City wayfinding project

12th November 2026

Guide Athol Parks with the project's latest sign. All photos by City Walks

Now folks crossing the railway line can actually find where the waterfront is!

And folks harbourside can find their way to Dunedin's Warehouse Precinct and Bond Quarter.

And hey - you can walk this way back to Dunedin Railway Station and thus complete the loop!

Dunedin is great, but there's long been a disconnect between the city and its waterfront.

There have been grandiose plans to redevelop the waterfront, and twice in recent decades funding for a dedicated pedestrian/ cycling bridge across to the waterfront made it onto City budgets - only to fall back off again.

City Walks and other Dunedin businesses reckon there's no time to waste and are working together to make better use of the imperfect but interesting infrastructure Dunedin already has.

The goal is to better connect Dunedin's Warehouse Precinct, Bond Quarter and Harbour Basin areas and connect these with the city and beyond.

Directional signage indicating a loop trail is an important first step on this journey, but we also envisage other physical installations, printed guides, maps (physical and online), and QR codes etc that link to further information about businesses and attractions in these neighbourhoods.

Work so far has been led and funded by industry, but we trust that Dunedin City Council and entities such as Port Otago will awaken to the merits and potential of this work and step up to help us see it through.

FAQ: What does the symbol mean?!

The distinctive 'wave & funnel' symbol on the signs is a nod to the former Union Steam Ship Company (aka the Red Funnel Line). Long headquartered in Dunedin's Warehouse Precinct, the USSCo became New Zealand's largest private employer.

The symbol 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 down by Dunedin's old shoreline.

If you'd like to learn more about the wayfinding project, or support the artisans who are crafting unique products and experiences in these neighbourhoods now, sign up for The Funnel walk today!