Portobello

Gateway to the Peninsula's Wild Side

Portobello sits out on the Otago Peninsula, and the drive to get here is half the point. Take your time along the winding coastal road and you'll start to feel how different this place is from Dunedin city proper. The peninsula is the star of the show out this way, and Portobello is right in the thick of it.

Promo code RANKERS - good deal done!

Clearwater Wildlife Tours

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Royal Albatross Centre

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

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Penguins and Albatross Are the Real Draw

If you're here for the wildlife, you'll want to know that rocking up to a public beach and expecting to spot a Yellow-eyed Penguin is not really the play anymore. A guided wildlife tour is now your best bet for a real chance at seeing them in the wild on the peninsula. Worth every cent, and the RANKERS promo code knocks 10% off. The only mainland Northern Royal Albatross colony in the world is out at the far tip of the peninsula too. On a windy day you can often spot them from the carpark for free, but the albatross centre gets you closer and tells you the full story.

Beaches Worth the Wander

Allans Beach is my pick out this way. Quieter than Sandfly Bay, easy to get down to, and you'll often find Sea Lions doing their thing on the sand. Walk south along the beach and you can get properly remote in a short stretch of time. Sandfly Bay is good too if you want the dunes. Both are raw, exposed coast at its best.

Where to Camp

The freedom camping at Harewood Reserve is a solid base for exploring this end of the peninsula. New toilets, well situated, and the little 9-hole coastal Otakou Golf Course is nearby if you fancy a casual round with a view. Life could genuinely be worse.