Venue:The University of Otago, Dunedin
St David's Lecture Block
cnr Castle and St Davids Streets
North Dunedin
The University of Otago is New Zealand’s oldest University, founded in 1869 and opening in 1871 with a staff of just three professors. In 2010 that number is closer to 3,700 with a student body of over 18,000.
Part of The University of Otago’s popularity with students is its vibrant student culture, with the bulk of student accommodation all in one place. During semesters students can be found in their rundown flats, outside on their couches or cooling off a Speights in the fridge (or simply outside a cold day!). Dunedin students are known around New Zealand as ‘Scarfies’ which originated from the students tendancy to wear thick scarves in the freezing cold winter.
The University’s Registry Building, often referred to as the Clocktower Building, is a Dunedin landmark. The building was modelled on the main building of the Glasgow University in Scotland and is constructed from contrasting dark basalt and light Oamaru stone. Part of University tradition involves the annual ‘Clocktower Race’ where students must race round the tower and attached building, beginning on the first chime of the clock at noon and completing before the chimes cease.
The main venue for the conference is St David Lecture Block, where the plenary sessions will take place and trade exhibition is accommodated.
Things to do in Dunedin
- Take a tour through the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. If you visit during the week you can see the factory in action, see a chocolate waterfall, and of course do some taste testing!
- Take a tour of the Speights Ale House, a try some freshly brewed beer in this historic brewery.
- Visit Larnarch’s Castle - New Zealand’s only historic castle.
- Take a walk up Baldwin Street, the worlds Steepest Street with a gradient of 1 in 1.266.
- Take a drive down the peninsula to Taiaroa Head, and view spectacular Royal Albatrosses at the only mainland breeding colony in the world. You can also see penguins and seals along the picturesque coastline.
- Dunedin is the fashion capital of the South Island. No trip is complete without a visit to some of the local boutique fashion stores in the city centre.
- Take a stroll through the Dunedin Botanic Gardens on the slopes of Signal Hill. The gardens feature a hothouse and an aviary with native birds.
- In the evening wrap up warm and take a drive to the top of Signal Hill, a five minute drive from the city centre, to take in the stunning view of the city lights and harbour.
- Visit the Otago Settlers Museum, a social history museum founded in 1898.
- Get a photo next to the Dunedin Railway Station, one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand
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