Like anything in life, university has ups and downs: one minute you’re basking in the sun on clocktower lawn; the next, you’ve been woken up at 3am by somebody throwing up on your car outside. When I think back on my undergrad years, it was good fun, but I did make some ill-informed decisions. Here, I’ve decided to share the things I wish I’d known. From improving your wellbeing to finding a solid flat, read on to learn about my advice for your first year at Otago University.

Contents

1. Moving to Dunedin: what to expect
2. Choosing your hall or flat
3. Textbook Tips
4. Save on stationary & other items
5. Get your bond back
6. Unipol gear hire
7. Moving flats
8. Discounts
9. Making friends
10. University Resources
11. Dunedin Wellness Tips
12. Conclusion

1. Dunedin Student life: what to expect

I can still remember the afternoon my flight, packed with Otago freshers, lighted down at Dunedin airport. A patchwork of pasture and barren hills filled the window view on my side, veiled in fog. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, and I was almost expecting to see somebody run out and shoo sheep off the runway. Outside, a cold wind whistled across the quiet parking lot as I waited for the shuttle. To be fair, Dunedin airport is a 50-minute drive from the city, accounting for its isolation. But I began to think about the friends and family I’d left behind.

Everything was so quiet. An unsettling thought crept over me. What have I done?

I sighed with relief after my shuttle reached the city where I spied busy cafes, shops, and beautiful Victorian buildings. Over time, I’ve distilled my thoughts on Dunedin into a few takeaways:

• Dunedin is very liveable as a student. Traffic is minimal, you’ll be able to walk most places, and the bus system is decent
• There is no airport bus: shuttle is the most common option
• It’s a great place for outdoorsy people who enjoy activities like walks, cycling, and hikes
• Whether you’re into beaches or mountains, Dunedin is near both. But, both are freezing
• Dunedin is the kind of place where you’ll bump into friends on the footpath, see your lecturers in the supermarket, and if you have a bad date and hope not to see that person ever again… good luck
• There’s a high student population – if you’re over 30 years old, you might find it harder to find folks your age
• A hot Dunedin summers day is hard to beat
• It’s relatively safe (common sense rules apply)
• Not as expenny as Auckland or Queenstown, but it’s not Invercargill either

But, at the same time, there are some problems students fall into in their first year at Otago University, or even in their second and third years. These issues often involve accommodation choices.

2. Choosing your University Hall or Flat

University Colleges

I was at Carrington College in first year – loved it. Wherever you end up, you’re pretty safe in a hall (just wave goodbye to a few digits in your bank account). It’s a good idea to do your research to figure out which hall suits your needs best. Make the most of all the opportunities, activities, and food they provide.

Timing & flat hunting

It’s widely known that students quickly snap up the best Dunedin flats, often several months in advance. But you can get lucky; I’ve managed to score a great room in Dunedin at the last minute in late January, for that year.

Some sites I’ve found helpful to search for accommodation include Marketplace, Roomies.co.nz, TradeMe, and directly on real-estate sites. Heads up: when you apply for a property, you’ll probably be asked for 1-3 character references.

Steer Clear of Mould

Mould is the worst – and linked with so many health problems. You hear so many jokes about students who discover a new species of fungi growing on the ceiling … and Dunedin certainly has some mould horror stories like this one. The damp climate here doesn’t help, and let’s just say that some of the houses are not exactly watertight.

When you view a flat, pay attention to the smell. Is the air cold, rank, or salty smelling? Check the ceiling and underside of curtains for tell-tale mould speckles. A tiny amount of mould seems to be common in bathrooms, but if you see it in another area of the house that’s a massive red flag.

Aim for:

• A bedroom that gets the light & sunshine (north facing is ideal)
• Rooms that are not underground or in the basement
• Warm, well-maintained houses with decent heating

If you want an ensuite bathroom, make sure there is good ventilation to avoid moisture spreading into your bedroom.

3. The textbook question: worth it?

Textbooks are necessary now and then, especially if you study an arts major and rely on them for source material. But for many other subjects, buying them brand new is a thing of the past. I remember spending $200+ on a new edition ecology textbook in first year. Never again LOL. I think I used it twice.

After that, I bought a brick-heavy textbook for CELS191 second-hand. It was nice to read from the comfort of home, and that textbook was so widely used, I think I paid around $40 and resold it for the same amount. But after that, I hardly needed textbooks at all. Besides, if you can’t find a textbook second-hand, you can often find them as an eBook online or as a physical copy in the library.

4. Save on stationary & furniture

When you arrive in Dunedin, chances are you’re hauling a suitcase (or two) packed with as much as you can, and think, I can just buy anything else there. And yep, sure you can. But, when it comes to stationary, household items, and even room décor, don’t rush to the nearest shopping mall…

Go op-shopping! Things like notepads are cheap enough to buy new, but you can score heaps of higher-value items, like folders, desk lamps, binders, chairs, and even textbooks, from local op-shops. For specific items, TradeMe and Facebook Marketplace are also great.

Dunedin Op Shops

For clothes and knick-knacks, browse the many op-shops of North East Valley, and Salvation Army store on Princes Street. Also check out Te Oraka open during semester, one of the newer student-led op-shops close to campus. The Salvation Army store in Mosgiel generally has the best range of furniture. Catch the bus there, and if you see an item, you like, the Salvos can arrange delivery to your flat for an additional fee. Sweet!

5. Get your bond back: Dunedin flatting advice

Imagine it’s the day you move into your new room. Yay! You’re eager to unpack and decorate your space. But before you start shifting any boxes, make sure you take pictures of the room and close-ups of defects like curtain rips, carpet stains, and scratches on walls. It’s good to do this for peace of mind. But if there’s a dispute about property damage at the end of the lease, you’ll need this evidence.

Developing a solid relationship with your landlord or property manager helps. Also, be aware of the differences between the pros and cons of boarding houses vs. flats and their respective tenancy agreements.

6. Unipol Gear Hire

Your first year at Otago is the time to explore the awesome range of services offered by OUSA. It’s the place to join clubs, learn new skills, enjoy a sauna sesh, buy tickets to orientation events, and much more.

But do you know what’s going on at Unipol? In addition to free gym access, Unipol hires out a range of gear at affordable rates. During the summer, hire a surfboard and go to St. Clair to catch some waves or even join a surf class. Alternatively, if you have a hike planned, you can borrow camping equipment and personal locator beacons. There are also skiis/snowboards for hire during the winter. Hiring gear saves space and is one less thing to worry about when you shift places.

7. Moving Flats

Speaking of shifting spaces… the end-of-year period can be stressful. Not only do you have exams, but perhaps you’re hunting for a summer job, arranging flights back home, and you’re left with the mammoth task of packing up in your room. Most leases in Dunedin run from Jan-Dec, so if you don’t want to be vacuuming your flat on New Years Eve, prep beforehand.

Send your things back home
Recently, OUSA have started an awesome initiative where you can courier boxes up to 20kg to the North and South Islands, at super affordable rates. I’ve used it before and it was great – the Mail Service runs at the end of year. Visit the Clubs and Socs building to get your boxes and for more info.

Transporting large furniture

Ask friends to help. Or local delivery companies can pack and transport your belongings (tip: book the dates well ahead). You might also be able to hire somebody to assist you through Skillzea. Alternatively, to save on cash it might be worth hiring a small truck/trailer/van.

Help! My furniture won’t sell
Have a friendly landlord or property manager? A few years ago, I was shifting out of an unfurnished room in a boarding house. I’d bought a desk which was too heavy for me, and I struggled finding a buyer last-minute. Luckily, my property manager was lovely. I asked her if she would buy it for the flat – she agreed. I think I got ~$45 for it. Plus, hopefully it saved the next resident a headache as desk-hunting was surprisingly hard. Win-win!

Donating to charity
Have something you want to donate? The Salvos pick up good-quality furniture for free. Otherwise, list it for $0 on Facebook marketplace with pickup only – I’ve done this for a couch, and it was gone the next day. If you have old or damaged furniture, keep an eye out for the student rubbish skips that appear around Castle Street at certain times of the year.

7. Sweet student deals

With your student ID, you can access a huge range of concession tickets for various activities: wildlife tours, movies, AA membership, and more. Your RadioOne card also gives you discounts to a range of local businesses. For every-day purchases, don’t forget supermarket cards: the New World Clubcard and Everyday Rewards.

Travelling? Whether you have your own transport or not, there are lots of ways students can benefit. For more handy tips, check out my comprehensive guide at Otago Student Travel Hacks You Should Know.

8. Where can i make friends in Dunedin?

Making friends is easier if you’re staying in a university college. But if you’re out on a limb flatting, it can be more challenging to find your friend group. A good start is to get to know your flatmates better. Invite them out to local gigs and events. Otherwise, here are some helpful options:

• Join a club: OUSA has a range of university-affiliated clubs, some are more active than others. Check out the Social media pages to get an idea of the activities they host. Or join one of the group classes as part of the OUSA Recreation Programme.
• Open mic nights: you don’t need to be a musician to enjoy open mic and meet locals. Come to the cosy Inch Bar for open mic night after 7pm every Tuesday. Other open mics include the Bog (also on Tuesday nights), and the Dunedin Folk Club (Thursday nights).
• Local events: from wine tasting tours, gardening-bees, to painting nights, connect with like-minded people through local events advertised on Facebook or Eventfinda.
• Dunedin Societies: the university has a number of associated societies you can join, for example, Toastmasters and Chiasma.

• Casual/part-time jobs: finding an enjoyable job that balances your studies can also be a great way to make friends via your co-workers.
• Volunteering: I’ve made some lovely friends through volunteering. If you have a specific role in mind, reach out directly to the organisation. Or you can see advertised roles over at UniCrew and VolunteerSouth.
• Be the person who brings people together: those with the most friends in Dunedin are often the ones that make social opportunities by organising potlucks and get-togethers. If there are not many social events happening, create one!

9. Make the most of University Resources

Whether you need advice on a tricky tenancy issue during your first year at Otago, don’t know where to start with a huge assignment, or you’re experiencing a personal challenge, there is help available:

• Student Health (nurse/GP visits, vaccinations, discounted visits with a Community Services Card)
• The OUSA Support Hub: mental health, tenancy advice, financial assistance, and more
• Job hunting: the Career Development Centre offers helpful tools and advice

• Not sure where to start with assignments? Join a PASS (peer-assisted study session), or the HEDC offers workshops on academic research and writing. You can also find PDF resources online
• Have a bright business idea? Audacious is a great opportunity to gain entrepreneurship guidance. Or visit the team at The Distiller on St Davids Street

10. Dunedin Wellness tips

Halfway through my second year of Otago, I began to obsess over the memory of summer. The reality of waking up to pouring sheets of Dunedin rain and trudging home in 5pm darkness was such a downer.

When I think back, I might have been suffering from a common problem faced by many people in sunshine-poor regions. If you’re not feeling quite right, you could be suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder, aka ‘winter depression’). Visit your GP or consider taking a vitamin D supplement—the sunshine vitamin. Alternatively, for warm relief, treat yourself to a dip in a spa at one of the local pools or the OUSA sauna.

How to deal with the rain?

Dunedin weather is unpredictable. You’ll step out into limitless blue skies in the morning, and by the afternoon, hail batters the rooftops. A big, decent umbrella is useful but easy to forget, so it’s good to have a cheap foldable one to bring when the forecast looks sketchy. I also recommend getting hiking boots or some sort of waterproof shoes you can wear around on drizzly days. Ever since I bought my pair from Macpac, I haven’t looked back. No more soggy sneakers.

What activities can make part of my regular routine?

• Walks: Dunedin Botanic Gardens, the Dunedin Town Belt, the Harbour Cycleway
• Swimming: Moana pool, St. Clair Saltwater pool, or Mosgiel pool
• Saturday morning shopping at the Farmer’s markets (near the railway station)
• Regular gigs: popular venues include, U-Bar, Inch Bar, The Duck, Erricks, Ombrellos, Moons venue, The Crown Hotel
• Keen on checking out Dunedin’s tourist attractions? See my comprehensive guide on 10 Amazing experiences you can’t miss in Dunedin.

Conclusion: your first year at Otago

Your first year at Otago University is a great opportunity to make friends, go on adventures, and create your ideal ‘home away from home’. Although it’s been 5+ years, I often reflect on my undergrad experience. As a student city, living in Dunedin is unique. After a while, you spot the same friendly faces around the city, and it feels like family. There’s something magical about waking up to a crisp morning and feeling at home among the student flats from eras gone by. I hope the above tips have shed some light on what to expect. Thinking of studying at Otago, drop a comment below! It would be great to hear from you.