Mālō e lelei everyone and happy Sem Two! I don’t know about you, but Semester Two has always been my busiest semester. Sometimes it ends up feeling like I'm trapped in Studentville since the only places I end up are uni and my flat. So here’s a list of a few places (in no particular order) that I like to go with my flatties or by myself to reset or to have a bit of fun. If any of these are your own hidden gems and it gets a little busy the next time you go… sorry, not sorry.
The first place I love to go to is Macandrew Bay Beach. For me, the drive to Macandrew Bay is one of the best ever! The view of the peninsula on a sunny or rainy day is so nice and you cruise the whole way. On your way, don’t be shy and stop over at the Glenfalloch Gardens for a coffee and a cute wee walk in the gardens. It’s especially nice at night – you can see the lights of Dunedin and it’s such a nice place to stargaze for hours on end!
Another place I absolutely love (and am kinda hesitant to share) is Rotary Park. Rotary is up on Shiel Hill and you can see the entire city. On a sunny day, take your friends to Rotary and have a picnic up on the field and enjoy a great one of the best places to see the sunset. If you’re lucky, you might see a few dogs running around too!
If you want to go to the beach but are scared you might see someone you want to avoid (awks), Smaills Beach is so cute and secluded from other beaches. You do need to walk for like five minutes from the car park, but I'm telling you: this place is so worth it! But be careful – one time, me and my flatties went and we had a picnic on the sand dune and a sea lion literally popped up from the bushes and chased us down the sand dune. They look cute, but they’re not afraid to let you know when you’ve popped their personal bubble.
The last place that I recommend is Okia Reserve and Victory Beach. This place honestly boggles my brain because Okia Reserve is also known as The Pyramids of Dunedin. It’s a lengthy walk, but when you get there you can see two pyramids with bushes and trees on top of it. If you search it up on TikTok, you can find some people who have climbed on top of the pyramids and have taken amazing videos and photos! If you keep walking though, you will make it to a really nice beach which is usually empty. Best place for you and your friends to hangout and play some beach volleyball.
There you go, there’s just some of the many places I like to be in Dunners. I’m sure heaps of you have already discovered these gems, but for you first-year and second-years especially, I’m sure you’re sick of heading to the classic areas like Signal Hill and the Marina. While you’re there, remember to always take your rubbish with you and treat these areas with respect! There are a lot of wildlife, homes, and for some areas a lot of history. The last thing we want is to make these places look ugly!
Lastly, if you see me, don’t be shy! Come and say hi. Until then stay warm, stay safe, and good luck with Semester 2. The year is almost over so gotta make the most of it!!
Mālō ‘aupito,
Telekalafi (UOPISA President)