Introduction
The hilly Otago Peninsula to the east of Dunedin is one of New Zealand's most impressive wildlife hotspots. Species here include the little penguin, hooker sea lions, elephant and fur seals and the endangered yellow-eyed penguin, or hoiho, which features on the reverse of a NZ$5 note.
The real celebrities however are the royal albatrosses, which can be spotted at Taiaroa Head. These magnificent birds, with a wingspan of between two and three metres, usually breed on offshore islands - making the Otago Peninsula the only mainland albatross-breeding colony in the world.
