Supermarkets and Groceries
New World
Generally New World is more expensive than other stores but offers greater variety and has better quality stock. A lot of Otago students walk up through the lower Dunedin Botanical Garden to the store in Northeast Valley where Great King Street turns into North Road. This store is about a 10- to 15-minute walk from campus and open 7:30am – 9pm. If you’re after more of a selection, there’s another bigger New World store one block north of the Countdown.
Countdown
Similar to New World but with the bonus of online shopping and door-to-door deliver. Save this option for bigger shops or split the extra charge with your flatmates! Countdown is near the Octagon centre of town between Cumberland and Great King Streets. It’s open 7am – 10pm and located at 86 Hillside Road.
Pak ‘n Save
Pak ‘n Save no frills and the cheapest of the supermarkets. It’s ideal for those larger shopping trips but located in South Dunedin so you’ll have to catch a ride with the your mates or hop on a bus heading towards St Clair. Buses leave from along George Street every 15 minutes during weekdays.
Veggie Boys
This chain is more like a fruits and veg stand and often has great deals on seasonal bags of produce. There isn’t a huge selection but you’ll find most of the basics like bread, eggs, pasta, and they have a weirdly good selection of candy. The closest store is located on Albany Street, one block from OUSA, and open 8am – 6pm.
Uni Mart
This is one of the bigger Asian grocery stores and stocks a whole wall of instant noodles in languages you probably don’t understand. Also expect to find Chinese candies, fresh tofu and noodles, enormous bags of rice, a dozen different types of frozen dumplings, and various other odds and ends. Uni Mart is located on Great King Street across from New World City Centre and open 10am – 7pm.
Farmer’s Market
Farmer’s markets are the cheapest and freshest way to stock up on vegetables. Better yet, as you’re supporting local farming initiatives, you are putting money back in the community and reducing your carbon footprint by cutting down on food miles.
Dunedin’s Farmer’s Market
Every Saturday from 7am to 12pm at the Dunedin Train Station Platform along Anzac and Hanover Street. There are ridiculously good regular vendors here that come from all over Otago to sell their fresh products including veggies, fruits, meats, and cheeses. The food vendors are so amazing that you’ll need to plan strategically so that you can hit up all of the major players before the end of your semester. Top picks – French Crepes and Gallettes, Bacon Buttie Man, Tart Tin Bakery, Beam Me Up Bagels and Vegan Food Cart.
Homewares
When you need homewares, bedding and other miscellaneous items, head to the below stores. All three are chains so you’re likely to see them scattered across the country.
The Warehouse
The Warehouse is New Zealand’s equivalent to Target or Walmart but has less variety. The closest is at 39 Maclaggan Street, across the street from Speight’s Brewery. Tune in for good seasonal deals. It’s open 8am – 9pm.
Briscoes
Briscoes is similar to The Warehouse but caters more extensively to homeware. It’s slightly better quality and therefore a little more expensive. They almost always have a 60% sale off everything once a month month except, of course, during Orientation Week (so hold out until afterwards). The closest store is located at 175 Crawford Street and open 9am – 5:30pm.
Kmart
You may be familiar with this one! In New Zealand Kmart has a better range of items than The Warehouse and is just as cheap if not cheaper. Many students have found themselves on what can only be described as a ‘Kmart binge’ as it’s easy to buy far more than you really need every time you go there. Dunedin’s Kmart is located on the top level of the Wall Street Mall along George Street. It’s open from 8am – midnight.