One of many views on a Dunedin walk.
Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island provides plenty of opportunity for improving fitness. All you need to do is walk and it is guaranteed you will be going up and down hill frequently.
On the day of my arrival in Dunedin it was 30 degrees C (unusual for this location) and even though I walked mostly downhill from one of the suburbs to city centre it was a fairly demanding activity. I was glad to let the bus climb the hill on the way back. The weather on succeeding days was more temperate and I found new routes to walk, all with at least some uphill aspect to them.
First harbour view on walk to city centre.
Approaching city centre on Stuart Street.
I was a bit surprised to see a logging truck going toward city centre.
Another day another approach to city centre.
New Zealand is a hilly country but Dunedin is very hilly. We all know the hardship story of the walk to school in the old days being uphill both ways. Well, in this city it is likely that a journey has uphill portions in both directions and the difficult part is more likely to be remembered.
Even the local cats use the stairs. I counted 182 shallow steps joining two streets on this day's outing.
While in Dunedin I checked out Baldwin Street, certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s steepest street. After that exertion I walked to the botanic gardens and found I had to climb another hill to see most of it. The reason for the dramatic terrain is that the city is built on an extinct volcano.
Baldwin Street, world’s steepest street. Only 350 metres long, it has a maximum rise of 1 metre in 2.86 metres.
At the top of Baldwin Street weary climbers find a bench and a water fountain.
On the way back down from the top of Baldwin Street.
Rock garden in Dunedin Botanic Garden.
Another day I visited Port Chalmers, Dunedin’s port. A steep climb took me to a small garden in an old quarry and a couple of look out points where I could see a cruise ship that had just arrived as well as beautiful views of the surrounding area.
A cruise ship arrived in Port Chalmers just as I arrived by bus from city centre. I climbed a hill for this view.
Port Chalmers from Scott's Monument. Robert Falcon Scott and his crew left from this port in November 1910 on their fateful journey to the South Pole.
Iona Church of Port Chalmers, Dunedin from Scott's Monument.
The hills do make for great views. I am sure Dunedin must have more rooms with a view than any other city of its size (the population is over 130,000). It is a beautiful city and I am glad I visited.
All these stairs and roads converge toward city centre.
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral, one of a number of churches on Dunedin's hills.
Whatever the weather Dunedin's hills are there.