Wildlife activities in New Zealand
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A
Nature’s Wonders
Situated 1km past the albatross colony, and based on a sprawling coastal sheep farm, Nature’s Wonders runs one-hour tours taking in Stewart Island shags, NZ fur seals and yellow-eyed penguins. The tour is conducted in ‘go-anywhere’ Argos vehicles and is an exciting combo of improbable scenery and wildlife adventure.
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Back to Nature Tours
Good value peninsula tours getting you up close and personal with yellow-eyed penguins, NZ fur seals and sea lions. From November to March they also offer a tour including a spectacular coastal hike (adult/child $85/45).
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Pohatu Plunge
Runs evening penguin-viewing tours (adult/child $70/55); spying the white-flippered penguin is best between August and January. Sea kayaking (adult/child $80/60) and 4WD nature tours (adult/child $90/50) are also available, with the option of staying overnight in a secluded cottage (additional $20 per person) in the Pohutu Nature Reserve.
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Citibus
Tours combining albatross and penguin viewing.
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Penguins Crossing
Door-to-door, 2½-hour tour taking in the blue and yellow-eyed colonies. Price includes admission to the blue penguin colony. Pick up times vary from 4pm to 7pm throughout the year.
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B
Akaroa Dolphins
Two-hour wildlife cruises, plus evening cruises and birdwatching trips by arrangement. Say hi to Murphy – wildlife-spotting dog extraordinaire – for us. He even stars in his own children's picture book, available at the Akaroa Dolphins office.
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C
Monarch Wildlife Cruises & Tours
One-hour boat trips from Wellers Rock (adult/child $49/22), and half- ($89/32) and full-day ($235/118) tours from Dunedin. Tours include breeding grounds for sea lions, penguins, albatross and seals often inaccessible by land.
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D
Black Cat Cruises
The waters around Akaroa are home to the world’s smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hector’s dolphin, found only in NZ waters. If viewing the dolphins on a harbour cruise isn’t enough, Black Cat Cruises can also get you swimming alongside the dolphins (assuming it’s not the calving season). Trips operate year-round and carry only 10 swimmers per trip, so book ahead. Wet suits and snorkelling gear are provided, plus hot showers back on dry land. Count on a 2½-hour outing including time in and on the water, and a $59 refund if you don’t get to swim with the dolphins. Cruises have around a 98% success rate in seeing dolphins, and an 81% success rate in actually swimming with…
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Elm Wildlife Tours
Small-group tours of up to six hours. Pick-up and drop-off from Dunedin is included.
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