My family and I have been out and about in Dunedin enjoying the sights and experiencing some of what the Cadbury Chocolate Festival had to offer the locals and tourists during their annual celebration. We headed up Thursday morning and I wrote briefly about the day in this post here. It was fun, we went to a…. hold your breath people…. MALL. Then after a brief shopping stint we chilled back at our rooms and had dinner with my lovely in-laws. Soo good to have family around!
Friday came around and we all ventured into town to catch the free bus to Baldwin Street to watch the annual Jaffa race. Jaffa’s are a marble shaped, candy coated chocolate made here in New Zealand. Baldwin Street is, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, the steepest street in the world. There was a huge crowd and an odd amount of super tall guys, which made viewing things pretty difficult but we stuck it out and enjoyed ourselves. Every Jaffa in the race was numbered to coincide with a ticket that could be purchased for $1. All money collected went to charity.This year they did two rolls, one with the regular red/orange coated jaffa’s and another with purple jaffa’s. We’re all in agreeance that the purple jaffa’s rolled faster! You can be the judge by watching the video’s:
By the end of the walk back to the bus stop, carrying a stroppy baby most of the day, the bus rides and the massive crowds of people, we were all pretty tired so we headed back to our flat for a rest. Not before we picked up lunch and 1/2 price hot chocolates at Ra Bar and Cafe at the octagon though. Great service thanks Ra staff 
This bus was full so we waited for the next one.
A bit about Baldwin Street.
Radio people and a band. I think it was More FM?
Girl in a tux handing out lollies.
Face painting fairies.
Kids eating Jaffa’s from the girl in the tux photo.
Baldwin Street. Doesn’t look too steep but it really is!
Caught this shot as the stilt people walked past us.
The stilt people walked all the way up the hill and back down again. Insane!
These people won ‘The best seat’. A cherry picker at the side of the road hehe. True kiwi style.
The aftermath.
This guy got his car stuck between two others so they lifted it out lol. I love NZ.
Colouring in at Ra Bar & Cafe. FYI: They have a thing called ‘Outrageous Tuesday’s’ where they play Outrageous Fortune on the big screen for everyone to watch.
Nas lovingly putting his marshmallow into his hot chocolate hehe.
They came with Jaffa’s. Cute.
One of the amazing churches in Dunedin. It started pouring the second after I took this photo.
Later in the evening Andrew’s Mum came to our room and watched Boston so we could take the older kids out to Toy Story 3 3D. I almost cried! Multiple times! I’m a huge Disney/Pixar fan and we’ve been watching the Toy Story movies on TV with the kids the past few weekends. We loved it and I highly recommend it to all you Toy Story fans out there. After the movie we walked down to a place called Time Out (kind of like a small spacies parlour). Then it was all on. It looks like Andrew and I breed a bunch of competitors. Not hard to see where they get it from if you were ever to watch Andrew and I go head to head in any game situation…We never give up! It’s a battle right to the end lol. Good thing we don’t argue like that.
It really makes me wish we had somewhere like that to go down here, it was fun to be out doing something the kids loved. I’m really laid back with my kids, I let them be kids but I don’t let them play a lot of video games. I don’t have too many hang ups as a Mother but kids and too many video games is one of them. It’s just one of those things with me. So they had an extra good time playing the games.
Sorry if this photo is offensive to some. In our family we’re ok with gun’s and teaching the children about safely using them. Both Andrew and I were raised around them.
The oldest two fighting it out playing basketball games.
Not too shabby. Must take after their Dad.
This was a pretty fun game.
Davis did really well.
He shot all the teeth and beat us all.
Andrew and I went head to head. Most of my shots bounced out of the hoop! I got wasted lol.
At it again. Sibling rivalry at it’s finest.
We won enough tickets for them all to get prizes.
Davis got a sticky hand.
Before we headed home we took the kids out to dinner at the most pimped out Chinese restaurant. It was awesome! I seriously felt like we were in a scene of a Kung Fu movie and we were expecting a fight scene to start any moment. The decor reminded me just how much I love all things Asian! Thankfully Andrew does too so he indulges my desire to own a lot of Asian stuff around the home. The kids are learning just how much we both love Asian collectibles, people, food, movies and cartoons and are getting in on the act. They’re begging to learn how to use chopsticks properly so I’d better step it up.
This photo doesn’t do the place justice. Loved that window insert and those imported chairs.
Hand sewn silk pictures and cool room dividers that double as plant holders.
Awesome lampshade. Plush bench seats. The owners were watching us so I had to pretend I was taking photo’s of my family…lol.
Saturday we headed out to Larnach Castle. New Zealand’s only castle. The weather was pretty miserable but I still managed to find myself inspired by the restoration done to the place, the gorgeous stained glass windows, intricate ceiling details and absolutely stunning furniture throughout the home. It’s a lot smaller than I thought it would be but it was still beautiful. You aren’t allowed to take any photo’s inside the castle sorry.
The front of Larnach castle.
Running up the stairs.
Coming back down.
Fun times.
People staring at us from the top.
Some of the garden.
The ballroom. It’s used as a restaurant and hired out as a ballroom still.
The entire castle and my little lady.
My lampshade.
Then we headed to a place I’d actually spotted in the middle of the night as we were hunting for somewhere to dine for dinner on Friday night. I knew it looked to be like THE store for me. I was so right! Can I pick em or what?! The place’s name is Arkwright’s and it has the coolest collection of unique things. I really wish it were closer! I’m thinking trips to Dunedin may have to be a regular occurrence for us now, just so I can shop at Arkwright’s. Dunedinites, you are lucky
Best 2nd hand store!
Then it was back to the mall for lunch and some last minute shopping for the kids to spend their money. A hula hoop, a soccer ball and some bouncy balls later we were done. I took the kids to the bathroom before the drive home and was gifted with a single red rose when we returned to Andrew. Yay! I love good surprises.
My rose.
It was a great trip, we’ve been to Dunedin close to a million times now but each time we discover something new to love. The architecture is top of the list. We didn’t want to leave but are glad to be back home again.
The drive home.
Till next time Dunedin, we love you!
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Having grown up in Dunedin, I LOVE this post! You captured the city so perfectly! I am so glad you had a great time there!
I’m so glad I could do it some justice Joanna! We had such a fabulous time.
Hi Chavah, we’re so glad you got to enjoy our annual Dunedin Chocolate Festival. Your photo of the Jaffas after the race was a classic! Feel free to upload your photos to the Cadbury New Zealand Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/CadburyNewZealand
Thanks! We had such a great time, the carnival was so family friendly. Will pop by and add some pics.
You took some amazing photos. The pictures of the church and castle are fantastic! Looks like you had a great time.
Thank you Carol, yes we had an amazing time. The churches in Dunedin are so beautiful!
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I like your website.
Great photos.
Nice to be visiting your website yet again, it has been months for me. Thank you, fantastic share. James
Wow, this is so inspiring. Everyone should be spending time with their family like this.
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Here’s wishing everbody a happy, health and prosperous new year!!!
It seems as if you really had great fun during your journey and the photographs are wonderful as it describes the tells much about the place. All the thanks to you for sharing such a good information
I think the kids really had fun by playing the games and roaming around, and yes Dunedin is a place where you can visit with family as well as friends and you are surely going to have fun as this place offers lots of attractive things.
wish another people would write blogs alike this that are actually fun to read. With all the crap floating around on the web, it is a fine change typical of pace (pretty) much the same as read a blog akin yours instead.
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