Panoramic Dunedin, Olveston House & Botanic Gardens
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Port
Port Chalmers (Dunedin), New Zealand
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,14,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$79.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Built in 1906 and bequeathed, with all its contents, to the city of Dunedin in 1966, the beautiful 35-room Olveston House is a stunning example of stately architecture created for the privileged families of Dunedin's 'high society'. Your tour provides an intimate glimpse of the Edwardian era's elegant lifestyle and the achievements of the family who lived out its days in this graceful Jacobean-style brick-and-plaster mansion. Merchant, piano importer, music-lover and art enthusiast David Theomin poured his heart and soul into the creation of this grand estate and its beautiful manicured garden. With the help of his wife, who hailed from a distinguished Melbourne family, the home grew resplendent with massive fireplaces, colorful stained-glass windows and an impressive art collection. Both David and Marie were passionate patrons of the Arts and, during their extensive travels, they collected some 240 paintings and brought back numerous artifacts from China and Japan. These still grace the 21 rooms that your guide will highlight during your comprehensive tour.
Also featured are the glorious gardens, ponds and meandering paths of the internationally-renowned Dunedin Botanic Garden. Let your imagination run wild as you explore New Zealand's oldest public garden, sited next to New Zealand's oldest college -- the prestigious Otago University. Established in 1863, the 72-acre campus oasis forms part of Dunedin's Town Belt -- a circle of green that surrounds the city center. The lower gardens feature rose and herb plantings, a duck pond, a band rotunda, a Japanese garden and the rippling waters of Lindsay Creek. Bisected by Lovelock Avenue -- a winding public road -- the upper gardens are home to the famed Rhododendron Dell, which has graced the southeast corner of the garden from its earliest days. Also found here are an African garden, a wetlands, and a small aviary.
Finally, pass by the Octagon -- the eight-sided plaza that forms the core of Dunedin's compact business district, and the Dunedin Railway Station -- an Edwardian jewel in New Zealand's architectural crown.
Notes:
There is no elevator access to Olveston House's upper stories. Guests using a wheelchair have the option to view a DVD tour of those floors. Photography is not allowed inside Olveston House.