Dozens of Dunedin tourism attractions, shops, cafes and restaurants will open their doors to the almost 5000 cruise-ship passengers and crew expected in the city on Christmas Day.
The scheduled arrival of Volendam and Sea Princess has resulted in Dunedin City Council and the city's visitor centre compiling a list of open businesses and church services.
DCC economic development, business development adviser Sophie Barker said it was the second time a Christmas list had been compiled. The arrival of Volendam last year was the first.
"It was a test run but ... the Volendam turned up late."
Ms Barker said it was important to look after the thousands of visitors. Many would be looking for places to visit, shop, eat and drink.
The list, compiled with the help of the Otago Chamber of Commerce, has been delivered to both cruise ships. People involved in traffic management will also be working, with buses scheduled to take people from Port Chalmers to the city.
Larnach Castle sales and marketing manager Deborah Price said last year was the first time the attraction had been fully open to visitors on Christmas Day. Previously, only the gardens had been open and house guests catered for. In addition to hundreds of advance bookings from cruise-ship passengers, coach passengers were also expected: "We will be very, very busy".
Large cruise ships were also expected in Dunedin in the three days before Christmas, normally a quiet time for tourist attractions, she said.
"The week before Christmas will be really busy."
Volendam, with its 1432 passengers and 580 crew, and Sea Princess, with 1950 passengers and 950 crew, are scheduled to berth at Port Chalmers on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day Attractions, Food, Facilities and Church Services
Dunedin i-SITE Visitor Centre. Open 8.30am - 4pm for all bookings
and information. Port Container 7.30am - 5pm
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/isite Ph 474 3300
Experiences
• Penguin Place 3.15pm every half hour until 6.15pm www.penguinplace.co.nz Ph 478 0286
• Citibus Tours Heritage Highlights 1hr: 10.15am, 1pm (no Olveston). Deluxe City Highlights 90 mins: 9.45am, 11.30am, 1.45pm. Larnach Castle 2.5hr Tour 10.15am . Depart i-site. http://www.citibus.co.nz/heritage.asp ph 477 5577
• Larnach Castle 9-5pm. Ground 8.30am-7pm. Café open all day www.larnachcastle.co.nz Ph 476 1616
• Taieri Gorge Railway 9.30am Departure from Port Chalmers www.taieri.co.nz 477 4449
• Botanic Gardens Open Normal Hours. Toilets 9am - 4pm lower garden. Dawn till dusk upper garden. http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/botanic-garden
• Olveston 9.30am and 10.45 Tours www.olveston.co.nz Must book.
• Otago Explorer Castle & Sights: Port 9am, City 10am, 11, 12.
http://travelheadfirst.com/otago-explorer/index.html Ph 477 9083
• Chinese Gardens 10am-1pm. www.dunedinchinesegarden.com
• Cadbury World Open - with reduced tours. Bookings essential
• Good Company 9.45am and 12.15 Tours http://www.goodcompanytours.co.nz/
• Otago Heritage Bus St Clair - Octagon - Normanby. Through the Octagon every half hour froom 9.00am- 7.45pm. www.otagoheritagebus.co.nz Gold coin donation. 4545568
• Lookabout Tours Normal Tours. Book through i-Site.
• Elm Wildlife Morning tour from Port only. www.elmwildlifetours.co.nz
• Chisholm Park Golf Course. Bookings essential http://www.chisholmlinks.co.nz/
• Eden Cafe/ Boat Hire Wellers Rock, Harington Pt Road. http://seakayaking.weebly.com/ 478 0280
• Mainland Air www.mainlandair.com
Shopping
• Baldwin Street Tourist Shop: 9am - 4pm Souvenirs and Coffee available. Ph 473 0923 (TBC)
• I Love Merino Shop: 9.30am to 5.00pm. 3 The Octagon.
• Larnach Castle Gift Shop: 9am-5pm www.larnachcastle.co.nz
• Night and Day dairy, Octagon: All the time. 18 Princes St.
• New Zealand Shop: 9.30am - 4.30pm. 2 Civic Centre Mall, The Octagon
• Little Rock shop: 9.30am - 4pm. 23 The Octagon www.littlerockshop.com
• Global Culture: 9.30am - 3.30pm. 78 George St.
• Chinese Garden Gift Shop: 10am-1pm. www.dunedinchinesegarden.com
• Merino Story: 10am- 4pm, 117 George St.
Food
• Octagon Night n Day 24 hours. 18 Princes St.
• Chinese Garden Tea House. 10am - 1pm www.dunedinchinesegarden.com
• The Huntsman 10.30am - 9pm http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/huntsman-steakhouse
• Carlton Restaurant ()Southern Cross Hotel. 3 sittings at 12.30, 4pm and 7pm. $109 Ad, $54 Child (under 12).
http://www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz/Hotel-By-Name/Scenic-Hotel-Southern-Cr...
• Mercure Hotel. Princes St: Lunch and Dinner $55pp http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-5699-mercuredunedin/index.shtml
• Mercure Leisure Lodge: 12-2pm reservations only. http://www.mercureleisurelodge.co.nz/
• Kingsgate Hotel, Dinner only http://www.millenniumhotels.co.nz/kingsgatedunedin/index.html
• Victoria Hotel http://www.victoriahoteldunedin.com 137 St Andrew Street, City Centre,
• Larnach Castle Café 9.00-4.30 www.larnachcastle.co.nz
• Fitzroy Pub 2 sitting Xmas meal 11.30am and 2.30pm 027 282 4839 $75pp http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/fitzroy-pub-on-park
• Circadian Rhythm 11am - 9pm Christmas Buffet, lunch and dinner, 72 St Andrews Steet - Vegan
• Saint Omer Café 9am - 4pm, 23 The Octagon
• Toilets: Municipal Chambers Toilets 9am -4pm
Botanic Gardens 9am-4pm
• Internet: Free wifi in Octagon
• Pharmacy: Dunedin City Pharmacy on Princes St next to i-site 10am -3pm
Amcal Pharmacy 9.30am - 4.30pm
Church Services Dunedin City and Port Chalmers
• St Pauls Cathedral Octagon (Anglican) 8am - 4pm Eucharist, 10.00am Coral Eucharist.
• First Church Moray Place - 10am service
• Knox Church George St - 10am service
• Baptist North East Valley 10.30am service
• Holy Trinity Port Chalmers Anglican Church - (Cnr Grey and Scotia Street) 10am combined service
• St Mary Star of Sea 38 Magnetic St, Catholic. 8.30am
