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Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience

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Overview

Available languages

English

5 hours

Mobile ticket

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.

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)

We will offer viator refunds of 30% if we see less than 5 penguins ! (Lower than booking direct through our own website where we can offer refunds of 50%)

If no availability on this site, check our own website for additional availability.

As a Charitable Trust our aim is to look after our reserve and protect the Otago Peninsula's largest penguin colony.

Voted in the top 10 TripAdvisor's Best Experiences in New Zealand 2023.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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 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

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

1

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.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable
2

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.

1 hour 45 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

All Fees and Taxes

Air-conditioned vehicle

Options

Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience

Pickup included

Reviews

4.94

163 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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  • Blue penguins galore!

    Janine G,,Jan 25, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    What an amazing experience. Saw over 120 penguins come to shore in one hour! Excellent info and presentation also.

  • This tour delivered

    Escape56131555341,,Jan 21, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    The entire experience was wonderful. Our guide, Danni, shared so much knowledge about the area on our way to the viewing. The viewing area was perfect. We saw over 100 penguins come up to shore and waddle to their nest. I liked that we did not disturb our disrupt them. I would recommended this trip.

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  • Absolutely amazing

    Denise C,,Jan 19, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    Absolutely amazing trip, the team are friendly, knowledgeable and professional, from hotel pick up to drop of the trip was well organised, lovely clean and comfortable transport The platform to I see the penguins is fantastic they come so close and everybody gets a chance to see them. We were fortunate to all see a sea lion

  • blue penguins and the sea

    berndsT19LC,,Jan 19, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    wonderful tour, well organized. Very well informed head. Also Albatros Center informative. Highlight the approaching penguins and waddle ashore. About 30 of them.

  • Penguin tour

    Diane W,,Jan 18, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    Our experience was really amazing. Danny, our tour guide, she was extremely knowledgeable, very enthusiastic, her passion for New Zealand and its animals and environment was infectious! Loved seeing the penguins!

  • A must-do activity in Dunedin

    GrandTour384114,,Jan 17, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    “Phenomenal” is the word my son uses to describe this beautiful trip. Sian is so knowledgeable and patience. Everyone else is also passionate about protecting the birds. My son was so touched and said he would do the same when he grows up.

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  • Great experience

    LilyNancy F,,Jan 6, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    Learned a lot about the area and its history and wildlife and saw some great birds and scenery during the drive. The Little Blue Penguins were late arriving home but worth the wait. They were amazingly cutie

  • Absolutely stunning!

    Maschatrouvaille,,Jan 5, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Just absolutely amazing! Danny was such a lovely guide, we learned so much from her about wildlife, plants, culture, history and of course penguins! Saw a lot as well as many birds and sea lions and seals! Her enthusiasm, in depth explorations, knowledge and fun interactions were truly special! Wholeheartedly to recommend!

  • Great tour with mega cute penguins

    Melanie M,,Jan 5, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    This was a great tour that I can recommend to anyone. The Otago Peninsula is beautiful and the penguins are mega cute. It was also great that we were able to film and photograph the penguins (without flash, of course). Also our guide was great and gave us a lot of information.

  • Otago Peninsula and little blue penguins tour

    ericpV9919TN,,Dec 30, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Jono, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the many birds and wildlife that we saw, on several stops, along our Otago Peninsula route. On the way to the little blue penguins. Elliot, at the Royal albatross center was also quite detailed in his presentation, to the point that I got a bit impatient, nervous that we would miss the penguins emerging from the water. Suggestion - please let the audience know the duration of the presentation and the timing for the evenings itinerary to avoid impatience or anxiety. All in all, a wonderful experience, even though it was a cold, windy, rainy night. Highly recommend this tour and a big thank you and congratulations to the crew for doing such a wonderful job of rehabilitating the little blue penguins.

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From NZ$165.00

4.94
(163 reviews)
Check availability

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