Directory Shortcut

Featured

Entire Site Search

Translate

Free NZ Travel Newsletter

Maps, Driving Routes

Quick Links

Business Centre

Home »New Zealand Travel »Scenic Highlights »Scenic Views »Taiaroa Head

Taiaroa Head

An informative trip to the tip of the Otago Pensinsula.

Taiaroa Head
Otago Peninsula, New Zealand

Taiaroa Head is a headland located at the end of the Otago Peninsula, overlooking the Otago Harbour, in the Otago region of New Zealand. Taiaroa Head lies within the limits of the Dunedin City.

The Otago Peninsula's Taiaroa Head was once the site of the important Pukekura fortified pa in the 18th century.

Later, Taiaroa Head was a busy population centre involved in harbour work, shore defence and prison labour projects.

Taiaroa Head Today

Presently, Taiaroa Head is the home of the Royal Albatross Colony, the only mainland breeding colony of Royal albatross in the world. The Taiaroa Head Royal Albatross Colony is managed by the Department of Conservation.

Pilots Beach, a small beach located just inside the harbour entrance to the south of the head, contains many forms of marine and bird life. New Zealand Fur seals, Hooker's Sea Lions, blue penguins, yellow-eyed penguins, dusky dolphins, orcas and migratory whales can all be spotted here.

Taiaroa Head is also the place to see the Armstrong Disappearing Gun, built to fend off a feared Russian invasion in 1880 and later used as a defence post in the two World Wars.

» Dunedin Regional Information

» Otago Regional Information

» Dunedin Travel Directory

» Otago Peninsula Travel Directory

» Otago Travel Directory