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Otago Peninsula: Stunning and Wild
Otago Peninsula's volcanic past
Watch for albatross soaring above us at Pukekura
A chance to observe sea lions
Visit Dunedin's largest penguin colony

Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience

By Blue Penguins Pukekura
9.8 out of 10
Free cancellation available
Price is AU$131 per adult
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Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 5h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Selective hotel pickup
Overview

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.

Voted in the top 10 TripAdvisor's Best Experiences in New Zealand 2022.

Activity location

  • Dunedin
    • Dunedin, New Zealand

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Dunedin
    • Dunedin, New Zealand

Check availability

Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience
  • Activity duration is 5 hours5h5h
  • English

Pickup included

Language options: English
Starting time: 6:15 pm
Price details
AU$131.37 x 1 AdultAU$131.37
Total
Price is AU$131.37
Until Mon, 3 Feb

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedAir-conditioned vehicle
  • What's includedWhat's includedAll Fees and Taxes

Know before you book

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • 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.
  • Note we can't have umbrellas on the penguin viewing platform as eye risk to others

Activity itinerary

Dunedin
  • 30m
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.
Otago Peninsula
  • 1h 45m
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.
Taiaroa Head
  • 30m
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.
Taiaroa Head
  • 1h 30m
  • Admission ticket included
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).
Otago Peninsula
  • 45m
Return trip back to Dunedin City either via Portobello Road or via Castlewood Road if there are drop offs required at Larnach Castle

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIESDunedin
    • Dunedin, New Zealand

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLEDunedin
    • Dunedin, New Zealand

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