The Royal Albatross Centre

The Royal Albatross Centre Your chance to visit the world’s only mainland breeding colony of Royal Albatross and the historic Fort Taiaroa and Armstrong Disappearing Gun.
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You will be in a sheltered observatory during the tours. The Royal Albatross Centre is owned and operated by a charitable trust, the Otago Peninsula Trust. All surplus funds generated by the enterprise are returned to projects which protect and enhance the environment and wildlife of Dunedin/Ōtepoti Otago Peninsula. The Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) is just one of about 20+ species

of bird and animal which makes its home on Otago Peninsula’s Taiaroa Head. Taiaroa Head has served as a defensive position from the beginning of human occupation around 700 years ago. Māori established a permanent settlement at Ōtākou and a fortified village (Pa) was built on Taiaroa Head. From early days of European settlement, an undergound tunnel system, fortifications and a Armstrong 6 inch disappearing gun, along side with other weapons, were built for the defense purpose against the Russian threat in 1885. The area was also active during WW1 & WW2.

Tomorrow at The Royal Albatross Centre, Emma Heppell from The Old Tin Shed will be here signing her new book - Walter an...
23/07/2026

Tomorrow at The Royal Albatross Centre, Emma Heppell from The Old Tin Shed will be here signing her new book - Walter and Wilma, the wandering albatrosses 🐣

"This is a heartfelt tale of love, perserverance, resilience and the unbreakable bond that holds families together, even against the turbulent backdrop of the awe-inspiring and unpredictable Southern Ocean".

Emma will be working with a local school group from 11-12pm and will be available after if you are keen to buy a signed copy of her new book 📙

Emma is kindly donating 5% of her book profits to Otago Peninsula Trust 🥰

Happy Wednesday! Enjoy this 12kg albatross chick 🥰It's banding time for some of these beauties and this not-so-wee boy h...
15/07/2026

Happy Wednesday! Enjoy this 12kg albatross chick 🥰

It's banding time for some of these beauties and this not-so-wee boy had just been given his alpha-numeric band (which allows easier identification in future) when this was taken.

He gave a little stretch of the wings just after being placed back on the grass - won't lie, he wasn't easy to carry...😅 - and you can see the zig-zag fold and tuck of the wings quite clearly here.

Chickies are 5-6 months old now and fully grown in size, just the fluffy down feathers left to get rid of and a bit more wing stretching before fledging in September (don't ask, we aren't ready yet 🥹)

📷 Laura Findlay

Mānawatia a Matariki 💫Matariki is a time for remembrance for loved ones lost over the past year, for celebrating the fam...
09/07/2026

Mānawatia a Matariki 💫

Matariki is a time for remembrance for loved ones lost over the past year, for celebrating the family, friends and things we have in the present, and for looking into the future for what lies ahead.

The theme for this year is Matariki Herenga Waka, Matariki for Everyone, an open invitation for everyone to celebrate together and embrace this time of reflection.

Here in Ōtepoti Dunedin, community can come together for celebration at Forsyth Barr Stadium with some kai, a drone light show and live performances headlined by Tiki Taane. The event begins from 3pm onward with two light shows scheduled at different times later in the evening ✨🌟

If you’re keen for some kai and will be on the Otago Peninsula today, we have hāngī for lunch in our cafe 🍠🥬

Wishing everyone the best, from the Albie whānau (and our well decorated albie model) 💛

It's Seabird Day 🥳🥳Please enjoy this compilation of seabird images taken by a few Albie Centre staff who have been lucky...
02/07/2026

It's Seabird Day 🥳🥳

Please enjoy this compilation of seabird images taken by a few Albie Centre staff who have been lucky enough to see such a variety! 💛

3rd July marks the anniversary for the last sighting of the extinct Great Auk in 1844 and dedicates a date to celebrate and advocate for seabird conservation, something we are eternally passionate about 🌊

Let us know in the comments what your favourite seabird species is 👀

📷 1. Adélie Penguin - Libby Manning
2. Auckland Island S**g - Laura Findlay
3. King Penguins - Bella O'Connor
4. Blue Petrel - Ela Hunt
5. South Polar Skua - Libby Manning
6. Antarctic Prion - Laura Findlay
7. Northern Giant Petrel - Bella O'Connor
8. Dolphin Gull - Libby Manning

⭐️⭐️⭐️July School Holidays are almost here !!⭐️⭐️⭐️Come out for a drive onto the beautiful Otago Peninsula and join us f...
02/07/2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️July School Holidays are almost here !!⭐️⭐️⭐️

Come out for a drive onto the beautiful Otago Peninsula and join us for *express* albatross tours - running from Monday 6th - Sunday 12th July! Our express tours are perfect for children at only 30 minutes long, this is an incredible opportunity to see our giant fluffy chicks! 🐣 $20 for Adults & $5 for children.
Book online or over the phone.
https://albatross.org.nz

✨We also have our Matariki Hāngī on Friday July 10th , tables are selling quickly - don't miss out , call to book your table now.✨

Even if you are unable to join us for a tour, come out for the drive, enjoy our cafe and gift shop with year round locals discounts of 15%! 😍

📸 Libby Manning

The 2026 Michelle McCormack Award winner is our very own Libby Manning! 🏆🥇This award is given out annually in memory of ...
24/06/2026

The 2026 Michelle McCormack Award winner is our very own Libby Manning! 🏆🥇

This award is given out annually in memory of Michelle McCormack, a lively and enthusiastic person who contributed hugely to the promotion of the NZ Marine Studies Centre, the International Science Festival, and Dunedin in general.

Personality is a key part of tourism, and it’s the passionate and lively people that help to make a visit so memorable. Nominees for this award can be employees/employers or volunteers from any Dunedin organisation or business in the tourism sector who go above and beyond in their position.

Libby was nominated by our Operations Manager Leon who highlighted the incredible list of conservation efforts and visitor hosting skills that she has shown in her role at the Royal Albatross Centre and beyond; exceptional effort in her education and guiding role, a trip to Antarctica with the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expedition, campaigning for Red-billed Gulls for Bird of the Year in 2025, and now for Northern Royal Albatross for Bird of the Year in 2026!

Congratulations to you Libby, this win is well deserved and we are endlessly lucky to have you on our team 💛

Big news, big news, the Royal Cam chick has officially been named! Everyone meet Āwheo 🥰Āwheo means ‘halo’ in Te Reo and...
19/06/2026

Big news, big news, the Royal Cam chick has officially been named! Everyone meet Āwheo 🥰

Āwheo means ‘halo’ in Te Reo and was chosen by the Department of Conservation as a fitting name linking to this year’s World Albatross Day theme of Habitat Restoration; protection and renewal 💫

DOC explain on their website: “For royal albatross, that ‘halo’ is healthy sea and land - clean feeding grounds and safe breeding sites. Āwheo reminds us to be kaitiaki for their home, now and for generations. It calls us to restore taiao, together.”

📷 Ela Hunt

Our 2026 life-size albatross cake team photo! 🥳More photos to come of the cake cutting and decorating process, but for n...
19/06/2026

Our 2026 life-size albatross cake team photo! 🥳

More photos to come of the cake cutting and decorating process, but for now enjoy these photos showing just how happy these birds and this day makes us all 🥹😁

If anyone else out there has made an albatross cake, please tag us or send a photo! We’d love to see them! 🍰❣️

Address

1260 Harington Point Road Taiaroa Head
Dunedin
9077

Opening Hours

Monday 10:15am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 10:15am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 10:15am - 6:30pm
Thursday 10:15am - 6:30pm
Friday 10:15am - 6:30pm
Saturday 10:15am - 6:30pm
Sunday 10:15am - 6:30pm

Telephone

+6434780499

Website

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