Otago Peninsula Tour: Explore Unique Ecosystems and the Blue Penguins Pukekura
4.9
57 Ratings
Dunedin
Embark on an Otago Peninsula tour and explore unique ecosystems, encounter diverse wildlife, and witness the enchanting Blue Penguins Pukekura. Join our renowned wildlife ranger for an unforgettable experience!
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Dunedin - For those joining us from Dunedin we pass by some of the most famous buildings in the city before heading out onto the Otago Peninsula. This 30 minutes does include pick-up times. This part of the journey isn’t available for those joining our bus from the Larnach Castle pick-up because the Castle is situated out on the Otago Peninsula.
What's Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- All fees and/or taxes
Additional Information
If you are a visitor that truly wants to see and understand the unique ecosystems, wildlife, culture, geology and botany of the Otago Peninsula then join this tour.
A tour designed by the Otago Peninsula’s longest serving wildlife ranger.
We see a variety of wildlife species along the way (Note: seasonal).
At Pukekura we have a good chance to see seals nearby & albatross flying overhead.
Later we join our Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience tour, see the world’s smallest penguin emerging from the sea and walking past us just metres away. Note: Others join us for this experience (max 75)
PHOTOGRAPHY IS ALLOWED (no flash)
Most tours are led by conservation experts/biologists
As a Charitable Trust our aim is to look after our reserve and protect the Otago Peninsula’s largest penguin colony. Equally we are committed to making our tours one of the most memorable experiences visitors to New Zealand can have. We were Voted in the top 10 TripAdvisor’s Best Experiences in New Zealand 2022.
- For pick up at Larnach Castle you MUST BE BOOKED TO STAY AT THEIR ACCOMMODATION.
- Please note , Children must be at least 6 years old to participate in this tour.
- To participate children must be at least 6 years old (Vehicles don’t carry small child restraints)
- Visitors need to be able to manage stairs (about 30 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.
Location
Dunedin
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(57 Ratings)
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Tinglin_r
Apr 22, 2024
Pleasant visit to penguins - Thanks to James :) we were a small group and enjoyed whole time with pleasant driving and knowledges from James, many stories on the island and about the wildlife :) James was really nice and after all, the penguins… so adorable :)
Review provided by Viator
D1671zrkimm
Apr 13, 2024
Amazing blue penguin experience - Absolutely amazing experience! Definitely recommend planning this experience when coming to the Dunedin area. It is a beautiful drive along the coast. Our guides are super knowledgeable and welcoming. We learned about the history of the area before walking down a path to the viewing platform. We were able to watch the penguin raft come in from a long day at sea, and make their way up the shore. They stopped just a few feet in front of us to do lots of preening and grooming. Bring layers, as the wind can be chilly, but well worth it! We were also given a yummy biscuit (cookie) while we waited- which wasn’t long.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Crb69
Apr 13, 2024
Blue Penguin Experience! - A wonderful experience! Our guides provided expert history and insight to these clever little blue penguins. The ability to watch the birds come on to shore provided a unique experience we thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommend and well worth the drive while visiting Dunedin.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elaineay6412xg
Mar 15, 2024
You should go! - Our guide Johnathan was very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about the area's plant and bird life on our way to the Peninsula. There, we saw many albatross and blue penguin birds. It was a great evening.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lisaai4286ba
Mar 13, 2024
You need to do this tour - If you are in Dunedin you need to do this tour! Jonathon and Hayden were top notch hosts and very knowledgeable. As it was the moulting season for the penguins we only saw around 10 but I would have been happy with 1! Wrap up warm though as the wind goes right through you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
648deenac
Mar 10, 2024
Don't miss out on this tour...the Otago Peninsula, the Royal Albatross Cente and the Little Blue Penguins are must sees! - I can't recommend this tour highly enough! Not only were the penguins AMAZING to watch, but the drive around the peninsula was beautiful and full of fabulous birds. Our guide, Jonathon, was excellent. He is super knowledgeable and professional, as well as friendly. I learned a lot about the area as well as the penguins. If you are in Dunedin, you should absolutely do this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Larissa
Mar 9, 2024
Penguin Experience - It was absolutely fantastic! I can only recommend it! I would book the tour again immediately! Our driver told us lots of information and showed us beautiful places on the Otago Peninsula. Afterwards we went to the Royal Albatross Center where we were able to watch albatrosses. The highlight, however, were the cute penguins, some of which you could even see from 1m away.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meander04034519503
Mar 2, 2024
Fantastic experience - This was a fantastic tour, our guide Jonathan was so knowledgeable of the area and wildlife. We had a wonderful view of albatross flying overhead and the penguins were amazing. We could not fault this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marisol_p
Mar 1, 2024
Excellent tour! Give it a try. - This tour is not only about the blue pinguins but you get to see the peninsula, gorgeous landscape, the back roads and many birds along the side living in their natural habitat. James was a very good tour guide.
By taking this tour, you also support the conservation center that brought the number of pinguins close to a 1,000 in the area.
Due to the current season where many blue pinguins are molting (Febr- March), most of them 200-300 are hiding in their boxes and only a few as of right now are coming from the sea to the beach (we saw about 20 of them).
Jonathan explained to us the life cycle of the pinguins and then once on the deck he was able to tell us when they were approaching. We were able to ask all the questions we had and left the tour with so much more knowledge compared to when we started.
I totally recommend taking this tour to have once in a lifetime such an amazing experience of discovering the peninsula and the fauna and then learning and seeing the Blue Pinguins (the only ones in New Zealand) coming to shore in their natural habitat.
We also say 3 albatross just before dawn, incredible memories.
Thank you James :-)
Review provided by Viator
Nesta
Mar 11, 2024
Blue Penguins Trip - Our guide, James, was very knowledgeable and helpful. We saw many different birds on our way to view the blue penguins on the Otaga peninsula. The highlight was seeing the penguins come ashore at dusk to return to their nests. Amazing! The only downside was rain and wind the evening we chose.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
