Albatross Viewing at Taiaroa Head...

Albatross Viewing at Taiaroa Head Carpark

Albatross Viewing at Taiaroa Head Carpark

22 Rankers Reviews

16 Face-to-Face

1 Portobello

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Tairoa Head Royal Albatross Colony

Information

Albatross Viewing at Taiaroa Head Carpark

Park on up, visit the Royal Albatross Centre and you may be lucky enough to spot an Albatross - or at least a black backed gull.... However the odd massive albatross (you won't miss it!) does land here. It has happened during the summer months, especially with adolescents returning back to the headland for the first time. Birds can become disoriented in thick sea mist also or misjudge the wind currents on occasion and have to make an emergency landing in the carpark. Good luck for the spotting!

Details

Feature Value Info

Location

South IslandCoastal OtagoPortobello

Categories

  • Activity__bird_watchingBird Watching
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-45.774527666789

170.728225708008

Latitude
-45.774527666789
Longitude
170.728225708008

Nearby

Reviews

    • Very interesting.
    • Just go there watch for free from carpark.
    • Great place for getting the feeling of wind.
    • You can see flying albatross behind the cliffs.
    • Just a bunch of birds doing bird stuff.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 5
    23%
    9/10 5
    23%
    8/10 7
    32%
    7/10 2
    9%
    6/10 2
    9%
    5/10 1
    5%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 5.0/5

    The fees for the tours support the conservation efforts of the Royal Albatross Centre, you numpties!

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Very interesting!

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017

  • 3.0/5

    It's a beautiful place but I was here several times in the early 90s and was disappointed in the way the centre has changed.

    It used to be much cheaper ? Free to see them and I'm sure the penguins were free too. This meant far more people saw them. 100 dollars for 2 people is really expensive. The nearby boat trip looked better value. If it was 10 dollars each far more people would do the tours. They didn't even have the webcam on show which seemed bizarre.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    We went at watched sea lions/seals during their sun bath, you can get quite close but you should keep your distance to not disturb them.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Saw plenty of albatross flying around.

    Didn't pay to go in the centre as felt it was too expensive. Would have liked to have seen the babies though. Also saw heaps of seals on the walk down the hill. If you time it right you can secretely tag along with a small tour group and listen to the information for free as they walk along the boardwalk.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great place for watching Albatross, seals and penguins.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Head to Taiaroa Head at the Otago Peninsula to see the Albatross in full flight - near the carpark out on the cliff.

    See them for free.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in December 2015

  • 3.0/5

    Just a bunch of birds doing bird stuff.

    Alright views, spotted a view of those fancy birds wearing a tuxedo.

    Reviewed about 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great place for getting the feeling of wind.

    Nice view. Opportunity to go the the Albatross Centre or only walking around.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    You can walk around the viewing boardwalks and lookouts for free - totally worth it!

    We saw numerous Albatross flying above our heads, seals on the rocks below. Pounding oceanwaves - breathtaking and free!

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.5/5

    When you want to see the albatross you do not have to book a tour.

    Just walk on the right side of the centre and they will fly over your head when it is windy. Great experience!!

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 4.5/5

    You can see flying albatross behind the cliffs.

    You must not book a tour for these.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 5.0/5

    The fees for the tours support the conservation efforts of the Royal Albatross Centre, you numpties!

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Very interesting!

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago and experienced in March 2017

  • 3.0/5

    It's a beautiful place but I was here several times in the early 90s and was disappointed in the way the centre has changed.

    It used to be much cheaper ? Free to see them and I'm sure the penguins were free too. This meant far more people saw them. 100 dollars for 2 people is really expensive. The nearby boat trip looked better value. If it was 10 dollars each far more people would do the tours. They didn't even have the webcam on show which seemed bizarre.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    We went at watched sea lions/seals during their sun bath, you can get quite close but you should keep your distance to not disturb them.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Great place for watching Albatross, seals and penguins.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Saw plenty of albatross flying around.

    Didn't pay to go in the centre as felt it was too expensive. Would have liked to have seen the babies though. Also saw heaps of seals on the walk down the hill. If you time it right you can secretely tag along with a small tour group and listen to the information for free as they walk along the boardwalk.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Head to Taiaroa Head at the Otago Peninsula to see the Albatross in full flight - near the carpark out on the cliff.

    See them for free.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in December 2015

  • 3.0/5

    Just a bunch of birds doing bird stuff.

    Alright views, spotted a view of those fancy birds wearing a tuxedo.

    Reviewed about 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great place for getting the feeling of wind.

    Nice view. Opportunity to go the the Albatross Centre or only walking around.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    You can walk around the viewing boardwalks and lookouts for free - totally worth it!

    We saw numerous Albatross flying above our heads, seals on the rocks below. Pounding oceanwaves - breathtaking and free!

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.5/5

    When you want to see the albatross you do not have to book a tour.

    Just walk on the right side of the centre and they will fly over your head when it is windy. Great experience!!

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 4.5/5

    You can see flying albatross behind the cliffs.

    You must not book a tour for these.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 3.5/5

    You can visit the Albratross Centre for free and if you go to the 100metres right at the centre (public land) you can also see the albatross and seals for free rather than pay for expensive tour.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Just go there watch for free from carpark.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011

  • 3.5/5

    I just stood in the car park and watched the birds flying around above us.

    It was special and I'm not sure what more you'd get from doing the tour as all the info you could possibly need is displayed in the guest centre for free.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    You need to pay if you wanna go to the nesting sites, but you can just stay on the parking lot and they will fly around your head on a windy day......

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Very interesting.

    Reviewed about 14 years ago and experienced in May 2010

  • 5.0/5

    Save your money and stay in the car park and watch the Albatrosses just overhead.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    Tim's avatar

    Tim

  • 4.0/5

    Very interesting visit and good visuals of the Albatrosses

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    No wind, no flying birds.

    Staff don't say it.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Good viewing of the big bird at the parking next to the albatross centre.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago