University Of Otago New Zealand
Transportation
Banking Services
Post Office
Medical Services
Telecom
Survival Guide
Transportation

Transportation:

1. Trains

New Zealand used to have a superb rail network but has been on a decline recently. Of the routes that remain open, several are outstanding journeys and well worth the effort!


2. Ferry:

Most tourists travelling around New Zealand include a trip across Cook Strait on a ferry. It's a very scenic trip which takes about three hours. The service runs between New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, and the gateway to the South Island, Piction.


3. Buses:

Buses may be the easiest way to get around the country because it is of less hassle and well-integrated into the country's tourism network. Even regular trips between towns and cities can be very scenic for foreigners.

Dunedin’s bus services are contracted out to private companies and are far from world-class. While services vary greatly depending on the route, they’re functional and run on time! Best part being all of the buses come in from the outer suburbs and finish either near George Street (the main shopping area) or the campus. Typically, a single bus is sufficient to get where you need to go.

Fares vary between zones but most of the cities can be reached within the first three zones.

  • Zone 1: The area that includes the university and shopping area (between The Octagon and The Gardens shopping area) where you can get on and off buses for NZ$2.20.
  • Zone 2: Bus fares goes up to NZ$3.00.
  • Zone 3: Adding in Zone 3 takes it to NZ$3.40.

If you find yourself using buses regularly you can buy a GO card which you can pre-load with credit. Combined with your Student ID card, you'll also be eligible for a 25% discount on your fare. More information on buses can be found here:


4. Shuttles:

Shuttles are popular alternatives to buses. They are generally cheaper but offer little leg room with its mini buses. If you are interested in booking a trip on a bus, start by phoning or visiting the local visitors' centre. Every city and major town has one and can help you find the best operator. Because shuttle businesses are less well-established as the big bus companies, they tend to come and go depending on demand. The staff at the visitors' centre will always be able to tell you if there is a shuttle service available.

We recommend InterCity and Atomic Shuttles for travel around the South Island. The earlier you book your trip, the cheaper the tickets.


5. Rental Cars & Campervans:

Car rental and campervans are one of the popular choices as they give you the freedom to travel at your own pace. Some of the popular companies are listed below:

Flying Chalks’ tip:

Nothing upsets local drivers more than tourists slowing traffic down and creating a long bottleneck behind them. If you notice you are holding up traffic behind you, pull over periodically and let everyone behind you pass. In addition, Tourists often find themselves caught in the frequent, dangerous curves. The speed limit is 100km per hour on the open road.

 Do visit these links to familiarize yourself with traffic rules in New Zealand:


6. Taxis:

Taxis are another option but they tend to be more expensive than other countries. You might find them suitable for small trips or on rainy days.

New Zealand is different from other countries in that you cannot hail a cab from the side of the road; you’ll need to get one from a taxi stand or phone to book one to pick you up. While New Zealand taxis are safe to use, it is advised that you check the driver matches the ID displayed on the dashboard of the car.

The main taxi services in Dunedin are:

Banking Services

Banking Services:

New Zealand has embraced the ease of electronic banking. All major banks have smartphone apps for internet banking and nearly everyone prefers to pay that way.

 In fact, because every store supports EFTPOS, it is increasingly uncommon to carry more than $10 or $20 in cash with you. EFTPOS stands for Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale.

Opening a bank account:

The easiest way of opening a bank account is to open one before you arrive.

As part of the online registration process, the bank will guide you through which information and supporting documents you need to provide. Once you arrive, you’ll need to activate your account it by visiting a Dunedin branch and presenting your passport and a proof of your residential address.

All of the major banks welcome international students so registration is simple and easy. They’ll set you up with a tertiary banking package which is usually exempt from bank fees. Later, you can apply for additional services like overdrafts, loans, and so on.
 

Major Banks in New Zealand:

Flying Chalks’ recommendation:

KiwiBank is recommended for its friendly service and tends to be amongst the cheapest. They also have a really good banking application that allows you to seek assistance from a banking representative. In addition, it is also highly convenient in that all NZ Post shops offer KiwiBank services!
 

Getting Cash:

There are 3 ways you can obtain cash in New Zealand.

1. It is common in New Zealand to have people ask for cash when purchasing for something with EFTPOS. Supermarkets normally allow you to get $200 or more but smaller shops limit the amount to $20 to $50. All you need to do is ask “Am I allowed to get cash out with a purchase?”

2. Using an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine). Most banks have ATMs located around the student union and main library area of campus. While you can withdraw cash from another bank’s ATM, note that it will incur a transaction fee.

3. Visit a bank branch near campus. Most banks have branches either directly adjacent to the university campus or within 10 minutes’ walk from the university library (usually on George Street).

Post Office

Post Office Services:

New Zealand’s postal service, NZ Post, is fully integrated with foreign postal services. As the usage of traditional mail in New Zealand has declined significantly, regular postal deliveries have been reduced to just three times per week.

There is a post shop located on campus, beside the University Book Shop which is only a three minutes’ walk from the university’s main library. Here, you can also pay your utility bills.

To find out more about international postage, click here. 

Medical Services

Medical services:

Pharmacies:

In New Zealand, you can call a pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for advice and possibly over-the-counter medicine (medicine which don't require a doctor's prescription).

Below are the four recommended pharmacies located within a few minutes’ walk from campus:

  • Antidote North (across the North Ground park, near St David Lecture Theatre)
    ☎ +64 (03) 477 6556
  • Antidote Meridian (Meridian Mall,  295 George Street)
    ☎ +64 (03) 477 9953
  • Albany Street Pharmacy
    (27 Albany Street, between the Museum Reserve park and George Street)
    ☎ +64 (03) 477 5115
  • Unichem Pharmacy (opposite Knox Church, 402 George Street)(Recommended!)
    ☎ +64 (03) 477 0635
  • Unichem Pharmacy (Gardens, 1 North Road, North East Valley)(Recommended!)
    ☎ +64 (03) 473 8248
  • Unichem Pharmacy (Centre City Mall, 133 Great King Street)
    ☎ +64 (03) 477 8118
  • Life Pharmacy (Wall Street Mall, 211 George Street)
    ☎ +64 (03) 477 5433


Doctors (GPs):

If your illness is a little more serious, you can visit a doctor. As most medical practices are extremely busy, you might want to phone first thing in the morning when they open. Within the campus area, there is the Student Health Services that you can visit!

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm​
​☎ 0800 479 821 (free call, even from mobile phones)

One of the most popular private practices in the city is The Mornington Health Centre. It's not within walking distance but you can book a ride on their free coach service.

  • Mornington Health Centre (169 Eglinton Road)
    Cost: usually about NZ$70
    Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 8.00pm
    ☎ +64 (03) 466 5011


After-Hours Care (after 5PM or when everything is closed):

Your best option is the Dunedin Urgent Doctors & Accident Centre. As their service is understandably expensive, you should only use it if it’s a real emergency.

  • Dunedin Urgent Doctors & Accident Centre (95 Hanover Street, near campus)
    Cost: NZ$150 for International Visitors
    Hours: Every day, morning through to after hours
    ☎ +64 (03) 479 2900
  • Urgent Pharmacy (95 Hanover Street, near campus)
    Hours: Every day, 10am to 10pm
    ☎ +64 (03) 477 6344


Life-threatening Emergencies:

For life-threatening emergencies, call 111 to request for an ambulance. Dunedin Public Hospital's Emergency Department is seriously underfunded and understaffed. If your problem isn't genuinely serious, you are advised to go to Dunedin Urgent Doctors & Accident Centre instead.

Telecommunications

Telecommunications:

Because New Zealand has quite an open cellular network with healthy competition, you’ll probably find your current mobile phone is already compatible with our networks. You can find the technical specifications each of the mobile networks below by following the link to their homepage and then searching their support documentation.

Getting a SIM card is as easy as visiting a store and purchasing one. They range in price from NZ$5 to NZ$20 with pre-pay credit included. With prepay there are no contracts and you are free to change provider at any time! It is also free to export your existing mobile phone number to your new network.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation:

If you are unsure which mobile service to start with, we recommend Skinny. They have a great phone app and their customer support is very good. Their Big Value Prepay Combo costs NZ$16 per month and offers 100 Rollover Minutes (NZ & Australia), Unlimited Texts (NZ & Australia), 500MB Rollover Data, and Unlimited Skinny-to-Skinny Minutes.

Skinny piggybacks on top of Spark’s network, the largest telecommunications network in New Zealand. The Spark network has the best mobile coverage in New Zealand, and includes 4G for faster connections.

Other telecom companies you can consider:


For students pursuing full-time degrees in New Zealand:

You may want to consider signing a 12 month contract which bundles phone services, home internet, and a free modem-router. Should you do that, it is advised to opt in for the Wiring Maintenance so that you will not be billed for cable repair. Most Dunedin addresses now have access to fibre as well as the older, more common ADSL broadband.

Many of the companies that provide home phone lines and internet also offer mobile services. Unless you have a compelling reason to do so, we recommend that you keep your mobile services separate. You can read more about this in the next section.

For a home phone line and internet bundle you can expect to pay between NZ$90 and NZ$100 per month. If you don’t need the home phone line you can choose “naked” broadband instead. Depending on which bandwidth options you choose, you can expect to pay between NZ$60 and NZ$80 per month for this option.

  • Spark (Mobile, Phone, and Internet) (Recommended!)
  • Slingshot (Mobile, Phone, and Internet) (Recommended!)
  • Trustpower (Electricity and Internet) Vodafone  (Mobile, Phone, and Internet)
  • Voyager (Phone, and Internet)
Survival Guide

Weather:

Dunedin has a temperate, constant and predictable climate that doesn’t experience great temperature extremes.

Summer
Temperature averages between 15 and 20 degrees, with an occasional high 20s or even over 30 degrees. On really hot days, people flock to the beach to enjoy the sun. However, the sea may be too cold for swimming.

Winter
Average temperature ranges between 5 and 10 degrees, with overnight lows sometimes approaching 0 to 2 degrees. Frosts are not uncommon but some places in the city don’t get any at all. Do be careful of “black ice” on the asphalt footpaths when walking, especially early in the morning.

Expect two or three light snow falls over the winter and early spring period. Every few years, a good dump of snow will cause closure of schools, universities and businesses during the morning. However, by midday, main roads would have been cleared and life returns to normal.

Rainfall is fairly regular but it is often more like drizzle or mist than rain. Even when it does rain heavily, it still isn’t a torrent like you get in other places around the world.

To find out more on Dunedin’s current weather, you can visit MetService.

 

Getting Help:

As long as you are somewhat fluent in English, you shouldn't encounter any problems asking for help. Just speak slowly and clearly. Do keep in mind that language manners like, saying please and thank you are an important part of New Zealand culture even if it seems trivial.

If you encounter problems in campus, just look for the reception desk in any building. The international office staff will have more experience at solving problems international students typically encounter but all university staff will be help you or point you in the direction of some more appropriate.

Dunedin is generally much safer than other cities so it is okay to be out walking at night. Play it safe, though, and walk in company as well as keep to well-used areas with good lighting. There are Campus Watch security officers constantly patrolling the campus so if you need help or advice just ask. You'll also notice emergency phones located throughout the campus.

New Zealand Police officers are professional and approachable. They are not corrupt and you do not need to give them money as you do in some countries. Just tell them what you need help with and they will do their best to support you.

IMPORTANT  NUMBERS

ALL EMERGENCIES
(Police, Fire Services, and Ambulance)

Call or Text 111
(even from mobile phones without credit)

Dunedin Police (when not an emergency)

(03) 471 4800

Dunedin Public Hospital

Reception: (03) 474 0999

Mental Health Emergencies                  
(ask for Emergency Psychiatric Services)

(03) 474 0999

Dunedin Urgent Doctors and Accident Centre     For After Hours care         

(03) 479 2900

i-SITE Dunedin Visitors Centre

(03) 474 3300

University Disability Information and Support

(03) 479 8235

Otago University Students Association Support Centre

(03) 479 5449
help@ousa.org.nz

Information Technology Services 

(03) 479 8888

Student Health Services                       
Doctors, Nurses, and Counselling Services      

(03) 479 8212
(note that international students will be
charged and will need to claim it back
from their insurance plan).