Dunedin has bowling covered for every taste — an iconic family tenpin alley that’s been running since the 1980s, and a deep network of Otago lawn bowls clubs, including one of the best indoor bowls facilities in the country.
Whether you want a rainy-day outing with the kids, a competitive league, or a friendly green to learn the game, here’s where to bowl in Dunedin.
Tenpin Bowling in Dunedin
Dunedin’s tenpin scene centres on one long-established, family-focused venue in the city’s “Big Red Building.”
Bowl Line
- Where: 38 Kaikorai Valley Road, Dunedin
- Lanes: 18 (all with automatic bumpers)
- Food & drink: Café and licensed bar — snacks and drinks lane-side
- Also: Arcade games, pool table and air hockey; bumpers, ramps and lighter balls for kids; function room overlooking the lanes (groups up to 108); weekly league competitions; great for birthdays, work and school groups; running since 1987
- Web: bowlline.co.nz · Phone: 03 476 4944
Read our review of Bowl Line.
Bowl Line’s details are confirmed via its own website and Eventfinda; pricing and hours can change, so check before a visit.
Lawn Bowls Clubs in Dunedin
Lawn bowls is a Dunedin institution — the city’s bowling tradition dates to 1871, and the Dunedin Bowls Centre now takes in around 28 clubs. Below is a selection, including a world-class indoor stadium and one of the city’s oldest seaside clubs.
Dunedin Lawn Bowls Stadium
- Where: Dunedin [full address TBC]
- Greens: Indoor stadium plus newly built outdoor greens (“Stadium Bowls” summer section)
- Members & play: Billed as New Zealand’s best indoor bowls facility, with 440+ associate members each winter drawn from clubs across the Dunedin Centre; hosts leagues, mini-tournaments and NZ Champion of Champions Fours events; full, associate, casual and social memberships
- Also: Indoor season runs roughly April onwards; entries by phone or in person
- Web: bowlsstadium.nz · Phone: 03 456 1144 (entries)
Read our review of Dunedin Lawn Bowls Stadium.
St Clair Bowling Club
- Where: 13 Ings Avenue, St Clair, Dunedin
- Greens: 2 natural greens — acknowledged among Dunedin’s best
- History: Established 1892; close to St Clair Beach and the Esplanade
- Members & play: Friendly welcome for anyone wanting to “have a go”; coaching programmes arranged for new members; one of the 28 clubs in the Dunedin Bowls Centre
- Also: Wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance; dinners and social events through the year
- Web: sporty.co.nz/stclairbowls · Phone: 03 488 1778
Read our review of St Clair Bowling Club.
Bowls Dunedin (regional body)
- Where: 38 Tahuna Road, Dunedin
- Greens: n/a (centre/governing body)
- Members & play: The Dunedin Bowls Centre coordinates ~28 local clubs, fixtures and competitions across the city
- Also: Best first point of contact to find your nearest club or coaching
- Web: sporty.co.nz/bowlsdunedin · Phone: [TBC]
Read our review of Bowls Dunedin.
This is a small selection of Dunedin’s ~28 clubs — others include Green Island, Kaikorai, Mornington, North East Valley, St Kilda, Wakari and Opoho. Find the full directory at sporty.co.nz/bowlsdunedin.
Recommended For
- Best for families & kids: Bowl Line — automatic bumpers on every lane, ramps and lighter balls, plus arcade games and air hockey.
- Best for a night out or groups: Bowl Line’s function room and licensed bar, with space for groups up to 108.
- Best for tenpin leagues & improving: Bowl Line runs weekly league competitions for all abilities.
- Best for serious lawn bowls & year-round play: Dunedin Lawn Bowls Stadium — a top indoor facility hosting national Champion of Champions events.
- Best for learning lawn bowls: St Clair Bowling Club, which arranges coaching programmes for new members in a friendly seaside setting.
Getting There & Practical Tips
- Booking: Book Bowl Line ahead for weekends, school holidays and group events.
- Parking: Bowl Line has parking at the Big Red Building on Kaikorai Valley Road; bowls clubs have on-site parking.
- Year-round bowls: The Dunedin Lawn Bowls Stadium’s indoor arena keeps the game going through Dunedin’s cooler months (indoor season from around April).
- Lawn bowls: Clubs welcome newcomers and arrange coaching (St Clair runs programmes for new members) — phone ahead and ask about loan bowls.
- Weather: Dunedin greens can be wet in winter; the indoor stadium is the reliable all-weather option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I go tenpin bowling in Dunedin? Bowl Line at 38 Kaikorai Valley Road is Dunedin’s tenpin alley, with 18 lanes plus arcade games, air hockey and a café-bar. It’s been running since 1987.
Does Dunedin have lawn bowls clubs I can join? Yes — around 28 across the Dunedin Bowls Centre, including St Clair (seaside, est. 1892), Green Island, Kaikorai, Mornington and more. Most welcome new members and arrange coaching.
Where’s best for indoor or year-round lawn bowls in Dunedin? The Dunedin Lawn Bowls Stadium is billed as New Zealand’s best indoor bowls facility, with a busy winter season and newly built outdoor greens.
Where can I bowl on a rainy day in Dunedin? Bowl Line is fully indoor, and the Dunedin Lawn Bowls Stadium offers indoor lawn bowls — both reliable wet-weather options.
Is Bowl Line good for kids’ parties? Yes — with automatic bumpers, ramps, lighter balls and a function room overlooking the lanes, it’s a popular birthday-party venue.