Dunedin gives TRENZ a taste of its dark side ahead of 2028 eclipse

Dunedin will be showing off its dark side at this year’s TRENZ tourism event in Auckland.

Enterprise Dunedin’s destination team will be giving a literal taster of what’s to come, ahead of a massive once-in-a-lifetime event in 2028.

The city will experience a total solar eclipse on 22 July 2028 and is one of two main centres in New Zealand to be in the path of totality. Dunedin will be the final location on Earth to witness this place-based astronomical event before sunset, making it one of the best viewing locations globally.

Total solar eclipses are extremely rare. The last time one occurred in New Zealand was in the 1960s, and the next one to follow the 2028 eclipse is not until 2431.

From 2.30pm – 3.30pm on Tuesday, 19 May, a Dunedin-branded food cart will be on the event floor, dishing out limited-edition Eclipse-themed bites as a TRENZ-exclusive “surprise and delight” moment.

On the Menu is:

• Pumpkin Ganache * Quick Brown Fox Flat White Overproof Coffee Liqueur
• Evansdale Blue Cheese * Roasted Pear * Mihiwaka Honey
• Coffee shot: Layered Quick Brown Fox Coffee Liqueur with Flat White Coffee Liqueur

The activation aims to leave an unforgettable impression on the hundreds of international buyers at TRENZ, offering a literal taste of Dunedin’s unique brand of hospitality and culinary flair while also planting a seed of intrigue around the city’s plans for the 2028 eclipse.

The creations are a collaboration between Precinct Food founder and food designer Liz Christensen, and Quick Brown Fox founder Arjun Haszard, who will both be in attendance for the activation.

Dunedin Destination Manager Teresa Fogarty says the activation comes following the success of last year’s Dunedin-flavoured ice cream at the same event.

“We’ve been steadily working on plans for the eclipse in Dunedin and figured there’s no better time to spread the word about a huge event that attracts visitors than at the country’s annual premier tourism trade event.

“This year we’ve again gone with an activation showcasing Dunedin’s food story, its flavours, and producers, along with promoting the eclipse event. So, highlighting two of the city’s main visitor pillars.

“We’ve already started to see bookings for Dunedin over the eclipse period which reflects how popular these rare celestial events are.

“We’re planning to make the 2028 eclipse as memorable as possible by activating the city and putting on complementary events.”

Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker says the activation is a clever way to spotlight local businesses, Dunedin’s culinary talents and the upcoming event.

“It lets everyone know plans are in motion to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event, to put on an amazing time for those who visit our city and then leverage the legacy of this one-off phenomenon into a signature winter event for Dunedin.

“Now more than ever people are travelling specifically for events and eclipses have proven to attract people from around the world. The 2017 eclipse in Wyoming saw 261,000 people visit for the eclipse, including 29,000 from out of the country, bringing in $US63.5m of direct visitor spend. Needless to say, this will be massive for Dunedin. “

Enterprise Dunedin will be leading a cohort of local tourism operators heading to Auckland for TRENZ 2026 at the new International Convention Centre. These include Dunedin Railway Station, Clearwater Wildlife Tours, The Royal Albatross Centre, Monarch Wildlife Cruises and Tours, The OPERA, Olveston Historic Home, Tūhura Otago Museum and Larnach Castle and Gardens.

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