Dressed to impress

Wild animals (from left) Rachel Cooper (penguin), Liese Schaeken (cockroach), Taylor Davies-Colley (penguin), Tahu Mackenzie (peripatus worm), Lindsay Wickman (octopus) and Harvey Penfold (tuatara) in the Octagon for yesterday's launch of the Wild Dunedin Festival of Nature.

A variety of activities has been planned to cater for all ages and levels of fitness - from flying a kite, walks and talks, a train trip, working on conservation projects, displays and exhibitions, and the inaugural Dunedin Wild Film Festival, to the first Orokonui Challenge where people can run or walk to feed the birds.

Festival deals will be offered by local nature tour and attraction groups to allow Dunedin residents to see the city's wildlife up close.

The festival will run from April 21 to 25, and it is hoped it will become a regular event on the Dunedin calendar.