Otago Harbour Wildlife Cruise (Dunedin Shore Excursion)

Name: Otago Harbour Wildlife Cruise (Dunedin Shore Excursion)
Price: 140 NZD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.44 (16 reviews)

Overview

Available languages

German

English

Italian

French

Spanish

2 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Join us for an invigorating wildlife cruise experience. By the time you get back to your ship you’ll know why Dunedin is the Nature Capital of New Zealand.

The cruise will travel around beautiful wharves and boatsheds, then through the historic Quarantine Islands. You’ll see the Careys Bay fishing village and its motley collection of boats before continuing along the harbour. Enjoy a nice hot drink and biscuit for morning tea.

As you arrive at the entrance to the Otago Harbour you’ll see the tidal Aramoana sandflats and the spectacular volcanic cliffs of Taiaroa Head. You’ll see the royal albatross breeding colony, the only mainland colony in the world. Beneath a picturesque lighthouse you’ll find a large population of fur seals, watch as they swim, play and sleep on rocky platforms close to the boat. A short way out to sea we often spot other species of albatross and seabirds. We sometimes see dolphins, sea lions and blue penguins. Don’t forget your camera!

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Guests will need to be able to board the boat via two steps.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

You'll cruise around the beautiful Taiaroa Head. Enjoy the postcard views of the historic lighthouse and spot Royal Albatross and NZ Fur Seals

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

See the stunning Otago Harbour. Explore the beautiful bays, islands and fishing villages along the way.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Wildlife spotters guide

Complimentary warm and waterproof jackets

Complimentary hot drink and a biscuit

Complimentary binoculars

We do not serve a full meal on this tour. Guests are welcome to bring snacks with them.

Options

Otago Harbour Wildlife Cruise (Dunedin Shore Excursion)

Reviews

4.44

16 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

The tour was prompt for...
Florence P,,Mar 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
The tour was prompt for pickup at the cruise terminal. The boat was clean and the guides were friendly. However, we had expectations to get closer to wildlife to get photographs. We saw an albatross floating in the water and got close enough to photograph. But, we were too far away from the rocks with sea lions to get any decent photos.
Very friendly crew. ...
Shirley M,,Mar 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very friendly crew. Prompt pickup from the cruise terminal and very easy to locate. On board they have binoculars and jackets if you get cold. We saw the white capped albatross, seals and various other wildlife.
Wonderful day
Brooke S,,Mar 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We learned a lot on this trip and saw some rare birds (king cormorant and albatross), in addition to seals, a dolphin, and many nesting birds. Great commentary and history. It was a beautiful day. Highly recommend!
little underwhelming
briantR8685NH,,Feb 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
only saw 4 animals so a little disappointing. Sea was very rough and we needed to hold on tight. The scenery was good but spoilt by the mist
Interesting and well organised tour
DENISE H,,Jan 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We enjoyed this boat tour and the commentary was very good. We saw New Zealand fur seals and albatrosses at the rookery and in flight, plus several other species of sea birds. The day we went was cold and rainy (not unexpected in Port Chalmers!) so we appreciated the additional warm jackets that were supplied and a hot cuppa on board.
Not worth it.
downsizing09,,Jan 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
This tour was not worth my time or the money. They only cruised out to where they knew there were seals and albatrosses. But seeing a couple of dark colour seals on black rock from a distance is hard. They did not go out looking for dolphins outside the cove. Other wildlife cruises did and did find dolphins. It is only 2 hours including the time to go out of the out edge of the bay/cove. Most of the time was spent going out to the lighthouse and back. Find a different tour.
Birds galore!
Linda B,,Dec 30, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was a small group experience which allows for good interaction with the staff. We were given a fleece/raincoat due to misty weather which allowed us to sit outside for a better view. We saw many varieties of birds. Seeing several Albatross in flight was amazing. We saw baby fur seals and a sea lion. The trip exceeded our expectations. Will was an excellent guide!
Great boat trip
Monika T,,Dec 16, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great boat trip around the harbour, thoroughly enjoyed it. We saw lots of birdlife, fur seals and several flying albatrosses close up.
Great way to spend a morning in Port Chalmers
Angela R,,May 6, 2024
- Review from Viator
4.00
A lovely vessel and was a lovely morning for a cruise in the harbour. Unfortunately there was a storm the night before so there was a big swell and we were not able to head further out to sea. We did see a couple of penguins, seals on the rocks and a dolphin.
Harbor Birds Everywhere !!
Deborah M,,Mar 30, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great day for a harbor cruise ! The captian & mate were very friendly and relayed lots of info regarding the wildlife through out the harbor. They even served us tea & cookies !! Great views of seals, birds and beauty ! Not too long, left us enough time to explore the town.