Penguin and Albatross Watching - Otago Peninsula

Otago Peninsula is a 35 kilometre stretch of land to the northeast of Dunedin, home to fascinating marine wildlife especially penguins and albatrosses. The peninsula is accessible by Portobello Road and Harrington Point Road, an hour's drive from Dunedin city to the Taiaroa Head.

An incredible variety of marine wildlife is attracted to the shores of the peninsual year round. Situated at the tip of the peninsula, the protected area of Taiaroa Head is home to colonies of sea mammals and sea birds. The standout amongst these are the royal abatross with the peninsula being the world's only known mainland breeding ground for albatross.

The headland is also famous for penguins, the little blue and the rare yellow eyed variety. Southern fur seals are also common to this place. There are wide variety of birds like shag, gull and muttonbirds. The rare New Zealand sea lions are occasionally sighted. Offshore, there is a good chance of catching a glimpse of the balck and white killer orca whale and other species of whales.

Although you can visit these places fo free, there are many excellent commercial opeartors who conduct wildlife tours and take you up close to the mammals without causing them any discomfort. The best places to view the animals are on the beaches and the inlets on either side of the headland. Pilots Beach is a good viewing place for fur seals and also blue penguins.

The Penguin Place, an award winning penguin conservation project on Harrington Point Road, is a protected nesting area for about 70 rare yellow eyed penguins. The tours are very informative and you go to a beachside colony accompanied by a guide. Camouflages trenches lead you to hides among the dunes from where you get amamzing proximity to the penguins and ample photo opportunites. The cost of the tour is pooled back into the conservation project. You are advised to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

The Royal Albatross Centre is the gateway to the only mainland colony of albatrosses in the world. The excellent Royal Albatross Tour includes an introductory film and plenty of opportunities to view the birds from an enclosed area through binoculars, except during the period September to November when it is closed for the breeding season. The best time to visit is April to August when parent birds leave to find food and return to feed their chicks.

There are personalised adventure conservation tours offered wherein you get to ride on on specially constructed tracks in amphibious 8WD vehicles. The tours cover penguin viewing, sighting New Zealand fur seals and the rare sea lions.

You have a distinct advantage in having your private transport as it is easy to drive from Dunedin to the headland via Portobello Road. There is a public bus service daily from Cumberland Street in Dunedin which runs upto Portobello. It is a further 14 kilometres from here to Taiaroa Head.

The Dunedin Visitor Centre offers a free Visitors Guide to the Otago Peninsula. There are minibus guided tours that allow you to explore the Otago Peninsula with freedom. It is a fantastic experience to see the peninsula from water on a harbour cruise or a kayak.

The Otago Peninsula accommodation choices are limited. There are limited eating places on the peninsula. It is easier to drive back to Dunedin.

LooknbookNZ can organise your Otago Peninsula accommodation and Otago Peninsula activities bookings and let you and your family/friends to have a fantastic marine wildlife viewing experience you will cherish for the rest of your life.