Now I’m not one to make a mountain out of a molehill, but at the heady heights of around 350m above sea level, this puppy ain’t no small fry. If Signal Hill were in Auckland, it would eat smaller, lesser hills like Mount Eden for afternoon tea.
So make the most of Signal Hill’s dramatic elevation, as lots of runners, walkers (often complete with Camel Baks and Leki sticks – I told you this was serious) and particular mountain bikers – who tend to drop off the top down the off-road tracks – do every day. From uni, you can head up Lovelock Avenue to Signal Hill Road, which takes you pretty much straight uphill. Along the way to the lookout you’re likely to observe: a) sleepy Opoho suburbia (discovering residential/non-student Dunedin is an adventure in itself); b) paddocks and farm animals; c) many buses of tourists passing you as you shuffle up the slope; d) a pretty sweet lookout and monument from 1950, featuring some carvings commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi; and e) a kickass view.
Just to further emphasise the incline: Baldwin Street essentially sits on the North East Valley side of Signal Hill, and barely gets up one quarter of the total climb. Don’t let that put you off though: the view is absolutely amazing, and worth the burning quads. Enjoy.
Get there: On foot or by bike. You can do it young grasshopper!
Do: Take snacks (if you’re walking and might be a while).
Don’t: Forget your camera. #greatview #adventure #YOLO
Eat: Something you’ve brought yourself, maybe from Gardens New World on the way up.