Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Royal Albatross Centre
& Fort Taiaroa
WILDLIFE RESERVE
OFFLINE MAP
( 03-478 0499;
www.albatross.org.nz
; Taiaroa Head; 11.30am-dusk)
Taiaroa Head, at the
peninsula's northern tip, has the world's only mainland royal albatross colony, along with
a late-19th-century military fort. The fort was built in 1885 in response to a perceived
threat of a Russian invasion. Its Armstrong Disappearing Gun was designed to be loaded
and aimed underground, then popped up like the world's slowest jack-in-the-box to be
fired.
Albatross are present throughout the year, but the best time to see them is from
December to February, when one parent is constantly guarding the young while the other
delivers food throughout the day. Sightings are most common in the afternoon when the
winds pick up; calm days don't see much bird action. The main glassed-in observation
area is closed during the breeding season, from mid-September to late November. From
late November to December the birds are nestbound so it's difficult to see their magnifi-
cent wingspan.
The only public access to the area is by guided tour. The hour-long Classic tour (adult/
child $39/19) focuses on the albatross, or there's a 30-minute Fort tour (adult/child $19/
9); the two can be combined on the Unique tour ($49/24).
Little penguins swim ashore at Pilots Beach (just below the car park) around dusk to
head to their nests in the dunes. For their protection, the beach is closed to the public
every evening, but viewing is possible from a specially constructed wooden platform
(adult/child $20/10). Depending on the time of year, 50 to 500 penguins might waddle
past.
Nature's Wonders Naturally
WILDLIFE RESERVE
OFFLINE MAP
( 03-478 1150;
www.natureswonders.co.nz
; Taiaroa Head; adult/child $55/45; tours from
10.15am)
What makes the improbably beautiful beaches of this coastal sheep farm differ-
ent from other important wildlife habitats is that (apart from pest eradication and the like)
they're left completely alone. No tagging or weighing is carried out, and many of the
multiple private beaches haven't suffered a human footprint in years.
The result is that yellow-eyed penguins can often be spotted (through binoculars) at
any time of the day, and NZ fur seals laze around rocky swimming holes, blissfully un-
phased by tour groups passing by. Depending on the time of year, you might also see
whales and little penguin chicks.
