Dunedin

Dunedin was literally built on gold! As the entry point for many seeking riches in the Central Otago gold rush of the 1860s and 1870s, Dunedin was the New Zealand's first economic powerhouse. Migrants from Europe, Lebanon and China built a thriving trading economy and culturally rich city (its university, art school, daily newspaper and botanic garden are all New Zealand firsts). The legacy of these times is a cityscape full of grand Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Fast forward more than a century and Dunedin (now a UNESCO City of Literature) has become a hotbed of cultural creativity, full of artists, musicians and authors. Dunedin's food scene is also emerging as a new expression of this long cultural legacy. Dunedin's food is unashamedly understated - built largely on a strong café culture and casual dining. Eating out in Dunedin is an eclectic mix of old favourites that have been around for decades and a more creative food scene that brings together the rich architectural heritage, creative community and food professionals to create something entirely new.