Dunedin road temporarily closed for sea lion and pup

Photo / Stephen Jaquiery

A Dunedin road has been closed for a month so a sea lion and its pup can get safely to a Saint Kilda beach.

At least 10 other female sea lions have been spotted in the area, with a further 10 expected for breeding season.

Car access is closed to John Wilson Ocean Drive, after the mother and pup made a home at a golf course.

DOC Coastal Biodiversity Ranger Jim Fyfe said the public became aware of the pair quickly with the pup making a lot of noise after it was born on Thursday.

The mother named Hiriwa will soon begin to walk 500 metres each day to the water to feed - before the pair head off to sea in a month.

Fyfe said the mothers are trying to get away from male sea lions - but they don't think about people, cars and dogs.

He said it's important to remove the danger of cars and keep dogs on leads - while the mothers make their journey's to the water each day over the next month.

New Zealand sea lions are endangered and one of the rarest sea lion species in the world.