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Dunedin Albatross Colony, New Zealand

Royal Albatross Centre Introduction

The Royal Albatross Centre is located on the tip of the Otago Peninsula, about a 45 minute drive from Dunedin. We are owned by the Otago Peninsula Trust, a charitable trust formed in 1967 for the protection of the local natural environment.

Taiaroa Head is alive with wildlife species, many of them scarce nesting seabirds, with the jewel in the crown being the Northern Royal Albatross. To see this majestic seabird flying at speeds up to 120kph is an exhilarating sight, which you can experience for yourself by taking a guided tour.

Taiaroa Head is also famous in New Zealand history. From a small Maori camp in the 1300's to a fortified pa where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840; from a wooden flagstaff to 1864 lighthouse to radar entrance for Otago Harbour; from an 1880's underground fortress to a large defence base in WWII.

Today, Taiaroa Head is a nature reserve, iconic wildlife attraction and the only mainland breeding ground for the Royal Albatross.

Dunedin Royal Albatross Colony Tours

The Royal Albatross Centre is open from 10am daily (except Christmas Day). Entry to the Royal Albatross Centre is free. As the Royal Albatross Colony is on a nature reserve, entry is by guided tour only. These tours commence at 10.30am and run at regular times each day until an hour before sunset.

The tours we offer include:

Unique Taiaroa Tour – This 75 minute, ultimate Royal Albatross Colony tour tells the story of the Northern Royal Albatross and the history of Pukekura/Taiaroa Head.

Albatross Classic – A 45 minute guided tour telling the story of the Northern Royal Albatross, followed by a short movie by Natural History NZ then a visit to potential viewing areas on Taiaroa Head.

Fort Taiaroa – A 30 minute guided tour of underground Fort Taiaroa, which was built on the headland to counter the potential threat of a Russian invasion in the late 1880's and later used for training and defence during WWI and WWII. A highlight of this tour is seeing the only fully restored 1889 Armstrong Disappearing Gun in the world in its original position.

There are also a number of combination tours available, which include a visit to the Royal Albatross Colony and a Monarch Wildlife Cruise, a Natures Wonders 8-wheel all-terrain argo vehicle tour or a visit to Penguin Place and Lanarch Castle.

For more information about our Dunedin albatross colony tours, please contact us or visit the Royal Albatross Centre Web site.

The Royal Albatross Colony Breeding Cycle

The breeding birds arrive at Taiaroa Head in September. The nest is built during early November and within the following three weeks an egg is laid – only one egg is laid every two years.

The parents share incubation duty in spells of 2 to 8 days over a period of 80 days. The chicks hatch from late January to early February. The parents then take turns at guarding the chick for the first 35 days to protect it from predators.

The chick is fed on demand for the first 20 days and later the frequency of meals decreases to three or four times a week. Meal quantity can be up to 2kg of squid and octopus per day in winter.

From early August the chick is fed less and in September, when fully fledged, the chick tests its outstretched wings and eventually takes off with the aid of a strong wind.

The young albatross will spend the next three to five years at sea; before returning to this unique headland to start another generation of Royals of Taiaroa. Nearly a year after their arrival at Taiaroa Head, the chicks' parents finally leave the colony to spend a year at sea before returning to breed again.

Albatross Café

Head to Taiaroa Head for a tasty treat and lovely afternoon out. Tempt your tummy while you surround yourself with wildlife in its natural environment... or just enjoy the buzz of happy tourists.

When the sun shines, the outside deck is the place to be to watch thousands of red billed gulls and other seabirds soaring in the sky!

We serve full breakfast, morning and afternoon tea/coffee, with scones and muffins to make your mouth water. Our Seafood Chowder is legendary; our Blue Cod fresh from the sea, hamburgers full to bursting with flavour. All food is made daily, fresh on the premises. Vegetarian dishes are a specialty.

For more information about our Dunedin albatross colony café or tours, please contact us or visit the Royal Albatross Centre Web site.

About Dunedin

Dunedin Railway Station
Photographer: Hiroshi Nameda
(hnamechan@hotmail.com)

Dunedin city is renowned for its proximity to incredible wildlife. Visits to see the world's rarest penguins, the world's only mainland breeding colony of the Royal albatross and rare New Zealand sealions are all possible within a short drive of the city centre.

Dunedin is also memorable for its historical architecture. It is regarded to be one of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere.

Look for the massive stone Flemish Renaissance-style Dunedin Railway Station, the University clock-tower building and the Gothic Revival Dominican Priory.

Dunedin even has an authentic castle—Larnach Castle was the grand home of an early politician. You might also want to visit Baldwin Street, the world's steepest residential address.

Dunedin offers all the facilities you would expect within a modern, thriving city, without the traffic jams and parking problems! Daily life is vibrant, positive and upbeat. Cafés, restaurants and bars compete for space with a fabulous mix of shops and entertainment venues.

For more information about our Dunedin albatross colony tours, please contact us or visit the Royal Albatross Centre Web site.

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