Today I am going to the Otago Peninsula with Monarch Wildlife Cruises.

Departing from Dunedin, the small vessel is bringing us along the Otago Pensinsula. Jackets and binoculars are offered whic is great because it's a bit chilly outside.

The first part of the cruise is very relaxing. We cruise the lenght of the beautiful harbour and we can already see some birds and also big boats. Everybody is very friendly and wave at us from their boats. On the way the attentive staff point us to a small blue penguin fishing in the water.

An hour later, after a stop at Wellers Rock, we arrive at the spectacular Taiaroa Head just below the Royal Albatross Center. This place is amazing! It's like a very big hill with cliffs, colorful rocks and thousands of birds from 10 different species.

What we see can only be seen from the sea and it's so spectacular that I would recommend you to do this Wildlife cruise either from Dunedin or from Wellers Rock. The schoolchildren that went with us were very happy especially when we saw baby seals.

We then went out to the sea and we are lucky to be greated by albatross flying very at a 10m distance. Thses albatross are Northern Royal Albatross and the Taiaoroa Head is the only mainland nesting place in the world!

Finally we boarded off at Wellers Rock at about 12.30 and the other passengers are returing to Dunedin. I decided to stay to visit the Otago Pensinsula. I then took this picture of a seal the Monarch Cruise boat from the beach below the Albatross Center.