The Funnel

We start the tour here, on the splendid - and only - platform at Dunedin Railway Station. Actual start time is 1pm!

Bookbinder David Stedman illustrates the finer points of his classic Intertype machine. A 30-minute session with David at his Dutybound bindery is one of two optional visits on the tour.

One small pizza and a tasting flight of four 5oz glasses of beer are inclusions in this optional, 30-minute stopover at Steamer Basin Brewery & Taproom.

Jenny McDonald of Dunedin Craft Distillers explains how waste bread and bakery products that would otherwise go to landfill fuel her award-winning gin. Our 45-minute tour & tasting here is a highlight of every Funnel tour.

This exclusive 3hour tour champions Dunedin's unsung heroes: the artisans who craft unique products and experiences along Dunedin's old foreshore.

The narrow strip of reclaimed land here was a cradle of industry, with resident enterprises including the Union Steam Ship Company, New Zealand's largest private employer.

The old buildings now house smaller, boutique enterprises. We visit two of these on our walk: Dunedin Craft Distillers, where spirits are raised from waste bread, and EITHER Dutybound, a bespoke bookbindery, OR Steamer Basin Brewery & Taproom.

At Dunedin Craft Distillers, we are treated to a 45minute tour & tasting experience. At Dutybound (optional), we spend half an hour with bookbinder David Stedman, who shares secrets relating to his workplace and trade, and presents us with a keepsake. At Steamer Basin (the alternative to Dutybound), we are offered a small pizza and a tasting flight of four 5oz beers (all included in the price).

En route, we'll discover street art, impressive views of Dunedin's city and harbour, and substantial structures and buildings across a range of types and styles.

Why 'The Funnel'?

Guide Athol Parks explains:

"We're developing a wayfinding project, to better connect Dunedin's Bond Quarter, Warehouse Precinct and Harbour Basin areas and link them to the City and beyond. We've designed and installed some signage that features a distinctive 'wave and funnel' symbol. This symbol was inspired by the Union Steam Ship Company, aka the Red Funnel Line. It references the golden era when Dunedin was pre-eminent among New Zealand cities and was an important link in a far-flung mercantile empire. It also reminds us that industry, on a smaller scale, remains a feature here.

"We think the signs looks jaunty. They suggest a journey - perhaps a guided walk!"

Details

The Funnel, offered Tuesdays - Saturdays, starts and finishes on the only platform at Dunedin Railway Station. When booking your tour, please express a preference for visiting EITHER Dutybound OR Steamer Basin Brewery. Please note that the Steamer Basin option is not available on Tuesdays, while Dutybound is closed weekends.

Contact us to book The Funnel. Include the walk name, tour date, number of pax, and your preference for EITHER Dutybound OR Steamer Basin Brewery. Please note: this tour should be reserved at least 48 hours in advance. We will confirm availability by return email. This confirmation will include contact details for the Dunedin i-Site Visitor Centre, who will process your payment. Otherwise, payment in person may be made at the Dunedin i-Site sometime before your tour.