Dunedin is nestled in the hills that lie at the end of Otago Harbour. The city has a rich and diverse history, with Maori explorers the first to settle in the region, followed from the mid 1800s by whalers, Scottish immigrants and gold miners. As an early centre of European commerce and culture, the city features grand Edwardian and Victorian architecture, as well as New Zealand’s first university. The University of Otago remains a major seat of learning in New Zealand and provides the city with a vibrant youth culture that, in turn, adds to Dunedin’s strong arts and cultural influence. The city is also a gateway to Otago Peninsula, whose rugged rocks and sandy beaches are home to a wide range of rare wildlife.