Tour Description:

Calling all nature and wildlife lovers - we have the ultimate experience for you!

The tour begins in Dunedin, travelling by mini-bus up over the beautiful Otago Peninsula high road. You’ll see great views of the harbour and the rugged coastline. Our guide will provide stories about the area, it’s history, the local wildlife and other interesting facts.

As you drive around the inlet eco-systems you’ll likely see a variety of different shore birds. We frequently spot pukeko, kingfishers, swans, godwits, ducks, royal spoonbills and many other wonderful species.

The tour stops for a short walk along a remote beach. Landscape photographers will love the spectacular views of cliffs and nearshore islands. Keep an eye out for the charismatic and huge sea lions, who inhabit the sandy beaches of this region.

Following your time on the beach, you’ll continue by bus along the Otago Peninsula to the Royal Albatross Centre. Here you’ll have an hour to check-out the centres displays, walk along the clifftop boardwalk and down to Pilots Beach.

The Standard Tour doesn’t include a visit to the centre’s observatory room which overlooks the nesting colony. If you’d like to upgrade to that Encounters option, or include a Wildlife Cruise, click one of the buttons below.

You will then visit a conservation reserve with unrivalled access to yellow-eyed penguin breeding area. We’ll walk you through regenerated native bushland to special viewing hides that are scattered throughout the reserve. From here you’ll have a great opportunity to see the world’s rarest and most endangered penguin. Some tours will include a brief look at the onsite Penguin Hospital, where they look after sick and injured birds.

The big day out will end with a relaxed drive back to Dunedin, as the sun dips low over the Otago Harbour.