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Private tour in Dunedin Gregor C
Dunedin City Sights and Albatross Colony - Heritage Van Tour
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7 hours
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7 hours
1
Gregor C.
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Hi, I'm Gregor and I grew up in Dunedin, in a family of trampers (hikers) and summer campers. From my first years I was taken to explore the hills around Dunedin, which I still do when I find the time. Camping holidays were mostly in Central Otago which I call my second home. In 2012 I began to explore and photograph abandoned buildings, especially farm houses, and nine years ago and chance encounter with history in a local cemetery led to researching and finding local stories for my history blog. Some people think of cemeteries as spooky places, or places of death. I think of them as full of demonstrations of great love. But with great love comes great loss and great sorrow. For me, with what I have found, they are libraries of lives lived. These stories are the basis of the tours I take, both in Dunedin city and further afield. Come with me and hear how and why Dunedin was settled, what was here before and how the gold rush changed it forever. I've developed three tours for cruise passengers but I'd also love to curate tours that include some of your bucket list items. Moeraki Boulders, the working gold mine in Macraes - have lunch at the very authentic and historic Macraes pub! Perhaps you want to see an old, preserved train station and of course these things are nothing without the intimate stories of the people who pioneered these places. Grit, dedication and probably a fair bit of laudanum.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Gregor C.
Hidden Histories, Stunning Coastlines and the Northern Royal Albatross.
Overview of your Dunedin tour
As a historian, tour guide and story teller, I'm excited to show you Dunedin and share my passion for history and interesting stories. The everyday people who made up the city before us fascinate me, their lived experiences have shaped the city to be what it is. With this in mind, I've developed a very special tour to let you tick off your bucket list items (the world's steepest street) but accompanied by the commentary I've spent time researching and crafting that even earned me the cover of the New Zealand Heritage Magazine. See the precious toaka, (meaning treasure in Kāi Tahu dialect of te reo Māori) the Northern Royal Albatross. At the Albatross Colony you'll take a 60 minute guided tour of the facilities and spend some time at the viewing platform to catch sight of these incredible birds. Lunch at the cafe. If time allows, head to the inlets and go bird spotting with Gregor or head back into town to see the Victorian era architecture. Your tour, your choice!
Your Dunedin tour itinerary
From cruise ship port or hotel, get picked up ready to start the albatross tour at 11am. A 60 minute fully guided tour; start with a presentation about the Northern Royals by your guide and a short film by Natural History NZ, followed by a short walk up the hill for 30 minutes of viewing from their exclusive glassed observatory. View the nesting albatross and other wildlife that may be in the area, and hear what makes this protected albatross colony so unique. Have lunch in the café afterwards and be sure to visit the gift shop for some memories! Then depending on your time/cruise schedule you can choose to head back to town via the inlets and see the many bird species there or if old world architecture is more your thing, straight back to town to visit the main sights. We can work it out together. Railway Station, Cargill Monument, Devil's Half Acre, Otago Boys High School, Baldwin Street, University Clocktower Tour finishes at 4pm back at your ship or hotel. Time can be adjusted to suit ship schedules
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Transport details
Type: Private Transportation / Category: Minibus
Tours conducted in a Toyota Hiace with 9 seats available. 2024 model.
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What's not included
Meeting location
Dunedin, New Zealand
There are two ports in Dunedin - Port Chalmers and the city port. We will determine which by the name of your ship. Hotel/accommodation pick up
- You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
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AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
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7 hours
1
Tour date
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7 hours
1
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
How it works
- Your credit card will be authorized only for the deposit amount.
- Funds will not be withdrawn until your tour booking is fully processed.
- 30 days before your tour date, the remaining balance is automatically charged.