Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Royal Albatross Colony
The wild and exposed eastern tip of the Otago Peninsula is the site of a breeding colony of royal albatrosses. Among the largest birds in the world, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet, they can take off only from steep slopes with the help of a strong breeze. With the exception of this colony and those in the Chatham Islands to the east, the birds are only on windswept islands deep in southern latitudes, far from human habitation. Under the auspices of the Royal Albatross Centre, the colony is open for viewing all year, except during a two-month break between mid-September and mid-November when the birds lay their eggs; the visitor center is open year-round. The greatest number of birds is present shortly after the young albatrosses hatch near the end of January. Between March and September, parents leave the fledglings in their nests while they gather food for them. In September, the young birds fly away, returning about eight years later to start their own breeding cycle. Access to the colony is strictly controlled, and you must book in advance. From the visitor center you go in groups up a steep trail to the Albatross Observatory, from which you can see the birds through viewing windows.
1260 Harington Point Rd., Taiaroa Head, Otago, New Zealand03-478–0499Sight Details
Rate Includes: NZ$52 -
2. Larnach Castle
High on a hilltop with commanding views from its battlements, the grand baronial fantasy of William Larnach, an Australian-born businessman and New Zealand politician, was a vast extravagance even in the free-spending days of the gold rush in the 1870s. Larnach imported an English craftsman to carve the ceilings, which took 12 years to complete. The solid marble bath, marble fireplaces, tiles, glass, and even much of the wood came from Europe. Larnach rose to a prominent position in the New Zealand government of the late 1800s, but in 1898, beset by a series of financial disasters and possible marital problems, he committed suicide in Parliament House—when, according to one version of the story, his third wife, whom he married at an advanced age, ran off with his youngest son. The 35 acres of grounds around the castle include lodging, a rain-forest garden with kauri, rimu, and totara trees, statues of Alice in Wonderland characters (see if you can find the Cheshire Cat), a herbaceous walk, and a South Seas Walkway lined with palms and aloe plants. New Zealand's only castle is a 20-minute drive from Dunedin but can be tricky to find, so follow the directions on the website.
145 Camp Rd., Dunedin, Otago, 9077, New Zealand03-476–1616Sight Details
Rate Includes: From NZ$17.50 garden only, $35 garden and castle -
3. Orokonui Ecosanctuary
A 30-minute drive northeast of Dunedin is a 759-acre forest where native plants and wildlife thrive in relative safety surrounded by an 8.7-km (5-mile) predator-proof fence. This is necessary because much of New Zealand wildlife is threatened by pests and predators introduced into the country before settlers knew any better, and Orokonui is unique because it was the first of only three mainland eco-sanctuaries on the South Island. The latest attraction here is a jewel gecko enclosure. The park offers good walking tracks, informative displays, a café, and a souvenir shop. Parents, grab a Kiwi Ranger booklet from the front desk, which lists lots of activities to keep the kids amused during the day; if they complete the tasks, they earn a "Kiwi Ranger" badge.
600 Blueskin Rd., Waitati, Otago, 9059, New Zealand03-482–1755Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours from NZ$20 -
4. Penguin Place
Harrington PointThis conservation project is entirely funded by guided tours of the private reserve. If you'd like to observe the world's most endangered penguin in its natural habitat, visit Penguin Place, where an ingenious network of tunnels has been disguised so that you can get close. The penguins, also known as hoiho (meaning "noise shouter" in Māori), are characterized by their yellow irises and headbands. Tours run throughout the afternoon but must be booked in advance. If you can't bring yourself to leave, Penguin Place Lodge offers basic and inexpensive farm-stay accommodation.
45 Pakihau Rd., Dunedin, Otago, 9077, New Zealand03-478–0286Sight Details
Rate Includes: NZ$55, Reservations essential -
5. Taiaroa Head
Overlooking the albatross colony at Fort Taiaroa is the world's only restored Armstrong "Disappearing" Gun, a 6-inch-caliber artillery piece installed during the Russian Scare of 1886, when Russia was making hostile maneuvers through the Pacific. The gun was shot in anger only once, during World War II, when it was fired across the bow of a fishing boat that failed to observe correct procedures. Tours range from 30 to 90 minutes and can include albatross viewing, Fort Taiaroa, and an Albatross Insight presentation.
Taiaroa Head, Otago, New ZealandSight Details
Rate Includes: Combined tour with Albatross Colony NZ$62 -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. The Mole
The Mole, which splits the picturesque white-sand beach at the end of the Aramoana Peninsula, is a 1-km-long (½-mile-long) artificial breakwater protecting the entrance to Otago Harbour. A walk atop the breakwater is especially exciting when there is a big running sea. The beach and sand dunes to the east are known as Shelly Beach, while to the west, Big Beach extends for more than 2 km (about a mile). At points along this stretch, steep rock faces come down to the waterline and are popular with rock climbers. Seals can be found sun bathing on the rocks.
New Zealand
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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