When the bells are pealing in Dunedin, don't bother rushing to a church hoping to see a wedding. In this city, the celebratory sound is not always synonymous with a white dress and confetti.
When spring comes, the bells are more likely to be announcing the arrival of a very different bird - the majestic royal albatross, coming home from a year at sea to court and breed at Taiaroa Head.
On the tip of the peninsula about one hour's drive from Dunedin is the only mainland breeding colony of albatrosses in the world.
The Royal Albatross Centre runs tours to an observatory and educational talks about the lifecycle of the royal albatross. It also runs tours of the tunnels of Fort Taiaroa, established more than 100 years ago to counter the threat of invasion from Tsarist Russia. The centre is open all year, except on Christmas Day, and there are no tours on Tuesdays.
Monarch Wildlife Cruises began its summer cruise and tour programme on September 1. These tours not only observe the albatrosses, but also the fur seal colony, yellow-eyed penguins and eight other species of nesting seabirds.
Contact:
Royal Albatross Centre
ph (03) 478 0499
E-mail: reservations@albatrosses.com
Monarch Wildlife Cruises
ph 0800 666 272
E-mail: monarch@wildlife.co.nz
Dunedin rings for the return of the birds
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