Otago Peninsula
with

Nature Guides Otago

Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula

The city of Dunedin was founded by European settlers mainly from Scotland in 1848, although Maori had been resident in Otago for many centuries prior to this. With a population of about 120 000, it is a city balanced by economic needs and the recreational demands of its proud inhabitants.

The northern entrance to the city is hilly and bush-clad with outstanding volcanic features. The southern approach is equally spectacular with manicured farms alongside natural wetlands surrounded by hills. Travelers by air see Dunedin as breathtaking with its natural harbour, hilly peninsula and golden beaches. 

Dunedin is often referred to as the “Wildlife Capital of New Zealand” which is due to the rare and unique wildlife that can be found on the Otago Peninsula. This narrow peninsula stretches along the southern edge of Otago Harbour for almost 30km and provides only a very narrow opening to the sea at Taiaroa Head. The coastline of the Peninsula is spectacular with both sandstone and basalt cliffs with volcanic rock formations leading down to the sand dunes, deserted beaches, and tidal inlets. 

Once totally covered by native bush now only remnants of the original vegetation remain with most of them being protected by conservation- minded landowners. Nature Guides Otago are involved in a re-vegetation project on a private property and our guests are given the opportunity for active participation by planting native trees from seedlings sourced on Otago Peninsula.

At Taiaroa Head, Northern Royal Albatross breed in the only mainland colony of any albatross species in the world.

The abundance of food in the ocean close to the continental shelf also attracts large numbers of fur seals, and since 1993 rare New Zealand sea lions have started breeding again on the sandy beaches.

The Otago Peninsula is a stronghold for Yellow-eyed Penguins, one of the world’s rarest penguins. They nest in shrub land along the ocean coast leaving around sunrise for their day’s fishing and returning to their nest sides in the evening.

The tidal inlets attract a large variety of wading birds with some species that breed on the Northern hemisphere escaping the winter there.

 Dunedin weather can sometimes be a bit unpredictable and changing but it suits particularly the Yellow-eyed penguins.

More about Otago Peninsula with Nature Guides Otago .....