Taiaroa Head

A scenic one hour drive from Dunedin, the historic Taiaroa Head area offers spectacular views and numerous activities.

The headland is named for Te Matenga Taiaroa, a 19th century Māori chief of the Ngai Tahu iwi. Pukekura, a significant Māori pā was located on the headland, having been established about 1650 and still occupied by Māori in the 1840s. It is associated with a daring warrior called Tarewai who was active in the 18th century.

Home to a historic lighthouse which was built in 1864, the Heads are also the only mainland colony of Northern Royal Albatrosses in the world; they established themselves here in 1930’s. With a population of around 140 royal albatross, the Taiaroa colony has seen more than 500 chicks hatch since its establishment.

Explore the ruins of former coastal defences that are located nearby, notably a restored Armstrong Disappearing Gun emplacement built in 1886 following a scare that New Zealand might be invaded by the Russians.