An influx of cruise ship passengers and University of Otago graduates, on top of the usual Christmas shopping crowd, caused the streets of central Dunedin to be busier than usual yesterday.
Discovery Princess (up to 3660 passengers) arrived about 10am to join Viking Orion (up to 930 passengers) in port, and a university graduation parade also set off down George St about 11am.
The Craic Irish Tavern and Thistle Cafe and Bar co-owner Claire Grenfell said it was "incredibly busy" yesterday.
She estimated they were about three times as busy than a normal day, without cruise ships or graduations, which were significant contributors.
"We get quieter during winter time, which is just the way it goes once tourism drops off during the winter months.
"Days like [yesterday] put money in the bank to carry us through those quieter months."
And the big sellers?
"Guinness, seafood chowder, fish and chips and green-lip mussels seem to be flying out the door."
It also helped when cruise ship passengers were dropped off in the Octagon, as opposed to outside Toitū Otago Settlers Museum.
Two graduation ceremonies, at 1pm and 4pm, were also held at the Dunedin Town Hall.
The Swan and Commons Eatery owner Dane Wall said business was great at both locations yesterday.
It felt similar to when the latter first opened.
He estimated the restaurant was 40% busier "than a usual Wednesday", with a mix of graduates, tourists, office workers and regulars.
The Octagon had "a really good vibe about it", he said.
"I love it when there’s cruise ships parked up, there’s other tourists in and then people are having their lunch on the stairs by the statue.
"It’s cool, man. I wish Dunedin was like that more often."
The busyness is not set to let up tomorrow, with Noordam (1996 passengers) and Scenic Eclipse II (228 passengers) scheduled to spend the day in Dunedin.
Saturday will bring another University of Otago graduation parade and two more graduation ceremonies.
