Top 10 Nature and Wildlife Tours in Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula

Destination: Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula.
This isn’t just a journey, it’s a story unfolding across gold rush trails, highland outposts, and cinematic landscapes. Travelling from Dunedin to Queenstown with Cheeky Kiwi means you’ll experience the very best of Central Otago in a way that’s personal, luxurious, and unforgettable. Most tours are about getting from A to B. Ours is about everything in between. From the moment you board the historic Taieri Gorge Train in Dunedin, you’re immersed in a world of breathtaking scenery, rich history, and thoughtful stops that showcase Central Otago’s hidden gems.
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Duration: Around 9 hours.

Destination: Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula.
Expanding on the incredible opportunities of the Wildlife & Penguin Tour, this tour provides the unique opportunity to experience the reserve at sunset. The magnificent light casting over the landscape as the sun sets on the reserve is breathtaking. At points throughout the year, this time of day provides the greatest opportunity to view hoiho | Yellow-eyed Penguins in the wild as they return from a day foraging at sea, as well as opportunities to view other unique wildlife from fur seals, sea lions, shore and land birds, native fauna, and more await you within our private reserve. Best of all, by taking a tour you are joining our work, as tour operations directly fund the conservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and education initiatives at The OPERA.
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Duration: Around 1 hour and a half.

Destination: Queenstown.
Discover Aoraki Mount Cook on a scenic private journey for up to 3–4 people. Your day begins with a morning pick-up from your hotel in Queenstown, Christchurch, or Dunedin. For Queenstown Pickup: Pass by Kawarau Suspension Bridge, Roaring Meg & Cromwell. Stop at Lindis Pass, and High Country Salmon. For Christchurch Pickup: Pass through Geraldine and Fairlie, stop at Fairlie Bakehouse, and visit Lake Tekapo. For Dunedin Pickup: Travel via Waitaki River and Omarama, with stops at Oamaru and High Country Salmon. Enjoy panoramic stops at Lake Pukaki and a scenic drive to Mount Cook. Take in stunning views, walk the Hooker Valley Track with its swing bridges and Hooker Lake, spot alpine kea, or engage in Tasman Glacier View Walks. Visit the Mount Cook Visitor Centre to learn about the area’s history. Choose to finish at Queenstown, Christchurch, Dunedin or end journey at Mount Cook. Total road time will be approximately 8.5 hours.
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Destination: Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula.
This immersive 5 day tour from Dunedin offers you a perfect mixture of travel each day, visiting the majority of the top attractions in New Zealand's South Island. Enjoy optional handpicked activities and places to stay without needing to worry about planning or driving long distances yourself. The itinerary is designed to showcase the beauty of the South Island in a relaxed way. Start your tour in the charming city of Dunedin and conclude in the vibrant city of Christchurch. Enjoy comfort of a private tour for your group, benefiting from a knowledgeable guide-driver and a vehicle exclusively for your group throughout the tour. Enjoy the flexibility to choose your own desired activities or opt for a range of exciting, handpicked 7 optional activities, like a scenic helicopter ride, a cruise in Milford or Doubtful Sound, a unique tour of the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, a scenic gondola ride, thrill jet boating, stargazing in Dark Sky Reserves, and the TranzAlpine scenic train ride.
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Duration: Around 5 days.

Destination: Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula.
Explore New Zealand’s wild southern coast on a scenic one-way tour from Dunedin to Invercargill, traversing the breathtaking Catlins. This full-day adventure features stunning landscapes, including the Nugget Point Lighthouse, Purakaunui Falls, and the ancient petrified forest at Curio Bay. Enjoy a delightful lunch stop in the quirky village of Papatowai, and keep an eye out for native wildlife like seals and penguins. With a maximum of 15 guests, travel in comfort with an expert local guide, ensuring a personal and enriching experience throughout the journey. - Scenic 9-hour tour from Dunedin to Invercargill through the Catlins - Visit iconic sites including Nugget Point and Purakaunui Falls - Enjoy lunch at Papatowai and explore the Lost Gypsy Caravan - Small group experience in a comfortable Mercedes-Benz vehicle
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Duration: Around 9 hours.

Destination: Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula.
See up to 200 blue penguins returning from sea in the evening! (Generally more penguins are seen over the spring/summer than our autumn or winter months, but we guarantee to see penguins every night!! In the non-breeding months of March to August we often see 20-50 birds each night, however on rare occasions we might see fewer than 10 birds). Extremely close viewing of these birds. Learn about the Māori history of this significant site. Tour includes a special "behind the scenes" look at the reserve and penguin habitat. We are the only blue penguin evening tours that allows photography (but no flash photography) Voted in the top 10 experiences in New Zealand (TripAdvisor 2022). Most tours are led by conservation experts/biologists. Other wildlife often seen (e.g., seals, sealions, albatross)
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Duration: Around 1 hour and a half.

Destination: Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula.
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.
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Duration: Around 5 hours.

Destination: Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula.
Fewer People - More Wildlife! The Clearwater Family's Farm is home to more wildlife per square meter than anywhere in Dunedin. The intimate small group tours offer the chance to see Yellow-eyed penguins, NZ sea lions, NZ fur seals, albatross plus a wide variety of birdlife, in the wild. Your professionally guided tour of no more than 10 people will take you to the private beach & wildlife reserves through our working farm at Cape Saunders on the Otago Peninsula. A wild and untamed, dramatic environment that we are lucky enough to share with some of New Zealand's rarest species. The aim is to give you a truly authentic wildlife experience and leave you with memories that will last for a lifetime. The Clearwater family has deep roots here and is devoted to preserving and enhancing its pristine beauty. Become a part of our shared commitment to protect its natural wildlife habitats.
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Duration: Around 4 hours.

Destination: Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula.
Small group tours, by Otago Harbour's most experienced skipper/guide! You wont find a wildlife guide with more experience on Otago Harbour then owner/operator Rachel McGregor. She has had 20 +years experience skippering/guiding/operating commercial vessels on Otago Harbour, including dredger, coastguard, harbourmaster and more. Modern, comfortable, safe, fast and custom built boat. Approx 1.5 hours -2 hours in duration. -Full professional amplified commentary -Quality binoculars provided. -Bathroom onboard, heated cabin -Learn about historic Quarantine Stations and old shipwrecks. -See and learn about the fishing boats, workboats, dredges and ships as we pass Port Chalmers and Careys Bay. -Look for albatross, penguins, seals, sea lions, sea birds, marine mammals and more as we cruise past roosting, breeding and feeding areas. -See/learn about the historic pilots houses, search light and gun emplacements and the old whaling stations. -Cruise around Taiaroa Head, Nature reserve.
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Destination: Port Chalmers.
A relaxed and friendly small group tour (max. 8 pax) showing you Dunedin's most impressive, unique and charming sights, including a tour of the only castle in the country: Larnach Castle. With an entertaining mix of storytelling, photo ops, scenery, and charm, our tours provide visitors with an unforgettable experience and a fantastic insight into our hometown - Otepoti Dunedin. Auch auf Deutsch!
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Duration: Around 5 hours.