As close as you'll get to rural England in New Zealand is here, with its hawthorn hedges, little farms, stately homes, old oak trees, winding country roads, and tranquil scenery. With lovely hidden spots like Woodside snuggled under the hills and the timeless village of Outram, the ideal picnic location, it's the ideal destination to explore by vehicle or bicycle. Although Mosgiel is a part of Dunedin, hills separate it from the city, keeping a small town vibe but bigger city convenience. It gets its name from the farm owned by poet Robbie Burns in Ayrshire; Burns was an uncle of one of Dunedin's founders. The history of Mosgiel is deeply entwined with that of the wool goods sector. One of New Zealand's greatest agricultural research institutes is located there; however, the town no longer houses a woollen mill. Mosgiel offers a large variety of retail and service establishments since it serves the Taieri Plains farming population as a key service town.