Daily Events
Upcoming Events
Wildlife Kōrero at Orokonui
Why are tuatara so still? Find out this and more from wildlife talks throughout the day.
Crafty Bees Workshop One
Find out about native bees and their pollinating friends from a bee researcher then make origami bees with Olga from the Library,
Compost, Bokashi & Worm Farming
Workshop on hot and cold composting, worm farming and Bokashi to turn food and garden waste into microbe-rich compost.
Crafty Bees Workshop Two
Find out about native bees and their pollinating friends from a bee researcher then make beeswax wraps with Olga from the Library,
Up Late at the Museum
Up Late at the Museum will open the Wild Dunedin Festival for 2024 with wonderful, wild offers all night! Enjoy the 7x7 Wild Talks, make a bird feeder, and more!
7x7 Wild Talks
Seven expert speakers each present a 7-minute talk with a connection to huarere/weather and climate. Subjects dip into science, arts and culture.
A Wild Evening at Glenfalloch
Saturday 20th sold out - Friday 19th tickets available
Wild Evening at Glenfalloch with special guest Fleur from Fleurs Place.
See Space Up Close!
The observatory is an amazing place to witness the southern sky and to learn about our solar system.
Wild Yoga on the Beach
See the sunrise with Jo Woolley Yoga on St Clair Beach. For seasoned yogi or a beginner.
Snorkel Dunedin’s Wild Kelp Ngāhere
Unforgettable day exploring the kelp forests with dive instructors. Weather back up 21 April.
Getting Closer - Bird Photography Field Trip
Bird photography tour with Paul Sorrell at Orokonui Ecosanctuary. - Includes tour and entry Orokonui Ecosanctuary.
Weathered to the Ground
Nursery plant sale of native ground covers including native spinach to help retain soil moisture.
Orokonui Cloud Forest Tour
Find out why clouds are critical for Orokonui with a forest tour with Botanist Taylor Davies-Colley.
Green Island Community Garden Open Day
Visit a community vegetable garden which includes an orchard.
Mermaid Weaving
3 Workshops: 10am-11.30am, 12pm-1.30pm, 2pm-3.30pm
Make a mermaid woven from a ti kōuka leaf with artist Lesa Hepburn.
Nature’s Magic Tricks Cruise
Port to Port 45-min magic cruise with magician Jonathan Usher crossed with natural science experiments.
North East Valley Community Garden
An open day to welcome people of all gardening abilities with a guided tour from 10.30am-11.30am.
Plogging Clean Up
An introduction to ‘plogging’, picking up rubbish while walking and jogging, to keep our waterways clean.
$10 Monarch Wildlife Cruise
Two 30-minute tours at 12pm & 1pm
Tours for tamariki and whanau to view ocean wildlife on board MV Monarch.
Compost, Bokashi & Worm Farming
Workshop on hot and cold composting, worm farming and Bokashi to turn food and garden waste into microbe-rich compost.
Froggy Facts and Feeding
Watch Tūhura Otago Museum’s green and golden bell frogs be fed and learn about the lives of these beautiful animals.
Gardening with Climate Change
A talk, a walk with Fiona Eadie, whilst pondering gardening in a changing climate, finishing with a tasting of Sandymount Gin.
Monarch Deep Discount Cruise
Discounted one-hour cruise to view ocean wildlife on board MV Monarch.
A Change in the Weather
Festival Guest Dr Timothy Naish talks on how Antarctic ice sheets respond to climate change and influence global sea levels.
Monarch Ocean Explorers Cruise
2-hour Monarch Cruise into the Southern Ocean to see wildlife beyond the harbour until sunset.
Wildlife Photography Tour at the OPERA
Guided photography tour to select locations throughout the reserve .
Quiz Night with NZ Sea Lion Trust
Gather a savvy team for a quiz night with a twist, with rounds on local and general wildlife.
Orokonui Dusk Tour
Journey into Te Pō/the night with guides to explore what creatures come out after dark.
See Space Up Close!
The observatory is an amazing place to witness the southern sky and to learn about our solar system.
Sutton Salt Lake Walk
An easy 60-minute walk to Sutton Salt Lake, New Zealand’s only inland salt lake, followed by a tour of Middlemarch.
Suzy and the Sea Lions
A live performance by Suzy Cato and Mr Roberelli celebrating pakake/sea lions, the sea and other wildlife.
Wildlife Kōrero at Orokonui
What does a kākā eat? Find out this and more from wildlife talks throughout the day.
Getting Closer - Bird Photography Field Trip
Bird photography tour with Paul Sorrell at Orokonui Ecosanctuary. - Free tour /entry fee Orokonui.
Harbour Pilots, Large Ships & Storms
A former harbour pilot ventures into one of the most dangerous places for a large ship on the Otago Harbour.
Wild Yoga for Kids
An introduction to yoga by Jo Woolley learning postures inspired by the ocean’s wild creatures.
Hereweka Garden Tours
Tours: 10am-11.30am & 1pm-2.30pm
Restored native forest, rare exotics, Gondwana plants, tamarillo and avocado trees in Hereweka Garden.
Edible Garden Open Day and Tours
Open Garden 10am-12pm followed by two focused tours with Jason Ross. Meet Jason from Habitate Edible Habitats in his productive Waitati home garden.
Marine Encounters
Two sessions: 10am-11.30 & 12pm-1.30pm.
Meet marine species in touch tanks and take a deep dive in a virtual submarine.
Discover your Sea Lions
Family-friendly activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary since Mum the sea lion gave birth to a pup on the Otago coast in 150 years.
BEE Creative
Help to create a floribunda artwork and learn how to support our native solitary bees at ART PLAY in NATURE, Chingford Park.
ART PLAY in NATURE
Create a giant tapestry-collage using nature’s materials with artists Janet de Wagt, Pamela Brown and Kerry Mackay. Plus a host of nature events for all ages with guest appearance by Suzy Cato.
DOC: UrbanNature
DOC activities on utban pests and enter the UrbanNature Scavenger Hunt at ART PLAY in NATURE, Chingford Park.
Branch Dwellers - Tree Climbing
Give recreational tree climbing a go with Branch Dwellers at ARTPLAY in NATURE, Chingford Park.
Our Food Network
Our Food Network want to ask what food resilience in Õtepoti means to you at ART PLAY in NATURE, Chingford Park.
Enviroschools: Kai for the Birds, Bees and Butterflies
Make bird feeders, seed balls, propagating kowhai and more at ART PLAY in NATURE, Chingford Park.
Rocks for Tots
Take a trip through time with Rocks for Tots at ARTPLAY in NATURE, Chingford Park.
Pest Animals and Plants
Talk to the Biosecurity Team about Otago animal and plant pests at ARTPLAY in NATURE, Chingford Park.
Invasive Species
Town Belt Kaitiaki Student-led interactive environmental activities at ARTPLAY in NATURE, Chingford Park.
Predator Free Dunedin Family Day
Learn how weather and seasons affect predator species and native wildlife at ART PLAY in NATURE, Chingford Park.
A Foraging Journey
2 Sessons: 12pm-2pm & 3pm-5pm
Discover the secret of using native plants in spirits during a hike and tasting with distiller, Julien.
$10 Monarch Wildlife Cruise
Two 30-minute tours at 12 pm & 1 pm
Tours for tamariki and whanau to view ocean wildlife on MV Monarch.
Gold Panning at Toitū
1.30pm-2.30pm & 3pm-4pm
Dig deep into Otago’s history as you learn how to pan for gold at Toitū!
Monarch Deep Discount Cruise
Discounted one-hour cruise to view ocean wildlife on board MV Monarch.
Wildlife Photography Tour at the OPERA
Guided photography tour to select locations throughout the reserve .
Orokonui Dusk Tour
Journey into Te Pō/the night with guides to explore what creatures come out after dark.
See Space Up Close!
The observatory is an amazing place to witness the southern sky and to learn about our solar system.
Wild Yoga on a Hilltop
Walk up a hill for a 1-hour yoga class in a natural setting with Jo Woolley - for seasoned yogi or beginners.
Coastal Wonders on VR Headsets
Two sessions: 10am-11.30am & 12.30pm-2pm.
Experience being underwater in different marine environments.
Fabulous Frog Day
Meet froggy friends and do ribbit-ing activities to celebrate our awesome amphibians with NZFrogs and Suzy Cato.
Rainwater Papermaking
10.15am–11.15am & 11.30am–12.30pm
Create paper using rainwater and wastepaper with artist Lesa Hepburn.
Wild Journey Across the Ocean Waves
10.30am-11am & 1pm-1.30pm
Immersive theatrical gallery experience exploring the impact weather had for those on early sea voyages.
Wildlife ER with Suzy Cato
Find out how animals are cared for at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital with special guest Suzy Cato. Bring along your own soft toy to bandage.
Froggy Facts and Feeding
Watch Tūhura Otago Museum’s green and golden bell frogs be fed and learn about the lives of these beautiful animals.
Eyes in the Lives of Penguins
How are penguin eyes different to those of other animals? Join ophthalmologist Francesc March de Ribot for an exciting talk about the eyes of penguins.
String Making Workshop
Learn to make string from locally foraged plant materials with the Coastal Otago Willows and Weavers.
From Garden to Plate - No.7 Balmac
Celebrate Earth Day with a botanical cocktail in No7 Balmac kitchen garden, followed by a multi-course locally sourced dinner.
Sci-Comm Student Films Premiere
Enjoy the premiere of three short nature documentaries and hear from the student filmmakers from Otago’s Department of Science Communication.
Albatross Day
With tons of activities, talks, and displays throughout the day, there will be plenty to learn about the world’s largest flying seabirds
Wild Journey Across the Ocean Waves
10.30am-11am & 1pm-1.30pm
Immersive theatrical gallery experience exploring the impact weather had for those on early sea voyages.
NZ Birds of the Week/Ngā Manu o te Wiki
Award winning author Gillian Torckler reads her picture book on NZ manu in the story pit.
Sci-Comm Student Films Screening
3 x 10-minute videos on endangered birds and their human champions - replayed on a loop from 11am-2pm
BEE Creative Workshop
Two workshops: 1pm-2pm & 2pm-3pm bringing art and science together to celebrate native bees. For school-aged children.
Raising Royal Albatross Chicks
Join Wildlife Ranger Sharyn Broni as she shares stories about working with the northern royal albatross at Taiaroa Head.
A Wild Thirst for Knowledge
Ten University of Otago post-graduates pitch their research to convince the judges and audience that their ‘wild study’ rules.
Secrets of the Past
Forensic experts take a journey through time with ancient DNA to explain how weather has shaped Aotearoa.
Growing Our Own in a Changing Climate
Growing local in a regenerative way with gardeners Rory Harding, Sue Novell and Jason Ross.
Orokonui Dusk Tour
Journey into Te Pō/the night with guides to explore what creatures come out after dark.
Birds NZ: The Legendary Moa
Quinn Berentson talks about Otago as home to the largest and most diverse populations of Aotearoa’s big bird, the moa.
Perennial Vegetables & Fruit Garden Tour
Discover perennial vegetables, rethink on weeds and many fruit trees in Sue Novell’s urban garden.
Weathered to the Ground
Nursery plant sale of native ground covers including native spinach to help retain soil moisture.
Helping the Hoiho at The OPERA
2 sessions: 10am-10.45am & 12.30pm-1.15pm
Learn about the rarest penguin in the world. Visit our Rehabilitation Centre to see yellow-eyed penguins up close.
Mermaid Weaving
3 Workshops: 10am-11.30am, 12pm-1.30pm, 2pm-3.30pm.
Make a mermaid woven from a ti kōuka leaf with artist Lesa Hepburn.
Sci-Comm Student Films Screening
3 x 10-minute videos on endangered birds and their human champions - replayed on a loop from 11am-2pm
Native Bush Walk @ The OPERA
Two 1-hour tours at 11am & 1.30pm
Take a guided walk on the wild side through native bush (1.5 km approx).
Wildlife Photography Tours at the OPERA
Two tours: 12pm-1.30pm & 2pm-3.30pm
Guided photography tours to select locations throughout the reserve .
$10 Monarch Wildlife Cruise
30-minute tours at 12pm & 1pm.
Tours for tamariki and whanau to view ocean wildlife on board MV Monarch.
Froggy Facts and Feeding
Watch Tūhura Otago Museum’s green and golden bell frogs be fed and learn about the lives of these beautiful animals.
Blend Your Own Botanical Spirit
1pm-2.30pm & 3pm-4.30pm
Blend your own botanical spirits at Dunedin Craft Distillers.
Monarch Deep Discount Wildlife Cruise
Discounted one-hour cruise to view ocean wildlife on board MV Monarch.
Ecofocusing – A Mind/Body Practice with Nature
Held in the lush confines of the Tūhura Otago Museum Tropical Forest, join Wellbeing Way for an immersive journey into the captivating world of ecofocusing
tītī - Wild on the Menu
Enjoy this annual five-course wild food dinner created by Chef Hannes Bareiter and his team at Tītī Restaurant.
Weathering Life as an Artist
Join artists Kerry Mackay and Janet de Wagt as they give a colourful insight at how they respond to our wild world.
Blue Duck Station
Festival guest Dan Steele from Whanganui tells his story of protecting rare wildlife, bush and rivers and the role visitors have in his vision for Blue Duck Station.
Perennial Vegetables & Fruit Garden Tour
Discover perennial vegetables, rethink on weeds and many fruit trees in Sue Novell’s urban garden.
Peninsula People, Plants & Pets
A garden lovers bus tour to four diverse gardens from sections to lifestyle.
Peninsula People, Plants & Pets
A garden lovers bus tour to four diverse gardens from sections to lifestyle.
Wildlife Kōrero at Orokonui
Why do takahē do so much poo? Find out this and more from wildlife talks throughout the day.
Weather Day
Explore the wilder side of the weather with hands-on activities, a film screening, and demonstrations.
Sci-Comm Student Films Screening
3 x 10-minute videos on endangered birds and their human champions - replayed on a loop from 11am-2pm
Mermaid Weaving at Port Chalmers
2 Workshops: 11.30am-1pm & 1.30pm-3pm
Make a mermaid woven from a ti kōuka leaf with artist Lesa Hepburn.
Froggy Facts and Feeding
Watch Tūhura Otago Museum’s green and golden bell frogs be fed and learn about the lives of these beautiful animals.
Blend Your Own Botanical Spirit
1pm-2.30pm & 3pm-4.30pm
Blend your own botanical spirits at Dunedin Craft Distillers.
Organic Greenhouse Growing
Workshop on how to grow food year-round despite changeable weather and greenhouse tour.
Fire, Clouds & Local Weather
James Knapp talks on minising fire risk with the trees we plant, and Paul Gorman talks clouds and his passion for weather.
See Space Up Close!
The observatory is an amazing place to witness the southern sky and to learn about our solar system.
Puketeraki Māra Kai & Nursery
Open day and two workshops at gardens affiliated with the Puketeraki Marae growing healthy organic Kai in the tradition of their tīpuna.
Wild Food Webs & Fishy Feasts
10am-11.30am, 12.30pm-2pm & 3pm-4.30pm
See microscopic plankton, rocky shore critters and the inside of a shark!
Orokonui Cloud Forest Tour
Find out why clouds are critical for Orokonui with a forest tour with Botanist Taylor Davies-Colley.
Beach Clean-up for Sea Lions
Join a clean-up on the beach to improve habitat used by pakake/sea lion mums raising pups.
Composting with Pete Ryan
Workshops: 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm
Hands-on composting with Pete Ryan demonstrating how to turn your waste into food for your garden.
George Street Orchard Tours
Pick one of 6 x 45-minute sessions
Meet and talk with Rory in his orchard-urban food garden. Be inspired!
No Name Alley – Wild About Dunedin
Experience a market brimming with treasures with Steamer Basin’s finest brews, Wild Dispensary's herbal concoctions, and the No8 distillery's artisanal spirits.
Gin Making Workshop & Tastings
11am-12pm, 1pm-2pm, 3pm-4pm & 5pm-6pm
Create your own gin or vodka infused with native botanicals and sample No8 tastings.
Writing Wild Weather
Sensory writing from nature. Workshop with Michelle Elvy and David Eggleton focusing on weather. Includes lunch, afternoon tea, and live music.
$10 Monarch Wildlife Cruise
30-minute tours at 12pm & 1pm
Tours for tamariki and whanau to view ocean wildlife on board MV Monarch.
String Making Workshop
Learn to make string from locally foraged plant materials with the Coastal Otago Willows and Weavers.
Permaculture: Resilience by Design
Workshop on the core ethics and principles of Permaculture, and hands-on no-dig garden construction and a food forest makeover..
BEE Creative at Dunedin School of Art
1pm-2pm & 2pm-3pm
Workshops that bring art and science together to celebrate native bees. (For intermediate/high school students).
Monarch Deep Discount Wildlife Cruise
Discounted 1-hour cruise to view ocean wildlife on MV Monarch.
Wildlife Photography Tour at the OPERA
Guided photography tour to select locations throughout the reserve.
Orokonui Dusk Tour
Journey into Te Pō/the night with guides to explore what creatures come out after dark.
Wild Night Masquerade at Larnach Castle
Dance on the wild side with nature-themed masks, costumes. Live music and auction to support hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins.
See Space Up Close!
The observatory is an amazing place to witness the southern sky and to learn about our solar system.
Wild Yoga on a Hilltop
Walk up a hill for a 1-hour yoga class in a natural setting with Jo Woolley - for seasoned yogi or beginners.
Wildlife Kōrero at Orokonui
Why are tuatara so still? Find out this and more from wildlife talks throughout the day.
Tomahawk Lagoon Bird Watching
View birds up close using spotting scopes with members of Birds NZ
Exploring Dunedin’s Volcano
1hr tours departing from Port Chalmers at 10am and Portobello at 11.30am
Explore the history of Dunedin’s extinct volcano and how weather has shaped the landscape.
Hereweka Hike
Self-guided 6.5km hike around Hereweka/Harbour Cone. This is a new route from Portobello to Hereweka and back.
George Street Orchard Tours
Pick one of 6 x 45-minute sessions
Meet and talk with Rory in his orchard-urban food garden. Be inspired!
Community Fruit Harvest Festival
Apple pressing, music and fruit stalls in a warm hearted harvest festival.
$10 Monarch Wildlife Cruise
30-minute tours at 12pm & 1pm
Tours for tamariki and whanau to view ocean wildlife on board MV Monarch.
Incredible, Edible Seaweed
A workshop to recognise and taste local and introduced seaweeds
$10 Monarch Wildlife Cruise
30-minute tours at 12pm & 1pm
Tours for tamariki and whanau to view ocean wildlife on board MV Monarch.
North East Valley Community Garden
An open day to welcome people of all gardening abilities with a guided tour from 2.30pm-3.30pm.
Monarch Deep Discount Wildlife Cruise
Discounted one-hour cruise to view ocean wildlife on board MV Monarch.
Wildlife Photography Tour at the OPERA
Guided photography tour to select locations throughout the reserve .
Orokonui Dusk Tour
Journey into Te Pō/the night with guides to explore what creatures come out after dark.
See Space Up Close!
The observatory is an amazing place to witness the southern sky and to learn about our solar system.
Dunedin Craft Distillers Tastings
Meet the makers and taste the 2023 Wild Dunedin gin featuring fruits gathered from a local forage.
Wildlife Phtography with Sam Purdie
An exciting talk from herpetologist, wildlife photographer, and science educator Samuel Purdie.
Te Pahi Pukapuka – Electric Book Bus (CANCELLED)
Bring your library card and visit Dunedin's brand-new book bus. It’s the first full-size 100% electric mobile library in NZ.
The Halo Project - Picnic and Planting Day
Celebrate Earth Day by planting native seedlings and picnicking with the Halo Project.
Wild Night Market
Experience some of our best local and artisanal food and drink companies all in one place at Tūhura Otago Museum.
Wine and Design – Making Bitters (SOLD OUT)
Create your own bitters in this refreshing workshop with the team from Wild Dispensary.
The Science of the Sanctuary
Hear from researchers working within the living laboratory of Orokonui Ecosanctuary.
The Secret Life of Wild Plants
Do you love indoor plants? If you are obsessed with your house plants, this is the event for you!
Dunedin Craft Distillers Tastings
Meet the makers and taste the 2023 Wild Dunedin gin featuring fruits gathered from a local forage.
Composting for Families (SOLD OUT)
Learn to make compost for your family garden instead of sending vegetable and fruit waste to land fill.
Aquavan at Port Chalmers Library (SOLD OUT)
Sessions: 10.30am-12pm & 1pm-2.30pm - Meet your coastal neighbours with our mobile touch tank. Interactive games and activities on how soil can affect marine life.
Nature’s Magic Tricks on the Ocean (Dep Port Chalmers)
Depart 10am Port Chalmers - Port to Port magic show crossed with natural science experiments. 45-minute cruise.
Who’s the Genius in Your Garden? (CANCELLED)
Soil microbes and creatures in our soil introduced by Michelle Cox, organic garden educator. Suitable for age 14+
Robin White - Something is Happening Here
Join the DPAG curators for an after hours tour of Robin White’s major survey exhibition Something is Happening Here,
A Bug's Life
Catch the classic family film A Bug’s Life at Tūhura Otago Museum, the perfect way to end a day celebrating bugs!
Native Bees vs Honey Bees
An interactive talk about some of our important insect pollinators by Dr Jenny Jandt.
Native Plant Sale
Native plant sale by Tomahawk Smails BeachCare Trust - ideal plants for coastal gardens
Subterranean Tales
Get ready to squirm like a worm! Let Soil Sistas take you underground with their show full of songs, stories, puppets, and earthy mirth.
The Good, the Bad and the Bugly
What are all the little critters in my garden? Are they good or bad guys? Cody Phillips will attempt to answer all these questions and more.
Aquavan at Blueskin Bay Library (SOLD OUT)
Sessions: 10.30am-12pm & 1pm-2.30pm - Meet your coastal neighbours with the mobile touch tank. Interactive games and activities on how soil can affect marine life.
BUG DAY
Tūhura Otago Museum and the Entomological Society of New Zealand host a range of talks and activities celebrating bugs throughout the day.
Marram Grass Pot Weaving (SOLD OUT)
Weave a marram grass pot . Choose from two 90-minute workshops at 10am & 2pm.
Hector's Dolphins
Hear from University of Otago PhD student Steph Bennington on her research on the native Hector's dolphin, known also as pahu or tutumairekurai, and the potential for populations to recover around our coastline.
What's That Bird in My Garden?
Have you ever looked out your window and wondered what that cute, wee bird was?
Join Cody Phillips, Tūhura Otago Museum Collection Manager, Natural Science, for a whirlwind tour of a virtual Dunedin garden.
Aquavan at Waikouaiti Library (SOLD OUT)
Two sessions: 11am-12.30pm & 2pm-3.30pm. Meet your coastal neighbours with our mobile touch tank. Interactive games and activities on how soil can affect marine life, hosted by Marine Studies and library staff.
Dunedin Craft Distillers Tastings
Meet the makers and taste the 2023 Wild Dunedin gin featuring fruits gathered from a local forage.
Week day 30-minute tours from 1pm-7pm from Wednesday (19th) and Thursday (20th).
The Flying Whale Gallery
Pop into Port Chalmers to view David Elliot’s illustrations connected to the whenua.
Gallery open Wednesday (19th) - Sunday (23rd) from 11 am-4 pm.
Harbourside Grill - Earth to Sea (CANCELLED)
A locally sourced 3-course dinner by chef Matthew BryanHunter
Lake Stories - Te Pātaka Kai o Tūwiriroa
Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou introduce a 30-minute video on the history of the Waihola/Waipouri wetlands.
Native Seed Workshop (Sold Out)
Louise Ashton from Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust Nursery takes a workshop on collecting, cleaning and sowing native seeds.
Places to
Visit
WILD DUNEDIN – Video
Dunedin is like no other because of its unique southern ocean animals. Penguins, sea lions, albatross and fur seals love our ocean and they breed right here inside our city’s boundary.
You can see these wild creatures any time, but even better to come in the April school holidays when we celebrate our wildlife and wild places during the Wild Dunedin Festival.