Car parking
In Dunedin city centre, there is a range of car parking available, most of which has time limits and costs to use. Arranged by zones, there is 1 hour parking available in the heart of the city and four hour parking in the surrounding areas. Free parking is available along George Street from Dowling Street to Frederick Street. Make sure to check signs, as certain car parking areas can have different rules at different times.
Speed limits
Dunedin has recently proposed a change to its speed limits in the city, meaning that while they are currently 50kph in most areas, they will change to 30kph and 40kph. That means that areas like the Octagon and parts on North Dunedin will not change, but South Dunedin, Mornington and Kensington will. Additionally, there will be some areas with variable speed limits, where the maximum speed will change depending on the time of day.
We recommend that you always pay attention to road signs and exercise caution in your rental car.
Navigating the Octagon in Dunedin
The Octagon sits in central Dunedin and has a movie theatre, the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, and lots of restaurants and bars. There are also often events in the Octagon, which means some streets can be closed. Lastly, you there are also one way streets within the Octagon, including Bath Street and Harrop Street. Our advice is to avoid driving your hire car through the area if you can. But if you do drive in the area, just pay close attention to signs and take is low.
Things to see in Dunedin and beyond
Getting the most out of Dunedin
There's more to see in Dunedin than Baldwin Street (the worlds steepest street) and Otago University. Known as the Edinburgh of the South, Dunedin city has its own Scottish heritage to showcase. The Otago Scottish Heritage Council makes sure this aspect of the city's past remains intact with newsletters, events and even their own tartan. But perhaps the biggest identifier of this is history is Larnach Castle, built by William Larnach in 1871. It is New Zealand's only castle and is well worth a visit when in Dunedin.
If you prefer the modern, then we recommend the Dunedin Street Art Trail in Downtown Dunedin, where local and international artists have livened up concrete spaces with diverse, colourful street art. The Dunedin Visitor Information Centre has maps for you to explore the 1.5 hour trail.
Going beyond the city, you'll find Otago Peninsula, which is a haven for wildlife spotting. There are two types of penguins, fur seals, sea lions and even albatross to see at the Royal Albatross Centre.
![Larnach Castle in Dunedin.]()
Take a road trip to Invercargill in your hire car
If you have the time and want to explore more of the South Island, why not take the approximately 3 hour journey to Invercargill at the southern tip of the country? From there you'll be able to discover Bluff, famous for its oysters; the Catlins, a scenic delight taking in wildlife, beaches and natural beauty; and you could even spend a day on Stuart Island/Rakiura, a National Park that is like nowhere else in the country.
Head north to Christchurch
Driving your rental car to Christchurch will take about 5 hours, but the trip is well worth it thanks to the bustling South Island cities energy and offerings. If you like open spaces, there is the sprawling Hagley Park, which includes the Botanic Gardens. If socialising and dining are more your speed, you'll have plenty of options around Riverside Market. And if you're a history buff, you can check out Canterbury Museum and the arts centre.
Once you have compared prices, you can then book securely in minutes. Each Dunedin car hire branch offers a convenient location and boasts a diverse fleet of rental vehicles to meet your travel needs.
