Dunedin Railway Station
A Flemish Renaissance-style railway station completed in 1906, and one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand
Dunedin Railway Station was designed by railway architect George Troup and opened in 1906. Its exterior uses black basalt and white Oamaru stone to create striking black-and-white stripes, and its clock tower rises 37 metres. Its ornate appearance has earned it the local nickname 'Gingerbread George'. The main hall floor is a mosaic of about 725,000 Royal Doulton tiles, and the stained-glass windows depict steam locomotives. The upper floor houses a sports hall of fame and an art gallery. In front of the station is a carefully maintained garden, which is the best spot for photos. Every March the station hosts the iD fashion week, when the platforms become a catwalk. The station is also the starting point of the Taieri Gorge Railway, a scenic train that passes through steep gorges, tunnels and high viaducts. In recent years the service has changed to seasonal operation with limited departures, so check the Dunedin Railways website in advance. Entry to the station is free. It is about a 5-minute walk to the Octagon, and on Saturday mornings a farmers' market for Otago is held in the car park outside the station.
Opening hours
Station hall open during the day
Nearby sights
- Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
- First Church of Otago
- Dunedin Chinese Garden (Lan Yuan)
- The Octagon & St Paul's Cathedral
- Dunedin Public Art Gallery
- Speight's Brewery
- Tūhura Otago Museum
- University of Otago Clocktower