Dunedin Railway Station

This building perhaps embodies Dunedin's wealthy inheritance. During the city's most prosperous years this railway station was the country's busiest, handling up to 100 trains each day.

Though there have been many debates about whether the building is actually beautiful or not, the overall effect is undeniably grandiose and the station is New Zealand’s most photographed building.

Construction began in 1903 and the station was officially opened in 1906. Dunedin's fourth railway station, it was designed in the fashionable, desirable and highly expensive Edwardian Baroque style. Unusually though, architect George Troup uses an experimental collaboration of Classical and Neo-Gothic imagery, which creates a grand and classically regimented structure, with an assorted and asymmetric countenance.

Troup displays such an unrestrained freedom of expression most prominently in the Italianate clock tower at one end and the Gothic spire at the other, as well as the use of Classical motifs to create upwards gestures reminiscent of Gothic architecture. The combination of over the top decoration and the intricate use of contrasting dark basalt and white Oamaru limestone earned its architect the nick-name "Gingerbread George".

The exceptional attention to detail is not limited to its exterior. The foyer and booking hall's elaborate ornamentation is bathed in a soft golden light that reinforces the wealth of the city of Dunedin at the time.

Today, a farmers market runs in Anzac Square just outside the station every Saturday morning, and daily sightseeing trains run from the station through the Taieri Gorge and up the Coast. Directly across the square from the station is Lower Stuart Street, which leads to the city's centre, The Octagon.

Featured Activities

Taieri Gorge Railway Rail Tour - Dunedin - Starting from NZ $89.00 per adult A highlight of your visit to Dunedin is a trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway - one of the world's great train trips and one of Dunedin's top attractions. Departing daily from downtown Dunedin into the Taieri Gorge, this trip travels through some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery which can not seen from the road! More...

The Seasider Rail Tour - Dunedin - Starting from NZ $89.00 per adult Run by the Taieri Gorge Railway, The Seasider train is Dunedin's scenic coastal tourist train operating from the historic Railway Station in Dunedin New Zealand. This tour runs on a section of railway which was considered the highlight of the trip between Christchurch and Invercargill and offers spectacular views over Otago Harbour and the wild Otago coastline. It is considered one of the "must-do" railway trips in New Zealand! More...

The Waitati Seasider Rail Tour - Dunedin - Starting from NZ $50.00 per person The Waitati Seasider is an exciting trip which takes passengers on the spectacular section of coastal railway line between Dunedin and Oamaru and operates on frequent days throughout the summer season. This is a must-do rail trip in New Zealand! Dates are on our brochure and bookings can be made for Groups and FITs. It may also be possible to have extra Seasider services scheduled for group bookings by prior arrangement. Familys can be arranged anytime - contact us to book. More...

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