Dunedin hosts one of the most awaited festivals of New Zealand every year in the month of July. The festival, known as the Dunedin Cadbury Chocolate Carnival, is a celebration of themed events wholly centred on chocolates.
What is it all about?
This annual carnival brings joy to the New Zealanders and visitors by offering a host of activities like Crunchie trains, guided chocolate tours, Cadbury couture fashion show and the most famous of all, the Jaffa race. Dunedin has been the home of Cadbury factory for a long time and the Cadbury World offers different activities to ensure that the visitors have a good time here. Different kinds of tours are also conducted during this carnival.
Crunchie Train
This treasure hunt aboard the Crunchie Train is full of fun-filled activities. The highlight of the adventure is to look out for the treasure hidden somewhere between Dunedin and Middlemarch. The challenge is to find the treasure trove and return it the rightful owner, i.e. the Cadbury Factory. This involves several encounters with suspicious characters who try to prevent one from fulfilling the mission.
Jaffa Race
This is the most popular event that marks the closure of the carnival and is attended by a huge crowd. Thousands of Kiwi Jaffas (balls) roll down the steep street of Baldwin. Each of these particular balls is given a unique identification number. The first five Jaffas to reach the lowest point are declared winners. The entire episode is full of fun and exciting music is played. Each Jaffa is sold for a dollar at the start of the race and the proceeds go to various charities.
Other attractions
Beautiful cafes, restaurants, galleries and theatres add to the charm of the city. Dunedin also has spectacular wildlife and a visit to the Otago peninsula and Orokuni Eco sanctuary will surely be an overwhelming experience. Apart from that, a guided trip through the city of Dunedin will let you experience the very best of Scottish architecture and rich heritage. After the carnival, you can also set out on a mountain biking tour and explore the rides along the Otago Central Rail or head to the sea and go surfing to the North Coast.
