The story goes that Scottish settlers designed Dunedin before they left Scotland using a map that made the area look decidedly flat. When they got here, they found the land to be extremely hilly - but they doggedly stuck to their design. This meant that Baldwin St in the North East Valley area inadvertently became the steepest street in the world - recognised as such by the Guinness Book of Records.

In 2019, Baldwin St lost its title to Ffordd Pen Llech in Wales, but in 2020, after much surveying and appealing, Baldwin St triumphantly got its title back – much to the delight of all Kiwis (NZ has an ongoing healthy rivalry in rugby with the Welsh).

There have been plenty of mishaps. In 2001, a University of Otago student was killed when she attempted to travel down the street inside a wheelie bin.

Baldwin St is a popular attraction for visitors to the city.

Practical Info

Baldwin St, North East Valley