I knew close to nil about this city, let alone having stepped foot here, and yet, in typical Caitlin-fashion I decided to move to Edinburgh of the South.

It’s been one year since I relocated to this city on quite the whim, and after a hard start I have begun to call Dunedin home.  I wanted to share with you all why I love this city, so here’s 10 quirky facts about this special southern city:

1 – ‘Dunedin’ is the Celtic word for Edinburgh, and was initially designed as a city to totally mimic the grand city of the Motherland.
2 – Because the original city designers simply placed a map of Edinburgh over the area which would become Dunedin, we boast the steepest street in the world with a 19° slope.
3 – Upon which, annually, during the Cadbury Chocolate Festival the Jaffa Race is run.  The Jaffa Race involves rolling thousands of candy-coated chocolate balls down the street to raise money for local charities.

Larnach Castle

4 – Larnach Castle, found on the outskirts of the city is the only Castle in New Zealand.
5 – Despite this, the Dunedin Railway Station is actually the most photographed building in New Zealand.
6- The local university, University of Otago, is the oldest university in the country and was also the first university to admit female students into all classes.
7 – Geographically, Dunedin is considered the fifth largest city, despite having a population of just 120,000.
8 – Approximately 21,000 members of the community are students, thus Dunedin has the youngest population of all New Zealand cities.

Royal Albatross

9 – Dunedin claims the only mainland breeding colony of the Northern Royal Albatross.
10 – Dunedin is considered the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand, with the World’s rarest penguin and sea lion, as well as a multitude of other spectacular native flora and fauna viewable just a stone’s throw from the CBD.

There’s something unique about the make-up of this city, from its lively student vibe, historical architecture, brilliant street art adorning the walls of the warehouse district, the endless sea of old houses covering the hills, wilderness just minutes from town, stunning beaches and rugged cliffs, wildlife galore, and of course, the feeling of pride this city emanates.

I could go on and on about Dunedin, but instead I encourage you to come experience this hidden gem for yourself.  Over the next week, I will be showcasing some of my favourite pics of Dunedin on The Travelling Cheetah Instagram, so be sure to check it out!