Victory Beach

Victory Beach is located on the Pacific Ocean coast of the Otago Peninsula, in the South Island of New Zealand, some 24 kilometres (15 miles) from Dunedin city centre. The longest beach on the peninsula, Victory Beach is located northeast of the entrance to Papanui Inlet and stretches for 3.5 kilometres. It is backed by a series of high sand dunes. The beach's name derives from the wreck of the S.S. "Victory" off the coast here nearby 1861.

Administered partly by the Otago Peninsula Trust, the beach is a habitat for many rare species, notably yellow-eyed penguins. Other notable birds found in the area include spoonbills, and the beach is located close to the Royal Albatross breeding colony at Taiaroa Head. Both Hooker's sealions and New Zealand fur seals are also found in the area.

Access to the beach is via a narrow metalled road which links to Portobello on the Otago Harbour coast and also, via further narrow roads, with the Highcliff Road which runs along the spine of the peninsula. At the end of the road, a short 15-minute walking track leads to the beach past two large outcrops of columnar basalt known as The Pyramids.

References

*Bishop, G. & Hamel, A. (1993). "From sea to silver peaks". Dunedin: John McIndoe. ISBN 0-86868-149-0.