The Otago Peninsula Trust did not let the pandemic stop it from celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first guided tour to see royal albatrosses at Taiaroa Head.
Among those at the opening of the Royal Albatross Centre by Minister of Tourism Allan Highet in 1972 was Jeanice Taiaroa, a tour guide that day.
She was also present for celebrations at the centre yesterday and recalled loving working with the birds, which she described as intelligent and beautiful.
She was particularly fond of Grandma, who went on to claim the record — since broken — for being the oldest of the large seabirds known to have produced a chick at age 62.
A pair of females, who became surrogate parents, were also "quite entertaining".
When it was opened the centre was in a "little wee cottage" previously used by families of lighthouse keepers at the end of a rough road.
Lance Richdale, the revered "seabird genius" who camped in a tent to ensure the first fledging of an albatross at Taiaroa Head in 1938, was the guest of honour on the day the centre opened.
Otago Peninsula Trust general manager Robyn McDonald said the centre had grown to become a world-class attraction.
It had gone from 240 people taking a tour in 1972 to attracting its millionth visitor by 2011. Pre-Covid-19, it had been drawing more than 100,000 visitors per year, of which 30% to 40% took a tour.
"The successful achievement of this milestone is an accolade to the vision of the trustees 50 years ago and the many members of the team who have hosted visitors and developed the tours for last half century."
Despite facing difficult times due to Covid-19 hitting international visitor numbers, the trust was dedicated to preserving and enhancing Otago Peninsula for the next 50 years for all to enjoy.
As part of celebrations yesterday, visitors were offered half-price tours.
