Like anything in life, university has its highs and lows: one minute you’re basking in the blissful sunshine on clocktower lawn, the next, you’ve been woken up at 3am by somebody throwing up on a car outside. When I think back on my undergrad years, there are some things I wish I’d known. Whether it’s surviving Dunedin winter to finding your dream flat, here’s my top advice to make your first year at Otago University a winner 🙂

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: Welcome to the Jungle

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. It felt like the middle of nowhere, and I was almost expecting to see somebody in a Fluro vest to run out to shoo sheep off the runway. Outside, a cold wind whistled across the quiet parking lot as I waited with 7 others for the shuttle. First lesson: summer can be ice-cold. Second lesson: crikey the airport is far from the city!

During the 1hr + shuttle ride, an unsettling feeling crept over me. What have I gotten myself into?

If you’re in a similar frame of mind, don’t worry! Dunedin will soon become your second home. But here’s a few things you should know:

• It’s a great place to live as a student. Traffic is minimal, you’ll be able to walk most places, and the bus system is decent
• There is no city-airport bus, so sharing a shuttle is the most affordable 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 also 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 😉
• A warm Dunedin day is hard to beat

Over the years, I, like many other students, have encountered the same old challenges: finding a good place to live, moving flats, and generally stretching your student dollar to make the best of your experience.

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 good to research what hall suits your personality/needs best. In the application process, you’re typically asked to rank your top 3 preferred halls.

Make the most of all the opportunities they provide to make friends, try new activities, and eat – yes, it’s true that most of us put on a few pounds in our Hall years. But you’ll shed them off once you go flatting…

Flat hunting: A Matter of Timing?

It’s widely known that students quickly snap up the best Dunedin flats, often several months in advance. Still, it’s possible to get lucky – I’ve scored a great room 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 your biggest flat enemy – and linked with so many health problems. I’ve heard so many jokes about students discovering a new species of fungi growing on the ceiling … and Dunedin certainly has some mould horror stories like this one. The damp climate 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 earthy/salty smelling? Check the ceiling and underside of curtains for tell-tale mould speckles. A tiny amount of mould seems to be hard to avoid in bathrooms, but if you see it in another area of the house that’s a big red flag.

Aim for:

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

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 rely on them for source material. But for many subjects, buying them brand new is a thing of the past. I remember spending $200+ on a new edition ecology textbook in first year. It basically became a paperweight 😂

After that, I bought a brick-heavy textbook for CELS191 second-hand. It was nice to read from the comfort of home and the textbook was so widely used, I paid around $40 and resold it for the same amount. 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 other stuff. And yep, you can. But when it comes to stationary, household furnishings, and even décor, there’s no need to head to the 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. In my experience, the Salvation Army store in Mosgiel generally has a good range of furniture. No car? Catch the bus there, and if you see an item you fancy 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, I recommend taking pictures of the room and any defects like curtain rips, carpet stains, and scratches on walls. It’s good for peace of mind. And if there’s a dispute about property damage when you want your bond back, you’ll want this evidence.

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

6. Unipol gear hire

OUSA, the Otago University Student Association, is 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 take a surf class. Alternatively, if you have a hike planned, you can hire camping equipment and personal locator beacons. There are also skis/snowboards available during winter. Hiring gear saves space and is one less thing to worry about when you shift flats.

7. Moving flats

Speaking of moving flats… 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 your room. Most leases in Dunedin run from the 1st January to the 31st December, and who wants to be vacuuming on New Years Eve? 🙃

How to send boxes home the easy way
Recently, OUSA started a great 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 couldn’t believe how simple it was! 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 call one of the local delivery companies who can pack and transport your belongings (tip: book the dates well ahead). Alternatively, to save on cash it might be worth hiring a small truck/Ute/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 negotiated ~$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 big 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 large old couch, and it was gone the next day. If you have icky 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 concessions for activities like wildlife tours, movies, AA membership, Interislander ferries, and more. For local Dunedin discounts, check out your digital Green Card. And don’t forget your New World Clubcard and Everyday Rewards for groceries!

Shop a lot? You probably don’t need any encouragement… but you’d might as well save when you do go on a shopping spree. In this case, StudentCard might be for you. For a fee of $20, you can claim discounts for a range of fashion, food, and tech stores.

Want to save big on travel? Check out my blog on the top Student Travel Hacks You Should Know.

8. Where can I make friends in Dunedin?

They say one of the benefits of living at a university hall is that you’re basically given an immediate circle of friends, which I found was quite true. If you’re out on a limb flatting with strangers, a good start can be to get to know your flatmates better. Why not invite them out to a local gig? Also, to meet like-minded folks I recommend these:

• Join a club: OUSA has a range of university-affiliated clubs. To get an idea of what sorts of activities they host, check out their Social media pages. Or why learn a new activity like pottery or karate? Sign up to a class in 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 after 7pm on Tuesdays. Other open mics include The Bog (also on Tuesday nights), and the Dunedin Folk Club (Thursday nights).
• Local events: from wine tasting tours and 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: I’ve noticed that those with the most friends in Dunedin are often the ones that organise potlucks and get-togethers. If there are no events, create your own!

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? The Audacious program is a great chance to gain valuable entrepreneurship guidance. Or visit the team at The Distiller at Startup Dunedin for friendly advice.

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. Dunedin is notoriously sunshine-poor. If you’re not feeling quite right, you might have SAD (seasonal affective disorder, aka ‘winter depression’ caused by lack of sunshine & vitamin D). Visit your GP or consider taking a vitamin D supplement.

My favourite Dunedin wellness tip: for a dose of warmth, treat yourself to a dip in a spa at the pool, or book 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 umbrella is useful but equally easy to forget, so I like keeping cheap foldable one in my daily pack. I also recommend getting hiking boots or some sort of water-resistant shoes for drizzly days. Ever since I bought my pair from Macpac, I haven’t looked back. Yay, 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 food 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, and 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

Moving to a new city is always big step, and Dunedin certainly has its fair share of opportunities and challenges. I think the secret is to keep your sense of adventure. Have fun! Your first year at Otago University is a prime opportunity to make friends, embark on bold adventures, and learn to create your ideal ‘home away from home’. After a while, you’ll spot the same friendly faces around the streets lined with colourful villas, inhabited by students from decades gone-by.

Thinking of studying at Otago or have a Dunedin tip of your own? Drop a comment below 🙂