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Behind The Scenes + Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Tour
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2 hours 45 minutes (approximately)
Offered in:
English
Offered languages
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- English
This tour combines exclusive access, expert guidance, and a two‑part experience that connects daytime conservation work with the magic of watching penguins return at dusk.
You explore restricted nesting areas with the very biologists who care for the colony, gaining insights other visitors do not get.
Later (after dark) we see penguins coming ashore just metres away — creating a full, meaningful picture of their lives both at sea and at home.
What's Included
All Fees and Taxes
No transport provided, guests need to drive themselves to our reserve
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
Check-In within the Royal Albatross Centre at the end of the Otago Peninsula, 15 minutes prior to tour start time (You need your own car to reach us. Allow 1 hour to drive from Dunedin City). Tour departs sharply from there, if you are late it will depart without you
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What to expect
This is our most immersive penguin and conservation experience, taking you behind the scenes into the largest penguin colony on the Otago Peninsula.
It combines exclusive access, expert guidance, and a two‑part experience that
connects daytime conservation work with the magic of watching penguins return at dusk.
It’s designed for adults who want deeper insight into penguin life, to visit nest sites, and to learn about the conservation and ecology work we do.
This walk is adults only (If you have children you need to book the tour without the Behind-The-Scenes component).
Be guided by biologists who care for the birds, giving you a deep understanding of their lives and how we monitor the colony.
We don’t usually see penguins during the daytime walk, but we do later when we watch them come ashore at dusk.
Returning to the Centre, we then sit down for an engaging talk about the headland and the penguins.
Next, on our purpose‑built viewing deck, watch penguins waddle up the beach just a few metres away.
Your earlier walk through the reserve now comes to life as you understand exactly where the penguins are heading and what they’ll be doing once they return home.
It combines exclusive access, expert guidance, and a two‑part experience that
connects daytime conservation work with the magic of watching penguins return at dusk.
It’s designed for adults who want deeper insight into penguin life, to visit nest sites, and to learn about the conservation and ecology work we do.
This walk is adults only (If you have children you need to book the tour without the Behind-The-Scenes component).
Be guided by biologists who care for the birds, giving you a deep understanding of their lives and how we monitor the colony.
We don’t usually see penguins during the daytime walk, but we do later when we watch them come ashore at dusk.
Returning to the Centre, we then sit down for an engaging talk about the headland and the penguins.
Next, on our purpose‑built viewing deck, watch penguins waddle up the beach just a few metres away.
Your earlier walk through the reserve now comes to life as you understand exactly where the penguins are heading and what they’ll be doing once they return home.
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The reserve walk is adults only it is not suitable for children. If you have children you need to book our other tour without the Behind-The-Scenes component
- Moderate level of fitness required we walk up and down a hill on uneven ground
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Blue Penguins Pukekura
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Additional info
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- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The reserve walk is adults only it is not suitable for children. If you have children you need to book our other tour without the Behind-The-Scenes component
- Moderate level of fitness required we walk up and down a hill on uneven ground
- GUESTS MUST HAVE MODERATE LEVEL OF FITNESS AS WE WALK ON STEEP UNEVEN GROUND
- This tour option is for those with their own transport to get to our location. If you do not have a car, then book our Otago Peninsula In-Depth tour as transport is provided on that tour.
- Guests must be able to walk unaided, it is not suitable for guests that need walking aids
Tags
Nature and Wildlife Tours
Sustainable Tours
Bird Watching
Wildlife Encounters
Wildlife Watching
Excellent Quality
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
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Free cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
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Free cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
from
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