Baldwin Street

Located in Dunedin’s North East Valley suburb, Baldwin Street is otherwise a nondescript residential street in an ordinary neighborhood—except for the fact that it holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s steepest street. Its gradient is 34.8 percent; by way of comparison, the second-steepest street in the world, Ffordd Pen Llech in Wales, has a gradient of 28.6 percent.

Baldwin Street is a firm fixture of Dunedin’s sightseeing circuit, and visitors make their way there independently or on guided city tours. You can check it out from the bottom of the hill or climb to the top for great views across the North East Valley.

• There’s no charge to view or enter Baldwin Street as it’s a regular residential street.

• Be mindful of the fact that people live on Baldwin Street. They are used to sightseers, but be respectful and avoid obstructing vehicles, peering into windows, or lying down in the middle of the road for photos.

• Baldwin Street can get very slippery on cold, icy winter days. Make use of the steps, and take care when climbing the upper parts of the street.

• Avoid driving a vehicle up Baldwin Street. It’s easy to get stuck at the top, and it annoys the residents.

Baldwin Street is in Dunedin’s North East Valley suburb, about 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) from the central city. Baldwin Street is off North Road, the main road through the valley. It’s easy to drive there—just make sure to park at the bottom of the hill—or to take a bus from central Dunedin. Many city tours also swing by Baldwin Street.

You can visit Baldwin Street at any time of year. Note that it can get slippery in icy conditions, so take care when visiting in the winter. It’s a regular residential street, so be respectful of residents if visiting early in the morning or at night.

After checking out Baldwin Street, you could continue up North Road to Mount Cargill Road and the trail that leads to the top of Mount Cargill (Kapukataumahaka in Māori), Dunedin’s highest point at 2,218 feet (676 meters). The hike takes about 3.5 hours round-trip and offers great views of the city, the harbor, the Otago Peninsula, and the surrounding hills and countryside.