Dunedin is New Zealand’s southernmost city and is known for its Scottish heritage, interesting architecture, having the oldest university in New Zealand, abundant pubs and cafes and a proximity to the Otago Peninsula (great for wildlife). This fascinating city can also lay claim to having the steepest street in the world!
Baldwin Street is the name and steep it most certainly is at 1:2.86. I’m guessing the local kids don’t play too many ball games. Either that or possibly their catching skills are second to none!
The annual Baldwin Street Gutbuster is part of our Dunedin Summer Festival programme and challenges particpants to test their fitness levels by running from bottom to top and back again. Seriously… only in New Zealand!!
This particular street proved of great interest to my Dad when he travelled to NZ a few years ago. Why? Because he’s a cyclist and was keen to test the theory that it’s too steep to cycle up. I'm still waiting for the outcome though, since never one to take the simple option, he hired a penny farthing for some cycling fun instead of the more conventional mountain bike. Funnily enough the owners were a little reluctant that their museum piece be used in such a way. There’s Kiwi blood pumping through his veins I’ve no doubt…
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