
Otago Peninsula and Taiaroa Head is a unique and very special place. It is a place that every visitor to Dunedin should see..
David Attenborough
BBC
The Royal Albatross Centre and Pukekura Trust (Joint Venture) operates Little Blue Penguin viewing tours every evening at dusk from its Pukekura facility using a modern, purpose built viewing platform and interactive walkway. Our tour takes place at dusk and your knowledgeable guides will provide you with detailed information about the Little Blue Penguin, a short film from the Korako Karetai family, then viewing Korora, the little blue penguin in its natural habitat at Pilots Beach coming ashore.
(75 minutes)
Discover Kororā, the Little Blue Penguin, the world’s smallest penguin. See them in their natural habitat – scurrying up to their cliff-face burrows at Pilots Beach on the Otago Peninsula. After a day at sea, the penguins congregate in groups known as “rafts” not far offshore where they often can be heard vocalising – usually short, loud squawks. Blue Penguin viewing tours are at dusk when penguins come ashore and make their way to their nests where they feed their chicks or roost. Tour begins at the Royal Albatross Centre with a briefing and introduction before being lead to the penguin platform to watch the Blue Penguins come ashore.
Price valid to: 30 September 2021
*Money raised from the tours is reinvested in to the wildlife reserve to assist with the preservation and protection of Pilots Beach and its Little Blue Penguin colony. Conservation projects include the planting of native trees, installing penguin nest boxes and predator control.
BOOK NOW(Albatross Tour + Blue Penguin Tour)
Join our SPECIAL combo tour – Albatross Blues
This combo includes our last Albatross Tour (60mins) of the day + Blue Penguins Pukekura tour (75mins) at dusk.
Contact us today to make a booking – not available online
Email: reservations@albatross.org.nz or phone (03) 478 0499.
Price valid to: 30 September 2021
Discount/ promo deals not applicable on the Albatross Blues Combo.
The Royal Albatross Centre is owned and operated by NZ’s first private charitable conservation trust Otago Peninsula Trust. Your help and funds raised go to projects which protect and enhance the environment and wildlife of Dunedin’s Otago Peninsula.
The Blue Penguin viewing is outdoors, we highly recommend bringing your own warm and wet weather clothing as the weather can change and solid footwear is required.
We do not allow flash photography on our tours as this can disturb the penguins and frighten them or even blind them. Our viewing platform holds a maximum of 90 people.
A reasonable level of fitness is required to walk from the Centre to the observatory and the fortifications – its a five minute walk up a hill to the inside observato ry If you are taking the Unique Tour there are a two small staircases. We have mobility scooters, please give us advance notice if you’d like to use one, so we can have a staff member available. On the penguin tour there are steps and a 150 metre walk down to the beach and back.
Tours, Cafe, Gift Shop and Centre: Open 10:15am – dusk each day
Booking on tour is recommended as spaces are limited!
“Closed Christmas Day”