The Royal Albatross Centre, Dunedin New Zealand

Did I ever tell you about the amazing visit we had to the Royal Albatross Centre, Dunedin NZ.

It was a wet and very, very windy day. We wondered if we should bother to go to the Albatross Centre but as we wanted to visit and we were running out of holidays we went to the Centre.

It happened to be the ideal conditions for visiting the Albatross Centre. You see albatrosses are so heavy they need wind to enable them to get lift to fly. 

And on that day - fly they did. We were privileged to have about eight albatrosses flying around us. They glided majestically around for hours thoroughly enjoying the weather conditions. And there were babies in the nests also. 

The tour was very interesting. The wing span is huge - as tall as me - and that is only one half of the bird. This photo is our favourite of our trip in New Zealand.

Albatross in flight, Royal Albatross Centre, Dunedin NZ

Welcome to the home of the Royal Albatross

The Royal Albatross Centre is located at Taiaroa Head on the tip of the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin. Owned and operated by the Otago Peninsula Trust, a charitable trust, whose purpose and objective is the protection and enhancement of the Otago Peninsula. Taiaroa Head itself, a nature reserve is managed by the Department of Conservation.
As well as being the only mainland place in the world to view Northern Royal Albatrosse in their natural habitat, Taiaroa Head has a strong historical connection. From Maori settlement in the 1300's to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi: the establishment of the lighthouse and fortifications in the late 1800's, and its use as a defence base during World War I and II, New Zealand's culture and history is uniquely celebrated here alongside wildlife. ............................... for more information- http://www.albatross.org.nz/