Private Tour
Clearwater Private Penguin & Wildlife Tour from Port Otago (5hrs)
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Rated as one of the top 10 experiences in NZ in 2025 by Tripadvisor!
The Clearwater family farm is home to more wildlife per square meter than anywhere in Dunedin.
A chance to see yellow-eyed penguins, NZ sealions, NZ fur seals & pups, albatross, and a wide variety of sea & wading birds, in their natural habitat.
The Clearwater family have been the caretakers of the pristine land a wild & untamed, dramatic environment that we are lucky enough to share with some of NZ's rarest species.
Not accessible to the public, our working farm envelops one of the most beautiful coastal headlands & beaches in NZ.
Your private tour will be guided by an experienced & knowledgeable local guide. Commentary on the tour also includes local history & Dunedin city highlights.
Our comfortable 4WD vehicles are all air conditioned & we provide quality Nikon binoculars & wind & rain proof jackets.
We recommend a 15-minute stop to purchase coffee, food or snacks as there are no food stops along the way.
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Level of fitness: There are some hills to walk up and down. There are also several sets of steps and stairs therefore the terrain visited is not suitable for persons with walking disabilities and wheelchairs. Small children might have difficulty keeping up on the trails - we recommend bringing a front back or carrier for small children.
Clothing: Our tours are an outdoor activity in a land where maritime weather prevails, the weather can change very quickly, regardless of the season. Always bring warm and waterproof clothes.
Footwear: Walking shoes/boots with good tread are recommended and necessary if conditions are wet or muddy.
Food: Tours are 4 hours in duration, so guests are welcome to bring pre-packed food and drink as there are no opportunities to stop for food during our tours.
Children: Small children might have difficulty keeping up on the trails - we recommend bringing a front back or carrier for small children. We have toddler car seats and booster seats available for small children. For safety reasons children are not able to sit on an adult's lap.
Medicines: Personal medicines etc. should be carried if required on all tours. Any medical condition which could potentially be a problem should be communicated to your guide at the start of a tour.
Photography: There will be some amazing photo opportunities during our tours. Bring your best camera!
Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
There are toilet facilities at the farm.
Complimentary water & cookies
Complimentary Warm & Waterproof Jackets
Complimentary High-Quality Binoculars
All our vehicles are Air-conditioned and are fulltime 4WD.
There is no food included on this tour & no food stops on the way. Guests are welcome to purchase coffee, food or snacks at Port Chalmers village straight after your pick up from the cruise terminal.
What To Expect
Otago Peninsula
The journey to the Clearwater family’s farm at Cape Saunders takes you through the remote backcountry & tidal inlets of the Otago Peninsula where you will see a variety of wetland & wading birds amid breath-taking scenery. Arrive at Cape Saunders through our working farm & experience a colony of NZ fur seals with pups & a variety of sea birds from two stunning viewing locations overlooking the wild & rugged Pacific Ocean. We then journey through our native conservation reserve to a private beach & the vital breeding grounds for rare, yellow-eyed penguins & NZ sea lions. Witness this special place from several viewing hides & secluded locations while exploring one of NZ’s most beautiful untouched natural beaches. After embarking on a spectacular wildlife experience & witnessing unforgettable vistas & breathtaking coastal beach & shore environments we complete the journey back to your pickup location. Optional: 15 min stop at Port Chalmers Village to purchase coffee, food or snacks
Dunedin Railways
The spectacular Dunedin Railway Station – The most photographed building in New Zealand!
Options
Clearwater Private Penguin & Wildlife Tour from Port Otago (5hrs)
Reviews
7 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fabulous Wild One Tour
272kathyw,
Feb 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gobsmacking wildlife & stellar scenery views / explanations about the habits of local birds/ the albatross/sea lions/ fur seals. We were fortunate to be able to view , by chance, an 800 pound sea lion move in stealthily on a fur seal cub & try to eat him for lunch!!! What a surprise event to be able to see nature ‘live’. Thank you Rachel & Fergus, excellent tour & very well narrated.
Amazing Wildlife Exeperience
GrandTour41469092243,
Dec 14, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00One of the best Wildlife Tours in Dunedin and such a great time to be taking it when wildlife has come alive with native bird chicks and seal pups everywhere. One of the best times of the year to be doing this tour with this friendly and knowledgable team.
Fabulous Dunedin wildlife tour
L3994EUdebbiem,
Jan 8, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fabulous tour, Rachel was very knowledgeable on both the history of the local area and the wildlife. So amazing to be able to get so close to the baby fur seals! Our guests from England had a wonderful time and we would all highly recommend this tour to others.
A great tour for all to enjoy
ByronR102,
Jan 5, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really great informative tour. We saw plenty of wildlife and it was great having a smaller private group so all were able to enjoy and see everything. Bonus that they had jackets to fit all when it was windy and museli bars to hand out half way through for a snack.
Wonderful wildlife tour
374lucyg,
Jan 4, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a fabulous wildlife tour! The scenery is stunning. We had a great time and were lucky enough to see penguins, sea lions and lots of seals. With the binoculars provided it felt as if we were seeing them really close up and being able to see baby penguins in their nests via the cameras was really special too. We made good use of the big jackets provided by the company as the weather was a little cold. Our children aged 8 and 11 were engaged the whole time; it was a magical experience for us all. We would definitely recommend this tour.
A very informative and interesting wildlife tour with a guaranteed sighting of wildlife
I2127KGmartinw,
Dec 30, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The van for taking us to the wildlife very comfortable. Commentary excellent. The walking distances to observation areas very manageable. I got cold as was under dressed which was my mistake. Also with a trip of about 4 hours some refreshments of tea or coffee and something light to eat would be good. Advise re what to wear and refreshments provided would be good or advice re what to bring re food would be good. We were on a trial trip so I'm sure that would be provided otherwise. The seals observed and sealion having something to eat were great.
Fantastic, would 100% recommend!
soniad946,
Dec 30, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was great from start to finish, the guides had so much knowledge of the area & wildlife. The tour vans were comfy & great to travel in. There were so many highlights it’s hard to pick the best one but we were lucky enough to see penguins, seals & sea lions, albatross & other bird life. The trip to & through the farm was awesome & the scenery was beautiful. We had a big range of ages in our group & we could all walk on the tracks easily. Everyone in our group said it was an amazing experience & would highly recommend it. Thanks Clearwater Wildlife Tours!
Related Experiences
Operated by Clearwater Wildlife Tours