Iconic Wildlife Tour with Yellow Eyed Penguins & Royal Albatross

4.8 (37 reviews) 7 hours

out of 5

37 reviews

4.8

Yellow Eyed Penguin — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Royal Albatross Centre — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Visit the habitat of the world's rarest penguin. Walk through a private nature reserve on this guided tour for a chance to see the endangered Yellow Eyed Penguin, Little Blue Penguins and NZ Fur seals in the wild. Specially designed hides allow for close viewing of Yellow Eyed Penguins in their nesting habitat *please note the penguins are not kept in captivity in the reserve and they may not always be visible from the hides. A visit to the penguin rehabilitation hospital is also included in this tour.

This tour also visits the Royal Albatross Colony for a guided tour of the nesting area.

Lookouts, photo stops and full commentary provided throughout. Also included is a brief tour of Dunedin's main city sights.

Day Trips Nature and Wildlife Tours Full-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Ports of Call Tours Shore Excursions Involves Animals

At a glance

Duration: 7 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 20 people
People per booking: 1–10
Guide: English
Operated by: Iconic Tours NZ Ltd

Ages: Children (0–15 years) · Adults (16–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Cruise Port pickup and drop off; Please meet us inside the Visitor Building on ship's wharf
Included: Entry fees to Royal Albatross guided tour
Included: Entry fees to The OPERA (Yellow Eyed Penguin guided tour)

Itinerary

The Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance

1 h 30 min Admission included

A chance to see Penguins, NZ Furseals and other wildlife in a private nature reserve. Access is by small group tour with a specialist wildlife guide only. Wildlife are free to come and go to and from the sea. The rare Yellow Eyed Penguin nests here but they are very shy and it is not always possible to see them. You will get a close up look at Little Blue Penguins nesting on the reserve. The walking is easy, less than 1 km, but there are a number of steps in and out of the reserve area. reasonable level of mobility is required for this tour.
The Royal Albatross Centre

one hour

On this tour we include a visit to the Royal Albatross Centre. It is free entry to the info gallery, cafe and gift shop. Some people opt to do the Albatross Tour add-on (*additional fee applies) where you will go on a special 1 hour guided tour of the nesting area. Viewing is from behind glass but the view itself, seeing the nesting area up close, and informative guide make for an unforgettable experience.
Otago Peninsula

4 hours

Dunedin's wildlife are mostly found on the Otago Peninsula. This is a stunning piece of land that juts out from the mainland, almost like an island. We take you to the far reaches of the Peninsula, with the chance of spotting a variety of bird life. We always take the High Road for spectacular views and lookouts, and the Low Road for the scenic harbor-side drive.
Baldwin Street - World's Steepest Street!

30 min

Another must stop and see destination on all of our tours. The quirky Baldwin Street never fails to turn heads. It really does hold the record for steepest street in the World. But sometimes the only way to convince you is to take you there!
Stop 5

20 min

Likely the most photographed building in all of NZ, Dunedin's grand Railway Station is a must see. We always take the time to stop here to look inside at the beautiful mosaic floor and lavishly decorated interior.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

City based passengers meet us at the main entrance to Dunedin Railway Station. Pickup time will be 30 minutes after scheduled departure time from Port Chalmers (i.e. 9:30am). Please be ready 10 minutes prior.
Cruise ship passengers meet us inside the Visitor Building on ship's wharf Port Chalmers, Dunedin. Look out for our guide holding a sign "ICONIC WILDLIFE TOUR"

Start time is 9am.

End point

City based passengers meet us at the main entrance to Dunedin Railway Station. Pickup time will be 30 minutes after scheduled departure time from Port Chalmers (i.e. 9:30am). Please be ready 10 minutes prior.
Cruise ship passengers meet us inside the Visitor Building on ship's wharf Port Chalmers, Dunedin. Look out for our guide holding a sign "ICONIC WILDLIFE TOUR"

Start time is 9am.

Using your ticket

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
If your ship is delayed we will wait for you as long as possible. If you are lost please ask one of the I-Site staff in the terminal or call us direct on +0064 3 472 7776
This tour will return to the ship's wharf at least 1 hour prior to ship's departure

Hotel pickups commence prior to this time, you must contact the local service provider to verify your exact pickup time.

Tour departs within walking distance of the cruise port

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

If you cancel	You get back
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
Children must be accompanied by an adult
This tour involves short walks on unsealed tracks and there are a number of easy steps to negotiate in the reserve. Please bring suitable footwear.
Wildlife are free to come and go as they please. While we make every effort to maximise the opportunities to see wildlife, we cannot guarrantee exactly what you will see on the day
Not recommended for people with mobility aids