Dunedin Chinese Garden, Dunedin (2024) - Images, Timings

Dunedin Chinese Garden, Dunedin Overview

Located in the city of Dunedin, Dunedin Chinese Garden is one of the town's major tourist attractions, apart from the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum and the Railways of Dunedin, both of which are located nearby. The garden has an etymological derivation from the Chinese language. It is called Lan Yuan and is curated to acknowledge and preserve Dunedin's fraternal relationship with its sister city, Shanghai.

The garden is an excellent place for families to visit, tourists or locals, for it is separated from the crowded centre of the city with a trimmed and neat trail of tall and dense trees fortifying its outer walls. So one may come here and picnic, learn a lot about the Chinese culture, sip the Chinese tea, nibble on local snacks like dumplings or buns at the Tea House shop and pick up some souvenirs from the gift shop.

Opening Hours and Tickets

Opening Hours
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed Christmas Day

Tickets
NZD 9.50 - Adult
Free - Child (under 13 years with adult)
NZD 6.50 - Student/Beneficiary
NZD 21 - Adult Annual Pass
NZD 15.50 - Student/Beneficiary Annual Pass
NZD 12.50 - Student/Beneficiary Annual Pass (Renewal)
NZD 21 - Guided tours (by arrangement only)

Tours

SELF GUIDED TOUR- As the name suggests, you are at your own to explore the wings and corners of the garden. The admission fee you pay permits you to visit through every corridor and you will be guided through the audio equipment installed in every wing and some very helpful and friendly staff.

AUDIO GUIDE TOUR- It is free of cost and this feature enables you to guide your way into the garden through audio equipment letting you in about the directions at your own pace. The narration goes on for about 30-40 minutes which is the time duration of this tour for you. Quite interestingly the audio voice is of the then Mayor of Dunedin of Chinese descent who tells you about the cultural and national heritage of the garden which is insightful and interesting.

GUIDED TOUR- It is an exclusive tour that lets you explore the garden with a designated tour guide. He will let you in about the anecdotes and the nitty-gritty about the history of this garden. This feature is enabled through a prior appointment and additional charges.

Other Facilities

A TEA HOUSE- There is a separate tea house that offers you local Chinese tea and light snacks for you to nibble on.

Gift shop- A wing of the Garden for you to pick up souvenirs for your dear ones that bear the essence of Chinese nationality.

Parking
Washroom
Wheelchair accessibility
Venue hire for special occasions like marriage, birthday parties, etc.

How To Reach Dunedin Chinese Garden

The Dunedin Chinese Garden is located in the corner of Rattray and Cumberland Streets adjacent to the Toitu Settlers Museum.
There is the Queen's Garden right opposite to it. It is at a walking distance from the Octagon and the Dunedin Railway Station. The Garden has free parking of private vehicles outside its premises.
Some central areas are paid to park.
There is also a bus depot for bus parking right outside the Toitu Settlers Museum.