Wild Dunedin's second Festival of Nature has over 50 events, over a five day period from April 21-25.
The events on offer include the return of events that were popular last year, with some new ideas adding diversity to the 2017 programme.
Festival organisers are thrilled to be able to bring the Bugman, Ruud Kleinpaste, to Dunedin as the festival guest. Ruud will be presenting the festival's welcome on Friday April 21 at 6pm at the Otago Museum, with a free talk `Messages from Below - how biodiversity runs this planet'.
Ruud will be present at another event at the Otago Museum earlier in the afternoon from 3pm-4.30pm, especially designed for teachers. In his free talk 'Nature-time Teaching - Curious Minds Outside', Ruud will share with teachers his experiences with outside classrooms that not only assist learning science but every area of the school curriculum.
Watch out for Ruud at the Otago Farmers Market, Orokonui Ecosanctuary's `Nature Bomb' on Sunday, and at the screening of The World's Biggest and Baddest Bugs Sunday evening at 7.30pm at the University's College of Education auditorium. This film launched Ruud internationally as a television wildlife presenter.
The Festival welcomes four new contributors to the programme, with the important and historic institutions Dunedin Botanic Garden, Dunedin Art Gallery, Toitu - Early Settlers Museum, and the Dunedin Amenities Society.
The Dunedin Amenities Society takes care of Dunedin's much loved belt of green. They are organising the Town Belt Traverse on Sunday 23 - an 8km walk that is easily accessible and suits all ages. Added to this popular event, the Department of Conservation is providing a mini UrbanNature Expo at Woodhaugh Gardens. The expo on Sunday runs from 11am-3pm and is designed for families to enjoy displays, competitions, and activities from community groups working to enhance Wild Dunedin.
The Dunedin Wild Film Festival is a new addition to the 2017 festival programme. It's a taste of what could be a much larger event in the future, if the public support the films.
It brings an international flavour to the Wild Dunedin festival thanks to Dunedin documentary production company NHNZ's connection with one of the top Wildlife Film Festivals in the world. Jackson Hole WILD from Wyoming has made available an award winning film Jago: A Life Underwater.
This film festival has been a joint effort of Wild Dunedin, NHNZ, and University of Otago's Centre for Science Communication.
The Otago Museum is a great supporter of our festival. Their contribution to the Dunedin Wild Film Festival offers a special viewing experience of Humpback Whales on the full dome theatre at the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium. This film will screen daily at 11.30am until April 30. For foodies, the Otago Peninsula Trust is offering a five course wild food dinner by creative chef extraordinaire Hannes Bareiter, in the garden setting of Glenfalloch from 5pm-10pm on Saturday.
Each year the festival is anchored around International Earth Day on April 22, meaning the festival occurs over the school holidays. At least 30 of the 50 events on offer are children and family friendly. Go online to www.wilddunedin.nz to see all the events in one publication.
Festival highlights
Festival welcome and Ruud Kleinpaste:
Friday April 21, 6.30pm-7.30pm, Otago Museum.
"Messages from below - how biodiversity runs this planet.'' Bugman and environmental advocate Ruud Kleinpaste gives a free talk open to the public.
The Orokonui Challenge:
Saturday April 22, 7.30am (run) and 8.30am (walk), Orokonui Ecosanctuary.
Run 18.5km or walk 11km for takahe and kaka conservation.
Who eats who at the aquarium?
Saturday April 22, three sessions, NZ Marine Studies Centre, Portobello.
Find out how local sea creatures adapt to catch their food, avoid predators, and stay alive.
Kids' scavenger hunt:
Saturday April 22, 1.30pm-4pm, Dunedin Botanic Garden.
Fun scavenger hunt and pop-up Kiwi Guardian event exploring nature, led by enthusiastic university students.
Gardens-a-buzz:
Saturday April 22, 2pm-4.30pm, Larnach Castle.
Guided Larnach Castle garden tour by Fiona Eadie followed by afternoon tea.
Glenfalloch Wild Food Dinner:
Saturday April 22, 5pm-10pm, Glenfalloch Gardens.
Tantalise your taste buds with a ``trust the chef'' five-course wild food dinner.
Dunedin Wild Film Festival:
Saturday April 22, 7.30pm, College of Education Auditorium.
Jago: A Life Underwater, Wild Dunedin with Jackson Hole Wild is screening this mesmerising award-winning film.
Dunedin Wild Film Festival - Humpback Whales:
Daily, 11.30am, Perpetual Guardian Planetarium, Otago Museum.
A whale-sized adventure narrated by Ewan McGregor.
Town Belt Traverse:
Sunday April 23, check-in from 10am-11.30am, complete walk by 1.30pm, start at Southern Cemetery.
Family-friendly self-guided walk with interpretation of the Town Belt's rich history and importance to Dunedin.
Urban Nature mini expo at Woodhaugh Gardens:
Sunday April 23, 11am-3pm, Woodhaugh Gardens.
Department of Conservation and community groups family event to showcase Dunedin's urban biodiversity.
Otago Peninsula Wildlife Adventure:
Sunday April 23, 12.30pm-6.30pm.
Premium wildlife adventure with Elm Wildlife Tours and Monarch Wildlife Cruises. See albatross, New Zealand fur seals, sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins, and blue penguins.
Get Wild off the Rails at Sutton Salt Lake:
Tuesday April 25, 9.30am-6.30pm, Dunedin Railway Station.
The Taieri Gorge Train trip with Middlemarch Promotions guided walk around Sutton Salt Lake.
For more information on these events, see www.wilddunedin.nz
