Otago Peninsula Scenery & City Highlights Tour
Tour at Glance
Duration: Approximately 5–6 hours
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Price: From NZD 240 per person*
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Departure points: Port Chalmers Cruise Terminal for cruise passengers or the Octagon in central Dunedin for independent travellers
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Group size: Up to 18 guests on busy cruise-ship days, with considerably smaller groups on most non-cruise days
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Includes: Comfortable transport, an experienced local driver-guide, bottled water and approximately one hour of free time at the Royal Albatross Centre
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Please note: This tour does not include the guided Royal Albatross Centre experience or access to the breeding-colony observatory. During your free time, you can visit the café and souvenir shop, explore Taiaroa Head and, when conditions are suitable, watch albatross soaring above the headland.
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An additional booking fee applies.
Lunch and personal expenses are not included. Albatross are wild, and sightings cannot be guaranteed.
TOUR DETAILS
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Meet Your Guide
For cruise passengers, your guide will meet you at 9.00 am in the tour waiting area at Port Chalmers Cruise Terminal, located between doors 1 and 2. The tour departs at 9.30 am, or earlier if all guests have arrived.
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Independent travellers will meet their guide at 9.00 am in the Octagon in central Dunedin, outside the Dunedin Visitor Centre. Please check the departure time shown for your chosen date when booking.
Discover Dunedin
Begin with a scenic drive into Dunedin, enjoying views of Otago Harbour and photographic opportunities along the way.
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Visit Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest street, where you will have approximately 10 minutes to take photographs or walk partway up the hill.
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Continue to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking Dunedin before enjoying a relaxed guided stroll through the Upper Botanic Garden. See an impressive collection of plants and visit the aviaries housing native New Zealand birds.
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The city portion of the tour also includes a visit to the magnificent Dunedin Railway Station, where you will learn about its history and distinctive architecture.
Explore the Otago Peninsula
Leave the city and travel across the Otago Peninsula via spectacular Highcliff Road. Enjoy sweeping views of the harbour, ocean, bays and surrounding countryside, with several stops for photographs along the way.
Free Time at the Royal Albatross Centre
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At Taiaroa Head, enjoy approximately one hour of free time at the Royal Albatross Centre. You can purchase lunch or a drink from the café, visit the souvenir shop and explore the surrounding area.
When the weather is windy enough, you may see northern royal albatross soaring above the headland. As the albatross are wild, sightings and activity vary according to the season and weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed.
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This tour does not include the guided Royal Albatross Centre experience or access to the breeding-colony observatory. If you would like to join the guided experience, please select our Dunedin, Otago Peninsula Scenery & Guided Albatross Tour instead.
Return Journey
Return along Portobello Road, following the edge of Otago Harbour and enjoying a different perspective of the peninsula.
Cruise passengers will normally be returned directly to Port Chalmers between approximately 3.30 pm and 4.00 pm, depending on the day’s itinerary and cruise-ship schedule.
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If your ship departs later, you may choose to finish the tour in central Dunedin and spend additional time exploring independently. In this case, you will be responsible for arranging your own transport back to Port Chalmers and allowing sufficient time to return before your ship’s departure.
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The itinerary and its order may be adjusted when necessary because of road closures, weather conditions, late cruise-ship arrivals, early departures or other circumstances beyond our control.