Dunedin Rocks

4th May 2025

Geologist Dr Nick Mortimer stands in the Burlington Street cutting and explains the 1860s reduction of Dunedin's Bell Hill. Behind Nick is the exposed rock face, and the rear wall of Garrison Hall - an 1870s building that features this stone along with lighter-coloured Port Chalmers breccia and Oamaru stone facings. Attentive participants in the tour look on. — Geologist Dr Nick Mortimer at the Burlington Street cutting. Photo courtesy of Wild Dunedin.

City Walks guide Athol Parks speaks in front of the fine Dowling Street facade of Garrison Hall. Visible behind him are very large blocks of Port Chalmers breccia at street and basement level. White Oamaru stone facings are visible above. — City Walks guide Athol Parks touches on the history of Garrison Hall. Photo courtesy of Wild Dunedin.

Wild Dunedin logo. Courtesy of Wild Dunedin.

Dunedin Rocks!

Dunedin is close to nature. The city is cradled by hills and harbour, there’s abundant wildlife, and educational and recreational opportunities abound.

For a decade now, the annual Wild Dunedin Festival has celebrated this special connection. This year, the theme of the Festival was ‘rocks’. City Walks guide Athol Parks teamed up with local geologist and GNS Principal Scientist Dr. Nick Mortimer to lead two walks which focused both on the city’s underlying geology and the use of stone (local and imported) on downtown structures and buildings.

There was much interest in the walks, as these pictures attest, and once again the wider Wild Dunedin Festival was a great success. All proceeds from our two walks were given to the University of Otago’s fine Geology Museum.

Walks continue through winter

We’re into May now and the autumn leaves - those that remain - are putting on a show. Though winter is approaching, you may rest assured: regular City Walks tours continue throughout the year.

Cheers!