Run away to Otago Peninsula
Loves getting lost on Otago Peninsula among the royal albatross and little blue penguins.
Liz Carlson
Ilove Dunedin, it’s a rad little city with accessible, epic nature attractions right on its doorstep. In less than an hour, you can find yourself across the harbour, getting lost amongst the rolling green hills and secluded beaches of the Otago Peninsula, where it feels like you’ve left the big city far behind. Wild beaches dotted with sea lions and penguins meet old forests and in between you’ll stumble upon quirky local spots and historical icons. Otago Peninsula is the perfect weekend escape.
The drive out to the peninsula from downtown Dunedin is one of the most scenic. Winding along the sea, it offers amazing views throughout the journey to Taiaroa Head. It is quite steep and narrow in spots, but luckily traffic isn’t much of an issue.
A great pit stop is Sandfly Bay. A beautiful bay filled with large sand dunes and perfect for wildlife watching, there’s almost always a dozen sea lions rolling about on the beach which are great fun to watch and, at the end of the bay, there is a penguin hide where you can keep an eye out for the endangered yellow-eyed penguins returning home at sunset.
If you are interested in wildlife, stop at Taiaroa Head at the end of the Peninsula. A historically significant Maori location named for Te Matenga Taiaroa, a 19thcentury chief, it’s also home to a beautiful old lighthouse and has been an established area since the 17th century. Now, it’s the only only colony of Northern Royal Albatrosses on the mainland anywhere in the world, so if you’re keen to see these impressive birds, the Otago Peninsula is one of the best places to go.
Nearby you’ll find the Royal Albatross Centre, which offers tours and viewing spots to get close to the magnificent birds. They even have a live stream camera going so you can always see what the albatross are up to. If you stick around for sunset, head down to the beach nearby for an evening penguin tour to watch the local little blues surf home. I’m always impressed by how loud the penguins are, you definitely won’t miss them.
If you’re looking to stay somewhere memorable, check out the lodge at Larnach, New Zealand’s only castle. Perched high on the hill with spectacular views over the harbour and surrounding hills, Larnach Castle ended up being one of my favourite spots on the Peninsula. A historic property with stunning, elaborate gardens, its juxtaposition with the surrounding nature makes the experience quite unique. I spent hours before breakfast enjoying the gardens and walking around the place without another person in sight.