This local’s discounted tour is only available between 1 May and 31 December each year and only for OTAGO or SOUTHLAND residents.

As a Charitable Trust this is something we are proud to be able to offer but it does come with conditions…..

Only one ticket (with a maximum of up to 5 persons) is available each night in the months listed above.

Proof of residence (e.g. utilities bill) along with matching ID is absolutely required to be shown on the night for your group to be accepted at check-in.

We will not accept any booking where proof of residence and matching ID is not provided.

(Note: If your booking is for a family of up to 5 persons living at the same address, only one utilities bill and a matching ID is required. If your booking includes persons living at another home then their proof of Otago/Southland residence will also be required).

Discover Kororā, the Little Blue Penguin, the world's smallest penguin.

BLUE PENGUINS PUKEKURA EXPERIENCE TOUR (1.5 Hours) Discounted for Otago or Southland residents

At dusk, enjoy close up viewing of little penguins returning from a day at sea within the Takiharuru Pilots Beach nature reserve. Watch penguins just a few metres from us as they scurry up the beach to their cliff-face burrows, often stopping just metres from us, allowing for awesome viewing and photography of these birds in their natural habitat.

Blue Penguins Pukekura tours are hosted by local expert wildlife guides who share the rich cultural history of the area while also sharing biological knowledge of endemic flora and fauna.

It's the mission of Blue Penguins Pukekura to ensuring the protection of the land and increase the diversity of wildlife in this nature reserve while also ensuring visitors experience one of nature’s marvels. We want our visitors to have an experience of a lifetime and their reviews often say this is the best wildlife experience they have had in New Zealand.

PHOTOGRAPGHY IS ALLOWED (non-flash)

WE GUARANTEE PENGUINS AND WILL OFFER REFUNDS* ON ANY NIGHT WHERE WE SEE LESS THAN 5 BIRDS

We see Blue Penguins 99% of the nights we visit the reserve. It is very rare for us to not see any penguins.

* For our Discounted Tour for Otago or Southland Residents we offer of a 50% refund (in the highly unusual situation where we may see fewer than 5 penguins).

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL WE ARE OFTEN SOLD OUT ON THE DAY

For our Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Tour:

This 90 minute tour starts from within the royal albatross centre situated at the end of the Otago Peninsula at Taiaroa Head. Hear local stories and understand how the plentiful resources, the shape and position of this headland led to the area's use by different iwi (tribes) over many centuries.

The beach we visit to view the penguins is owned by local Māori, we spend time learning about their dedication to the preservation of the area and the wildlife inhabitants throughout this one and a half hour guided tour. This small beach (Takiharuru) has a population of over 300 breeding pairs of kororā/little penguins. It is now the largest blue penguin colony on the Otago Peninsula.

Then on our purpose built platform to watch and wait for the first birds to return from sea. Penguin arrival time does vary from night to night and we highly recommend our guests come prepared by wearing extra layers of clothing. It can get cold when the sun goes down so for your enjoyment, wearing extra layers of clothes will help to make this one of your most memorable wildlife experiences. 

We use diffused lights to view the penguins at night (these don’t harm or cause any disturbance to the birds).

We are the only blue penguin viewing location that allows photography at night- however no flash photography is permitted.

All of our conservation, preservation and restoration work is fully funded by the tour fees. Our values are strongly aligned with the principles of Kaitiaki (guardians of the land and its wildlife) and manaakitanga (care and hospitality of our visitors).

Our 90 minute tours currently run every evening (see the calendar on this booking page)

Please check in within the albatross centre 15 minutes prior to your tour start time.

There is plenty of car, bus or camper parking spaces at the albatross centre.

Note****The albatross centre is only open 30 minutes prior to the Blue Penguin Pukekura tour start time****

Fitness: Low level of fitness required, but note there are a number of stairs to walk up and down between the viewing platform and the car park.

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