Dunedin Town Belt facts for kids
The Town Belt is a special green area that wraps around the middle of Dunedin, a city in New Zealand. It's like a big, green hug for the city! This amazing green space covers more than 200 hectares (490 acres) (that's about 200 football fields!). It stretches for about 7 kilometers (4 miles) in a big curve.
The Town Belt is located about 1 to 3 kilometers (1-2 miles) away from the very center of Dunedin. It goes through many different neighborhoods, including Kensington, Mornington, City Rise, Belleknowes, Roslyn, Maori Hill, Prospect Park, Glenleith, Woodhaugh, The Gardens, Dunedin North, and the slopes of Signal Hill. The other side of the city center is next to the beautiful Otago Harbour.
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A Special Green Space
The Town Belt is one of the oldest green belts in the world! It was planned way back in 1848 in Scotland, even before the first settlers arrived in Otago. This green belt was designed to separate the main town from new housing areas. Over time, these separate areas joined with Dunedin. Today, the Town Belt acts as a natural border between the city's inner and outer suburbs.
Plants and Animals
Originally, the Town Belt was covered in native bush (forest) and scrubland. Now, much of it has been replanted with trees and turned into open parks. You can find many cool plants here, like tree fuchsia, lemonwood, lancewood, manuka, and broadleaf.
The forested parts of the Town Belt are also home to many different birds. Some of these birds are quite special, including the kereru (New Zealand's native pigeon), eastern rosella, bellbird, tomtit, tui, rifleman, morepork (a native owl), shining cuckoo, and kotare (kingfisher). It's a great place for birdwatching!
Exploring the Town Belt
A long, winding road called Queens Drive runs along a big part of the Town Belt. This road makes it easy for people in Dunedin to visit and enjoy the area. Queens Drive connects to many of the city's main streets, like Stuart Street and High Street.
There are also many walking paths that go through the forests and parks. The Town Belt is a very popular spot for people in Dunedin to relax, exercise, and enjoy nature.
Parks and Open Areas
The Town Belt has lots of open spaces and parks where you can play or just chill out. Some of these include the Kensington Oval, Dunedin Southern Cemetery, Montecillo Ground, Unity Park, Mornington Ground, Jubilee Park, Belleknowes Golf Course, Robin Hood Park, Littlebourne Ground, Prospect Park, Woodhaugh Gardens, the North Ground, Dunedin Botanic Gardens, Dunedin Northern Cemetery, Logan Park, and the University Oval.
Buildings and Landmarks
You can also find some important buildings and structures within the Town Belt. These include Moana Pool (a swimming complex), Olveston (a historic house), Otago Boys' High School, and the Beverly-Begg Observatory (where you can look at the stars!).
