Highlights of the Day
Driving to Dunedin, we stopped at Elephant Rock, a field of weathered limestone formations resembling animals. Located on private land, entry was donation-based, with sheep roaming freely. In Oamaru, we admired Victorian architecture and learned about blue penguins but skipped the evening viewing. At Moeraki Boulders, we saw perfectly round rock formations, and my husband got soaked by a surprise wave. In Dunedin, we hiked up Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest residential road, where I slipped but avoided injury. Tunnel Beach was closed due to a landslide. We ended the day with a delicious meal at a multi-cuisine Asian restaurant.
Logistics
Accommodation: HOTEL ST CLAIR (highly recommended)
Transportation: Rental Car
Today’s destination was Dunedin, with stops at a few natural attractions along the way.
The first stop was Elephant Rock. These limestone formations, shaped by erosion over time, supposedly resemble various animals. Even on the way there, weathered rocks were scattered everywhere, making it clear this was a local geological feature.
Elephant Rock sat on private land with no official ticket booth—just a small donation box by the iron gate. Everything operated on trust.
Inside, rocks of different shapes lay across the ground. Some looked like elephants, others like resting dogs, and some had more abstract forms. Walking among them felt like stepping through history. From a distance, the rocks seemed small, but up close, they towered over me.
The same field also had a large flock of sheep. As I approached to take photos, they stared at me with curious eyes. Used to human visitors, they remained unfazed, lounging and resting as if nothing had happened.
Next, we visited Oamaru, known for its well-preserved Victorian architecture. A short stretch of buildings on the main street looked like they belonged to the 19th century.
Oamaru is also home to a blue penguin colony. These tiny penguins, the smallest in the world, measure only 25 to 30 cm in length. At the reserve, I asked about activities, but the staff explained that the penguins spend their days at sea and only return at night. They offered tickets for an evening viewing from 9:00 to 10:30 p.m. Since we still had an hour’s drive to Dunedin afterward, we decided to skip it. Instead, we watched sea lions resting on the shore.
The next stop was Moeraki Boulders on Koekohe Beach. These spherical rocks, formed over 60 million years ago, resulted from mineral deposits accumulating under the seabed—similar to how pearls form. As sea levels fell, they emerged from the water.
Online guides suggested parking near a café for the shortest walk to the boulders. When we arrived, a sign at the staircase leading to the beach stated that access was for café customers or required a $2 donation per person. I figured buying a coffee was a good idea and asked the staff if one cup would be enough to use the stairs. To my surprise, they told me it wasn’t necessary—I could go down for free. The kindness of people here was heartwarming.
On the beach, about 20 boulders lay scattered, almost all perfectly round, with the largest reaching two meters in diameter. Some had cracks resembling turtle shells. A broken boulder nearby revealed an interior of layered stone, making it look like the spheres had been glued together. It was a fascinating sight.
The waves constantly crashed against the rocks. We timed our steps carefully, walking forward when the tide receded. Suddenly, a giant wave rolled in. Standing on a boulder, I avoided getting wet, but my husband, who was taking my photo, had nowhere to escape. His legs got completely soaked. No wonder many tourists played here barefoot.
After a full day of sightseeing, we finally arrived in Dunedin. This city is famous for Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest residential street according to the Guinness World Records. At 350 meters long, its steepest section has a 35% incline. We decided to take on the challenge and walk up.
The climb was tough. By the time I reached the top, I was gasping for breath. Looking at the houses along the way, I wondered how the residents managed daily life. Of course, they all had cars, but surely they didn’t drive every single time they needed to go out. Living here must provide a built-in workout, keeping everyone fit.
The view from the top was incredible.
As I prepared to walk down, a car drove up and stopped at the sharpest curve. For a moment, I worried—would it make the turn, or would it slide backward? Distracted by these thoughts, I lost focus, slipped, and tumbled down part of the slope. Luckily, I only twisted my wrist. At least I could say I truly experienced this Guinness record street.
Next, we drove to Tunnel Beach, but upon arrival, we found the road closed. The hotel receptionist later explained that a landslide had made the area unsafe. We missed it this time.
Our hotel sat by the coast, offering a stunning ocean view from the balcony. There was no sandy beach, just rugged shoreline. Strong winds and crashing waves made the evening feel quite chilly.
We explored the area for dinner and found a Thai-Vietnamese restaurant. Once inside, we realized it also served Indian and Beijing-style dishes—covering almost every Asian cuisine. The food was surprisingly good. The Thai noodles and curry lamb were both delicious.
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