Dunedin City Highlights, Peninsula Scenery & Penguin Tour



Penguin Place reserve viewing Fromm hides

Embark on a scenic drive from Port Chalmers to discover the charm of Dunedin city and the Otago Peninsula, New Zealand’s wildlife capital. Along the way, stop at the iconic Dunedin Railway Station, one of the most photographed buildings in the Southern Hemisphere. As you journey through the Otago Peninsula, take in the stunning views of its breathtaking bays, beaches, and harbor—home to a rich variety of wading birds.
To enrich your experience, we recommend joining a guided tour at the Yellow-eyed Penguin Reserve, dedicated to the conservation of the endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin. The reserve’s vital conservation efforts are funded entirely by these tours, supporting habitat restoration, predator control, research programs, and on-site care for sick, injured, or starving penguins. By participating, you’ll be directly contributing to this essential work to protect these remarkable birds from the threat of extinction.
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TOUR DETAILS
Departure: 9.30am*
Price: from NZD275* per person
Duration: 6 hours
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Depart at the Octagon, outside Dunedin Visitor Centre (non cruise ship passengers)
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Join our scenic drive from Port Chalmers to Dunedin city and listen to a story of Dunedin (cruise ship passengers)
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Visit the steepest street in the world
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Enjoy views of the city from a local lookout point
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Free time to explore Dunedin Botanic Garden
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Stop at Otago University
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Drive through George street - our main shopping area and the Octagon - the heart of the city
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Stop at First Church of Otago
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Stop at the Dunedin Railway Station-one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand
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Scenic drive onto Otago Peninsula via Highcliff Road
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A guided tour at Yellow Eyed Penguin Reserve
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Back to town or port via Portobello Road to enjoy different scenery
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​Please note that wildlife viewing cannot be guaranteed, as animals come and go freely within their natural habitat. Yellow-eyed penguins, in particular, are among the rarest penguin species in the world, with very few left in the wild. While sightings are possible, you may only see a few or, on rare occasions, none at all.
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*On some occasions when the cruise ship arrives later we delay our departure to accommodate cruise ship passengers. Please click "book now" and check our departure for a chosen day
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*An additional booking fee applies

Lifecycle of Yellow Eyed Penguins
Mid-August: The 28-week breeding season begins when partnerships are formed or renewed, and nest sites are selected. Mating takes place.
Mid-September/October: Two greenish-white eggs, about 75×55 mm in size, are laid. Both parents take turns to incubate, which takes about 43 days.
November/December: The eggs hatch and the guard stage begins. This is a 40-50 day period when one parent stays at the nest to brood while the other fishes. Upon their return they perform an elaborate greeting ceremony of trills and calls before feeding their hungry chicks. Although guarded constantly during this stage, the chicks are still vulnerable to predators.
January: By the time chicks are 6-7 weeks old, both parents must fish each day to satisfy the voracious appetites of their demanding young. This is the post-guard stage and towards the end the chicks will start to lose their soft brown down.
February: The chicks fledge into their waterproof plumage and go to sea, an extremely hazardous time, with fewer than 20% surviving to maturity. Juveniles and non-breeders start their annual moult.
March/April: The parents have just a few weeks to recover and put on weight before beginning the annual moult. They are confined to land whilst they wait for their old feather coat to be replaced.
Early-May: Sleek and shiny in their new plumage, the penguins head out to sea, but return most nights to sleep, preen and socialise.
Soon it will be August and the busy breeding season will begin again. About 80% of surviving juveniles will return to breed at the place where they were hatched. Hoiho are devoted parents. Incubation of eggs and raising of young are shared responsibilities. During a good breeding season yellow-eyed penguin pairs can successfully raise two chicks.