Want to See Dunedin’s Bird Life?

Fact: Dunedin is the sister city to Edinburgh, Scotland, and their names mean the same thing (Dunedin is its Gaelic form). Dunedin boasts startling waters, charming buildings and spectacular views. If you stop in Dunedin along your New Zealand nature tour take the time to spot some of its fantastic southern birdlife.

Penguins

Weave your way along Dunedin's coast, past Larnach Castle, to visit The OPERA (formerly Penguin Place). On a private sheep farm filled with hundreds of native flora lies the conservation reserve first started in 1985 to help save the adorable yellow-eyed penguin. At The OPERA they help to breed the penguins, as well as care for sick and injured ones – not to mention their massive efforts to keep pests away. You can visit this fantastic place all year round and take a guided walking tour through a network of hidden trenches and hides, giving you clear view of the penguins and their shy antics without disturbing them.

Albatross

Just five minutes further up the road is your next bird stop, the Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head (Pukekura). Both local Maori culture and fascinating views of the seabirds themselves are available here from the visitors' centre and observatory. The former is a great starting point, offering stories and legends of the Maori people who once lived here, as well as a souvenir shop and cafe. However, just a short walk away is the Richdale Observatory and your chance to spot some of the royal albatross birds nesting in the area. As the world's largest seabird, the albatross spends up to 85 per cent of its life on the ocean, and the breeding ground here at Dunedin is the only mainland breeding colony in the world! That means you get to take home some photos that you just can't get anywhere else.