The Otago Peninsula is a long, hilly indented finger of land that forms the easternmost part of Dunedin, New Zealand. Volcanic in origin, it forms one wall of the eroded valley that now forms Otago Harbour. It is around 20km long and is joined to the mainland at the south-west end by a narrow isthmus about 1.5#160;km wide. The suburbs of Dunedin encroach onto the western end of the peninsula, and seven townships and communities lie along the harbourside shore. Most of the Otago Peninsula is freehold farming land, with increasing numbers of small holdings or lifestyle blocks however the majority of the land is sparsely populated and occupied by steep open pasture. br/br/At the entrance to the Otago Harbour the peninsula rises to Taiaroa Head, home to a breeding colony of Northern Royal Albatross, the viewing centre for the albatross colony is one of the peninsula's main ecotourism attractions, along with other wildlife such as seals and Yellow-eyed Penguins. These sites are managed as sanctuaries for wildlife including many species of seabirds and waders in particular may be found around the tidal inlets, including spoonbills, plovers, and herons.