Orientation Week's Tent City has returned this year.
There is an array of fun games and offerings for newly arrived students, ranging from the opportunity to volunteer and join political parties to wares such as clothes and exotic food.
More than 60 stalls were out at the Otago Museum Reserve yesterday for the start of the three-day Tent City event - and throughout the day hundreds of students made their way to the reserve and were enjoying the sun.
The stalls showcase some of the activities and services available at university, and in the wider Dunedin community, as well as career options including the army.
New Zealand Blood Service Otago-Southland donor recruiter Lynn Rodeka was among stallholders, and said early yesterday afternoon about 30 or 40 people had expressed an interest in donating blood.
She was very happy with the support the service was already receiving from Dunedin students.
Every year more than 1000 students donated blood, and it was becoming more and more popular to make a donation.
"[The day] has been really successful, we've had a really positive response.''
Students could participate in blood drives, or donate plasma in the service rooms at 170 Crawford St.
Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group volunteer co-ordinator Kate Turner, who was at the event with Dunedin City Council, and Department of Conservation volunteer facilitator Catherine Hosted, said about 100 students had come through to get more information about volunteering.
Students were also challenged to create a biodegradable possum-monitoring tool, and had the chance to play a weed identification game, as well as a $50 prize for a "spot the trail crew'' game.
It was hard to say how many students volunteered for the organisations at any one time, but UniCrew volunteers were ``pretty proactive'' when it came to trying to enlist students.
Among other tents was a Dunedin City Council information booth on minimising waste, which proved popular among students, a University Book Shop Stall and an OUSA stall.
A "cash grab'' raffle is also running, featuring about $3700 worth of prizes in the form of cash and vouchers.
The Tent City will run again from 9am to 4pm today and tomorrow.
Today's events include a sports day at Opoho Park in the afternoon, and a Bass 101 and DJ Marky concert at 9pm in the University of Otago main union common room.
Orientation Week runs until February 24, and the first week of lectures will begin next Monday.