
Where is Baldwin Street?
New Zealand, oceania
N/A
351 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, so you HAVE to check out Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand! This isn't just any street; it's legendary—seriously, it's often called the steepest *residential* street on the planet, clocking in with a crazy gradient of 35 percent!
You'll find it nestled in North East Valley, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Dunedin's city center, near the harbor. The street is named after William Baldwin, a local newspaper founder and council member back in the day.
This straight shot runs for about 350 meters (just over 1,100 feet) from North Road to Buchanan Street, and it's completely paved. Fun fact: the steepest part is concrete, not asphalt, because that angle is so intense the asphalt would MELT on a hot day and slide downhill!
Baldwin Street was officially crowned the world's steepest residential street back in 1987. There was a brief period where it lost the title but, don't worry, Guinness World Records gave it back in 2020! A quick walk up will only take about ten minutes.
What's the slope like? Think 1:2.86 – for every 2.86 meters you walk forward, you go up a full meter. It's a serious workout. No wonder this place is a magnet for tourists and thrill-seekers wanting to conquer its crazy slope!
Road Details
- Country
- New Zealand
- Continent
- oceania
- Max Elevation
- 351 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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