Otago Peninsula: Small-Group Wildlife Tour From Dunedin
Immerse yourself in the natural landscape of the Otago Peninsula on this small-group tour. Don't worry about navigating your way on unfamiliar roads, with your guide driving you there. Enjoy taking in the local wildlife and the chance to see native blue penguins. Ideal for nature-lovers and those looking to take a break from the city.
Highlights
- ✓Enjoy a personalized experience in a small-group setting
- ✓Meeting point near public transportation
- ✓Relax at the end of your experience with dropoff at select hotels
- ✓Go beyond the guidebook and learn directly from your guide
What you'll see & do
- ✓We pass by some of the most famous buildings in the city before heading out onto the Otago Peninsula.
- ✓An In-Depth tour of the geology, human history, botany and zoology of the Otago Peninsula. A tour designed by Lyndon Perriman, former wildlife ranger who spent 30 years working on the Otago Peninsula. Known as the wildlife capital of New Zealand, the Otago Peninsula has a wealth of wildlife and ever-changing scenery around each corner. Departing Dunedin be whisked away in one of our vehicles heading for the spectacular wild side of the Otago Peninsula. See incredible wild coastal views, stunning wildlife and highly productive marine environments. This is a tour designed for those that have a thirst for knowledge of the environment. We also explore and weave stories pertaining to some of the most significant sites used by Māori who were here centuries before European arrival. On this part of our journey we encounter a range of wading bird species and some coastal sea bird species.
- ✓On the very end of the Otago Peninsula is Pukekura (Taiaroa Head) an incredibly significant site to Māori and now also and incredibly significant wildlife reserve. Your guide will lead you to cliff viewing locations to observe a wealth of wildlife. Home to 10000 seabirds over the summer months, Pukekura is home to giant albatross and we often see them flying overhead as they return to their nesting locations nearby (nesting location is not visible). Gulls, terns, shags, other seabirds, seals or sea lions are also regular visitors to these shores.
- ✓Here too we join others to start our Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience. Extremely close views of the world's smallest penguin erupting out of the sea at dusk to come ashore to feed their chicks or to rest. Often described by guests as their best wildlife experience in New Zealand, we are fortunate to have the privilege of being right in among the largest penguin colony on the Otago Peninsula as penguins go about their nightly activities. Voted in the top 10 TripAdvisor's Best Experiences in New Zealand 2022. PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED (no flash) Most tours are led by conservation experts/biologists. At our own reserve we have extremely close views of blue penguins (often only 1-2 metres away), fur seals are regulars here too (10-30m away from us) and sea lions are sometimes seen here on the sandy beach (10-50m away from us).
- ✓Return trip back to Dunedin City either via Portobello Road or via Castlewood Road if there are drop offs required at Larnach Castle
What's included
- ✓All Fees and Taxes
- ✓In-vehicle air conditioning
Good to know
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
We have a minimum age requirement of 18 to participate on this tour
Visitors need to be able to walk 300m unaided and manage stairs (about 60 stairs inbuilt along our walkway leading to our viewing platform). Tour and vehicles are not suitable for very young children.
Bring warm clothes we are outside for much of the tour, it can get very cold after dark.
Note we can't have umbrellas on the penguin viewing platform as eye risk to others
MINIMUM AGE OF 18 TO PARTICIPATE this is not a tour for children
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.
Otago Peninsula: Small-Group Wildlife Tour From Dunedin
Immerse yourself in the natural landscape of the Otago Peninsula on this small-group tour. Don't worry about navigating your way on unfamiliar roads, with your guide driving you there. Enjoy taking in the local wildlife and the chance to see native blue penguins. Ideal for nature-lovers and those looking to take a break from the city.
Highlights
- ✓Enjoy a personalized experience in a small-group setting
- ✓Meeting point near public transportation
- ✓Relax at the end of your experience with dropoff at select hotels
- ✓Go beyond the guidebook and learn directly from your guide
What you'll see & do
- ✓We pass by some of the most famous buildings in the city before heading out onto the Otago Peninsula.
- ✓An In-Depth tour of the geology, human history, botany and zoology of the Otago Peninsula. A tour designed by Lyndon Perriman, former wildlife ranger who spent 30 years working on the Otago Peninsula. Known as the wildlife capital of New Zealand, the Otago Peninsula has a wealth of wildlife and ever-changing scenery around each corner. Departing Dunedin be whisked away in one of our vehicles heading for the spectacular wild side of the Otago Peninsula. See incredible wild coastal views, stunning wildlife and highly productive marine environments. This is a tour designed for those that have a thirst for knowledge of the environment. We also explore and weave stories pertaining to some of the most significant sites used by Māori who were here centuries before European arrival. On this part of our journey we encounter a range of wading bird species and some coastal sea bird species.
- ✓On the very end of the Otago Peninsula is Pukekura (Taiaroa Head) an incredibly significant site to Māori and now also and incredibly significant wildlife reserve. Your guide will lead you to cliff viewing locations to observe a wealth of wildlife. Home to 10000 seabirds over the summer months, Pukekura is home to giant albatross and we often see them flying overhead as they return to their nesting locations nearby (nesting location is not visible). Gulls, terns, shags, other seabirds, seals or sea lions are also regular visitors to these shores.
- ✓Here too we join others to start our Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience. Extremely close views of the world's smallest penguin erupting out of the sea at dusk to come ashore to feed their chicks or to rest. Often described by guests as their best wildlife experience in New Zealand, we are fortunate to have the privilege of being right in among the largest penguin colony on the Otago Peninsula as penguins go about their nightly activities. Voted in the top 10 TripAdvisor's Best Experiences in New Zealand 2022. PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED (no flash) Most tours are led by conservation experts/biologists. At our own reserve we have extremely close views of blue penguins (often only 1-2 metres away), fur seals are regulars here too (10-30m away from us) and sea lions are sometimes seen here on the sandy beach (10-50m away from us).
- ✓Return trip back to Dunedin City either via Portobello Road or via Castlewood Road if there are drop offs required at Larnach Castle
What's included
- ✓All Fees and Taxes
- ✓In-vehicle air conditioning
Good to know
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
We have a minimum age requirement of 18 to participate on this tour
Visitors need to be able to walk 300m unaided and manage stairs (about 60 stairs inbuilt along our walkway leading to our viewing platform). Tour and vehicles are not suitable for very young children.
Bring warm clothes we are outside for much of the tour, it can get very cold after dark.
Note we can't have umbrellas on the penguin viewing platform as eye risk to others
MINIMUM AGE OF 18 TO PARTICIPATE this is not a tour for children
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.