Banks: 09:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 12:00 Saturdays
Government Departments: 08:30 to 17:30, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 09:00 to 17:30, Monday to Thursday; 09:00 to 21:00, Fridays; 10:00 to 13:00, Saturdays and Sundays

There are no real threats for tourists to be aware of when visiting Dunedin. Crime levels are fairly low, particularly regarding violent crime, and streets are well-ordered. Pickpockets do operate here, however, and visitors should remain guarded when in busy tourist areas and when out and about at night.

Those who plan on driving may find driving around the city centre tough going, especially when attempting to park. If you have a car, the best bet is to leave it at the hotel and walk around town or park outside the city limits and walk in.

Those who plan on going walking near Dunedin need to take into consideration the highly changeable weather which can be unpredictable at any time of the year. The winter months of June and July are the coldest, and snow falls regularly around the town making suitable clothing is a must.

Tourists who partake in water sports when in Dunedin should make sure their travel insurance policy covers them for adventure sports activities.

Electricity: 240 volts, 50Hz

The majority of travellers to New Zealand don’t require vaccinations to enter the country and will find few health risks to be aware of when visiting Dunedin.

If you plan on going tramping (hiking), having spare water, a first-aid kit, and letting someone know of your whereabouts is essential. You should also be aware of the waterborne disease known as gardia which is common in some parts of the South Island bush and causes a nasty stomach upset and diarrhea. When out in the wilderness, boil water thoroughly or chemically treat it to counter gardia.

New Zealand has the elusive poisonous katipo spider although you are unlikely to happen across this little creature. Sand flies can be a problem, however, but are simply a nuisance as opposed to being life-threatening.

Dunedin has a good hospital and several quality clinics and pharmacies. Although the cost of medical treatment in New Zealand is cheap compared with other Western nations, prices can mount up and there is no substitute for having good travel insurance cover.

Dunedin Hospital: +64 3 474 0999

English is the main language and one of the official languages of New Zealand, the other being Maori. Everyone speaks English, including almost all Maoris, and you are unlikely to have any problems communicating despite the difference in accent.

The currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$) which is worth less than Australian and US dollars and is closely related. New Zealand dollars have denominations of NZ$5, 10, 20, 50, and 100; and 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, and NZ$1 and 2 coins.

You can pick up New Zealand dollars just about anywhere in the world. However, it isn’t generally a good idea to change too much currency before arriving as you won’t beat the onshore rates available at airports and banks.

New Zealand doesn’t place a limit on the amount of New Zealand dollars imported or exported although you will need to declare anything above NZ$10,000, or equivalent. You can exchange most currencies at Dunedin International Airport for New Zealand dollars, as well as at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch international airports. Most banks, major hotels and large shops also offer currency exchange, although shops and hotel rates are traditionally unfavourable for tourists.

ATMs can be found on virtually every city street in Dunedin and many people choose to withdraw local currency from their home bank account while travelling. This is by far the most convenient way to get local currency nowadays, and the commercial bank rates are used for the rate of exchange to boot. Many shops also operate the Eftpos (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale) system in Dunedin and elsewhere in New Zealand for use with debit and credit cards.

Many people still choose to use traveller’s cheques when holidaying and they are widely accepted in banks and hotels throughout Dunedin. Thomas Cook and American Express are the main traveller’s cheques providers.

Duty-free limits in New Zealand are: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco; 4.5 litres of wine or beer and 1.125 litres of spirits; and goods not exceeding a value of NZ$700. A goods and services tax of 12.5 per cent may be applied for anything above the NZ$700 duty-free goods limit.

New Zealanders are a very laid-back people and there is no real etiquette that needs to be observed when visiting Dunedin. Common sense, good manners and a casual dress sense will see that you have an incident-free visit. The locals enjoy tourists and are very easy to meet and get on with. Expect the curious locals to spark up conversation with you in public places.

Dining Etiquette
There is no special dining etiquette to be aware of in Dunedin and no-one is likely to question the way you eat. Cafés easily outweigh traditional restaurants in Dunedin owing to the large student population, and the café scene is largely laid-back, offering excellent dining and people-watching.

If you plan on going upmarket, there are several splurge restaurants in town and you will need to up your dress standard to fit in with the crowd. Dunedin Casino, in particular, has a dress code.

Tipping in New Zealand in general not necessary and the locals occasionally disapprove of it. This particularly goes for Dunedin with its Scottish roots and myriad students who tend to live hand-to-mouth.

Visas are not needed by most tourists to New Zealand for stays of less than three months including visitors from most of Europe and North America. Citizens of the UK can stay here for up to six months without a visa. Although the visa situation is relaxed and straightforward, you will need to ensure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond the length of your stay in New Zealand and that you have a return or onward ticket. Nationals of countries not mentioned should check visa requirements with their nearest New Zealand embassy.

The Dunedin Visitor Centre is open every day of the year and has comprehensive information on Dunedin, Otago peninsula and the southern region of the South Island. The visitor centre is located in the Octagon and is open from 08:30 to 17:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 17:00 at weekends. Website: www.dunedinnz.com; phone: +64 3 474 3300.