Dunedin is the second-largest city on the South Island, a university-city, and the first city we truly embraced the role of “tourists”.  We rolled into Dunedin on an overcast day with a full itinerary that included a mid-morning tour at Cadbury World and a late-afternoon tour at the Speight’s Brewery.

Cadbury World was as expected: a real-life Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory experience minus the golden ticket.  We received free samples of Jaffas, all sorts of marshmallows covered in chocolate, a cup of liquid-chocolate, and even had the chance to experience a chocolate waterfall!

“can’t read my mind, I’m undefined…”

“just beginning…ending unplanned”

Of course, the only thing that can top free chocolate is free beer, and Speight’s Brewery totally delivered!  They provided an entertaining tour (our tour guide was the great-great-grandson of the founder) with as many free samples as you can squeeze into a half-hour (you get to pour your own)! The beer was so good we decided to WOLO the evening away at the Speight’s Ale House located just around the corner and the food was delicious (no wonder Dunedin was one of our favorite cities in NZ)!

“so close you can almost taste it…”

“release your inhibitions…”

We ended our Dunedin tour at dawn the following morning just north of the city at an obscure location called Tunnels Beach. Located entirely on private land, the path to Tunnels Beach offers sweeping ocean views and even a man-made tunnel through towering coastal cliffs (this is a low-tide destination ONLY)!  For those with some WOLOtude, there’s even a sweet landbridge perched over some massive, crashing waves!

“drench yourself in words unspoken…”

“reaching for something in the distance…”

“no one else can feel it for you…

“…only you can let it in”

“live your life with arms wide open…”

“the rest is still unwritten…”

Next stop: The Catlins
Song lyrics: Natasha Bedingfield “Unwritten”

– Go.  Change your state of mind.