consider flights into Queenstown, which is a 3.5-hour drive from Dunedin. (Buses are the only other form of public transport connecting Dunedin with other centres.)
On arrival
Dunedin Airport is 28 km from central Dunedin (30-minutes by taxi or typically over one hour by shuttle). There is no bus or train service from Dunedin Airport to Dunedin City.
Public transport to and from the airport is by taxi (approx NZD$100+) or by a door-to-door airport shuttle service (approx NZD$20–NZD$30). Rental cars are also available at the airport, should you want to travel before or after the conference.
Airport transfers: You are advised to make their own arrangements and to speak to your accommodation venues about airport transfers. Please have your flight number and departure time available for them.
Airport Shuttles
Shuttles are an affordable way to get to and from Dunedin Airport, especially for solo travellers.
Each way will cost approximately NZD$20–NZD$30 for a single person, with decreasing cost-per-person for groups (for example, 2 in group = NZD$18 per person; 3 = NZD$16; 4 = NZD$15). We strongly recommend that you book your shuttle in advance. (If you are in a group, some shuttles offer an express service which will speed up your transit time to that of a taxi.)
Airport Shuttles
Super Shuttle
Kiwi Shuttles
Taxi services
Taxi services will be a quicker with a direct ride to your destination, but it will cost you for the convenience.
Dunedin Taxis
United Taxis
City United Taxis
Weather
Temperatures typically reach 15–25°C in the summer months (December to March), with cooler evenings. Dunedin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, all of which often occur in the same day. As with most travel, ‘layers’ are the answer to packing, with something warm for the evening – just in case.
Check the Metservice website for reasonably accurate forecasts prior to your travel to help your planning.
Sightseeing
Dunedin is a beautiful small city, located in the South Island of New Zealand. A true ‘university town’, it buzzes with student life and academic activity.
It hosts a number of independent art galleries, bookshops and radical institutions. Alongside these cultural sites, Dunedin and its environs offers stunning opportunities for nature tourism and is a perfect taste of New Zealand’s natural beauty.
Tramping (hiking) tracks are within easy distance of the town, as is the striking Otago Peninsula, home to albatross colonies and rare penguin breeds.
Experience Dunedin
- Dunedin NZ – Official tourism website
- Dunedin street art
- Dunedin street art map (PDF)
- Emerson's Craft Brewery – Taproom and restaurant
- Otago Farmers Market – Saturdays from 8am at Dunedin Railway Station
- Dunedin Railways – Taieri Gorge Railway and Otago Train Journeys
- Monarch – Wildlife cruises and tours
- Larnach Castle and Gardens – Tours and accommodation
- Olveston – Guided tours of a historic home
