This is a wonderful 10k ‘runseeing’ tour of Dunedin, featuring some of the historic streets of the commercial centre, key sites, Woodlaugh Gardens, an outline tour of the city’s famous Botanic Garden, and a running track!

Start at The Octagon-shaped grassy plaza surrounded by a circular road, with civic buildings, galleries & cafes. Head north on George St., which is one of Dunedin’s main commercial streets. There’s wide sidewalk and some sections are mainly pedestrianized. Reach the end of George St. @2.3 km, and do a 1.2 km loop around Woodhaugh Gardens, which is mainly wooded and features a nice section along Water of Leith. Then cross the main road and take Bank St. to the entrance of the Botanic Gardens.

Free and open dawn to dusk, the 33-hectare Botanic Garden features several km of scenic trails and 3,800 plant species. Track surfaces range from asphalt to packed gravel, loose gravel and woodchip. [Note: Hilly!] Our route is 1.5 from north to south through the Garden, but you can create your own route and add more. Exit at the south end onto Dundas St., turn LEFT and continue onto Butts Rd., heading east for 1 k m to a running track in Logan Park. Then run south through Logan Park, RIGHT on Union St. for 1 km west back to the city centre, completing the run on Great King St., which passes through the University of Otago.

The Botanic Garden is also home to a weekly parkrun.