Wildlife Capital: An Albatross Adventure

No visit to the Otago Peninsula is complete without a visit to the unique and special colony of albatross found on the very end of the Otago Peninsula.

This is the only place in the Southern Hemisphere where albatross of any species breed on a mainland (all other colonies are on remote, isolated and small islands).

A population of around 250 Northern royal albatross visit this headland for breeding purposes. This species is one of the large ones with an impressive 3 metre wingspan.

Many of the birds found there today were raised by our very own co-founder of Crafted Pathways Travel; Lyndon. Lyndon has decades of work experience here as a ranger from the late 1980’s! It’s a special colony for him and we are sure it will be for you too.

Your tour starts with a departure from outside the visitor centre in the Octagon (Central Dunedin) before being whisked away to explore the more remote back roads of the Otago Peninsula. Be in awe of the beauty of the peninsula as your driver points out different wading bird and shore birds as we make out way out to Taiaroa Head/Pukekura.

At the Royal Albatross visitor centre you’ll join a one-hour tour to learn about and then see nesting royal albatross. This headland is alive with other seabirds over the spring summer months and they may be opportunities to even spy New Zealand fur seals on the rocky ledges below.

All of our guides have worked in this area for decades and know the species you will encounter extremely well.

Crafted Pathways travel is all about quality knowledge-based tours and activities. We are proud to offer this tour based on enquiry.