OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
WHAT'S ON IN DUNEDIN
New Zealand International Science Festival | 28 June - 6 July
The NZISF promises to be a fantastic week of workshops, talks, shows, drop-ins and tours for all ages. Check out their website for more information about what’s on!
All Blacks vs. France | 5 July
The battle begins here. The first Test of the Lipovitan-D Series, All Blacks vs. France is more than just a game - it’s a statement. Kicking off at 7:05pm, this rugby match will be held at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Tickets sell fast so be in quick!!
Symposium: Pounamu and the History of Knowledge | 7 July
Pounamu, also known as “greenstone” and “New Zealand jade,” stands as a cornerstone in the narrative of Aotearoa New Zealand, embodying the essence of the land and the people. Pounamu is a window onto the historical relationship between traditions, and onto the wider questions they raise. How does Western science interweave with Mātauraka Māori? How do the natural sciences relate to the humanities? What effect did colonisation have on the study of pounamu, and what pathways exist to rectify and reconcile these legacies? What does the future hold for pounamu knowledge? The session will address these questions and explore how the study of pounamu can flourish using different ways of knowing.
TOURS
The Congress program includes a free afternoon for attendees on Thursday 3 July. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and join a tour.
Saturday 28 June
Powhiri at Ōtakou Marae | $90 NZD per person
Departs 10.30am. Look for the Book a Tour coaches parked outside the main University entrance on Cumberland Street (opposite the Otago Museum)
Returns 4.30pm
Ōtakou Marae sits on a site steeped in history - it was where Ōtakou chiefs Korako and Karetai signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 13 June 1840. A local representative will lead a tour of the marae, which overlooks the Otago (Ōtakou) Peninsula. Guests will experience a traditional pōwhiri - a Māori welcoming ceremony involving speeches, cultural performance, singing and finally the hongi. It is used as a welcome onto a marae. A light lunch is included. Bring a warm jacket.
NOTE: In case of a tangi (funeral), this booking may be cancelled at any time and with little notice.
If you would like to add on this activity, please email Mandy for your link to book.
Thursday 3 July
Hocken Collections Tour | complimentary
Meet at the University of Otago library, 90 Anzac Ave (a 10 minute walk from the conference venue)
2.00pm - 3.30pm tour - full
3.30pm - 5.00pm - space available
Enjoy a walk through the public areas and closed stacks of the Library. View selected material from the collections relating to the history of science and technology in New Zealand.
If you would like to add on this activity, please email Mandy to book.
Beverly Begg Observatory visit | FULL
Departs 1.30am. Look for the Book a Tour coach parked outside the main University entrance on Cumberland Street
Returns 3.30pm
The Beverly-Begg Observatory was established in 1922 by the Dunedin Astronomical Society and named after local astronomers: Arthur Beverly and John Begg. An annex was added in the 1960s. The brick building has a 12-foot revolving dome covering the equatorial with a row of shutters in the meridian line for the transit instrument. Telescopes mounted are on concrete pillars. In 2008 the society unveiled a new 35cm Celestron instrument on a Software Bisque Paramount ME robotic telescope mount with camera, replacing a 30.5 cm reflector telescope that had been in use since 1973.
We recommend you take a warm jacket. And please note, there are no bathroom facilities at this venue.
W.D.Trotter Anatomy Museum | complimentary
Meet at the Museum, Lindo Ferguson Building, 270 Great King Street (a 10 minute walk from the conference venue)
2.00pm
A visit to the W.D. Trotter Anatomy Museum at the University of Otago introduces you to 150 years of the collection of a unique teaching and research. This tour includes some of the equipment Eccles used in his work that led to a Nobel Prize in 1963.
If you would like to add on this activity, please email Mandy to book.
Penguin Tour | $250 NZD per person
SECOND TOUR ADDED: FRIDAY 4 JUNE
Departs 3.30pm. Look for the Book a Tour coach parked outside the main University entrance on Cumberland Street
Returns 9pm
We take the high road for views of the Otago Peninsula. At dusk, we will enjoy a close up viewing of little penguins returning from a day at sea within the Takiharuru Pilots Beach nature reserve. Watch penguins as they scurry up the beach to their cliff-face burrows just a few metres away, allowing for awesome viewing and photography.
We head back with a stop at the historic Portobello Hotel (dinner and beverages not included – meals from $27, bar snacks available) before returning to your hotel.
If you would like to add on this activity, please email Bex to book. Phone Bex on 0276 854 935.
If you want to book a tour, we recommend visiting the Dunedin isite Visitor Centre in the Octagon. They can be contacted on 03 474 3300.
Depart train station 9.30am | Return 2.15pm
Fri 4 only
Enjoy incredible scenery in the Taieri Gorge as we hear stories about Otago's rich history from our onboard commentator. Admire the engineering feats of early railway pioneers including hand-made tunnels and the Wingatui Viaduct: the tallest wrought iron structure in Australasia.
Toitu Settlers Museum Free admission. Donations welcome
31 Queens Garden
Open daily 10am – 5pm
The Museum galleries trace the fascinating journeys from the earliest settlers, Kai Tahu and their ancestors, to the most recent arrivals. Themed galleries weave the stories of past and present with future thinking, featuring interactive displays with stunning visuals and powerful narratives.
Local hosts provide a friendly and helpful information service about the museum exhibitions, public programme, events, and facilities.
Lan Luan Chinese Garden $11
39 Queens Garden
Open daily 10am – 5pm
A perfect miniature of a traditional Chinese landscape painting, this Garden encapsulates the essence of nature. Recognized as a six-star Garden of International Significance, its purpose is to guide you on a journey towards a deeper appreciation of history, culture, heritage, and tradition.
Its origins come from a desire to celebrate the city's Chinese heritage and its valuable sister city relationship with Shanghai.
Tūhura Otago Museum Free admission. Donations welcome Guided tours 11am daily $30
419 Great King Street
Open daily 10am – 5pm
From pinned insects to antiquities, Japanese armour to moa eggs – the Otago Museum collection holds more than 1.5 million items. It believes in the power of knowledge to break down barriers, inspire change and spark creativity.