Local Beaches

Being a coastal city Dunedin has many small beaches scattered along its coastline and around the Otago Harbour. Most are only a few minutes drive from the central city and have easy access and some have regular surf patrols during the busy summer period. There are also some great surfing spots along the coastline, most notably at St Clair, Blackhead and Brighton beaches that are well worth checking out if you have your board with you.

St Clair Beach & Hot Salt-water Pool

The most popular city beach only ten minutes drive from the central city with fantastic surf and a recently refurbished Hot Salt Water Pool and Esplanade area. Surf patrols operate on both St Clair and St Kilda beaches over the summer period making these beaches safe for young families and surfers alike.

The Hot Salt Water Pool is the only surviving salt water pool of several in Dunedin from the late 1800's. The pool has recently been upgraded and now features a paddling pool for toddlers, new changing facilities, changing facilities for the disabled and a new office building providing shelter from the weather as well as seating and a place to buy a cup of coffee or purchase snacks.

Tunnel Beach

One of the most spectacular locations on the Otago coastline with amazing cliff top views out to sea. Accessible by a short walk across farmland from where you park your car, you can take a walk through the cliffs via a man made tunnel down to the beach for further stunning views. Best time to see is early morning when these photos were taken. Absolutely breathtaking!

Brighton Beach

Situated on the South coast Brighton Beach is a picturesque beach that is ideal for swimming, surfing and family picnics. Surf patrols operate over the summer months making it nice and safe and there are changing facilities and grassed domain areas as well as a handy dairy in the nearby Brighton township. Only half an hours drive south of the city with plenty of off street parking this is definitely worth a visit on a nice day.

Purakanui & Long Beach

The seaside settlements of Purakanui and Long Beach are one of Dunedin's best kept secrets with many local residents having holiday homes, or batches or cribs as they are known in New Zealand, tucked away in private sections. Both are approximately twenty minutes to half an hour's drive north of the city on the coastal road that starts at Port Chalmers and are only 2km apart from each other.

Long Beach is very safe for swimming although it does not have surf patrols operating there. An adjoining grassed domain area makes this an idyllic picnic spot for those summer barbeques so if you have the time, and the weather is in your favour, make sure you take a trip out to one of these beautiful spots.