A sellout at Forsyth Barr Stadium and two graduation ceremonies had central Dunedin accommodation "absolutely chocker'' last night and some diners had booked a restaurant table several months earlier to ensure a meal in the city tonight.
Nearly 700 University of Otago students will graduate in person at two ceremonies at the Dunedin Town Hall this afternoon.
Last night, the stadium had its first sellout for a Highlanders game.
Otago Motel Association president Gavin Turner said accommodation in central Dunedin was "absolutely chocker''.
Dunedin i-Site visitor centre spokeswoman Reana Te Hei said i-Site staff were busy yesterday trying to find people accommodation in Dunedin.
Central Dunedin accommodation was a "full house'' last night and beds were scarce in the city tonight, she said.
Options were available on Otago Peninsula and Mosgiel yesterday afternoon but they were filling fast, she said.
The people booking beds were also visiting tourist attractions.
"I just had a couple in and the gentleman was going to go to the Speight's Brewery while his wife went to the Cadbury Factory.''
Gaslight Restaurant & Wine Bar duty manager Angelique Burgess said graduation days in Dunedin were the biggest night of the year for the restaurant.
By August, the 130-seat French and Italian restaurant in St Andrew St was booked solid for dining tonight.
"We've had to turn away a huge number of people.''
She had directed disappointed diners to the 70-seat restaurant Scotia but it had been booked solid for tonight about a month ago.
Gaslight was already booked solid for a graduation night in December.
"It's crazy,'' Miss Burgess said.
Otago Chamber of Commerce board chairwoman Ali Copeman said the the stadium having its first sellout for a Highlanders match was "fantastic''.
"The city is under huge accommodation stress with graduation as well, which shows there are peak times in the city we need more accommodation.''
However, it was great the motel Aurora on George opened at the end of March, so more beds were available in the city.
