Peninsula Encounters (standard tour)
Prices
Adults: $160 Children (5-14yrs): $100
Tour Description
Peninsula Encounters (Standard Tour) is a wonderful small-group option. Join our local guide for a journey across the Otago Peninsula. Enjoy an afternoon of wildlife and stunning scenery.
Travel over the high road with postcard views of the harbour and coast. You’ll travel past quaint communities and rural farms. Spot wading birds as you explore around the inlets and the wetland eco-systems.
Your tour will visit a remote Otago Peninsula beach. A short walk from the mini-bus will provide dramatic views of rugged coastal cliffs, offshore islands and perhaps some huge sea lions.
The tour continues along the Otago Peninsula to Taiaroa Head, home to the Royal Albatross Centre. Time is allowed to go inside the centre and check-out their displays. You'll have some free time, perhaps take a walk down to Pilots Beach and see furseals hauled out on the rocks, or walk out to the clifftop viewpoint, you might spot a royal albatross gliding past.
The final stop is at a Yellow-eyed Penguin conservation reserve. Visit the on-site rehab centre before your guide takes you through the reserve. You’ll take trails through native bushland, walking through tunnels and trenches to different viewing hides scattered around the colony. Watch as the world’s rarest penguin returns ashore and interacts around their nesting sites.
The tour ends with a relaxed drive, following the harbour, back to Dunedin.
Summer (October - 31 March)
2:00pm to 8:30pm
Winter (1 April - 30 September)
11:00am to 6:00pm
Operating Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday
Tour Departure Point
The default departure point for Elm Wildlife Tours is 20 Fryatt St, Dunedin. We share the facility with Monarch Wildlife Cruises. Please check-in at reception 15 mins prior to the scheduled tour start time. Free carparks are available around this location.
Accommodation Pick-ups & Drop-offs
We provide a complimentary pick-up and drop-off service from central Dunedin accommodation - hotels, motels, backpackers, holiday parks and the iSite visitor centre (no airbnb's or private residences).
If you're staying on the Otago Peninsula we also can pick-up from Portobello Store and Larnach Castle. You are responsible for travel to and from either location.
Your pickup must be requested when making your booking, our reservations staff will confirm your pickup time via email.
Child Policy
As this tour duration is approximately 6.5 hours, the tour does not suit all children. Children under five years are free of charge and we recommend the use of carry pack for walks (tour not suitable for pushchairs/strollers etc).
Food & Drink
Food can be purchased during the tour from the Albatross Cafe at the Royal Albatross Centre. Our guests are also welcome to bring a pre-packed meal and drink bottle with them. We recommend our visitors have a good sized lunch before departing Dunedin.
Fitness
Some walking is required to access the yellow-eyed penguin private conservation area. The walk requires a medium level of fitness as the terrain you may encounter includeshilly farm land, sandy beaches, bush tracks and stairways that provide access to viewing hides.
Clothing & Footwear
All tour options are based outdoors in a land where maritime weather prevails, the weather can change very quickly on the Southern coast at any time of the year. Always wear a few warm layers and a waterproof jacket is a good idea. Your footwear will ideally be designed for walking and should be sturdy, comfortable and enclosed.
Medicines & Health Conditions
Personal medicines should be carried on all tours. Any health condition which could potentially be a problem should be disclosed before the commencement of a tour. The terrain visited is not suitable for persons with walking disabilities and wheelchairs.
Photography
Don't forget to charge your batteries and clear your memory cards, your tour will have many fantastic photo moments. We don't allow flash photograpy of any animals we see. If you have the option to bring both a telephoto and wide angle lens then do it. You never know how close we will be to the wildlife.
Cancellation Policy
We will provide a refund (less a 3% transaction fee) or credit for cancellations made more than 24 hours prior to your tour. We reserve the right to charge up to 100% for bookings cancelled within 24 hours of your scheduled start time, or for no-shows.
If your tour is cancelled by Elm Wildlife Tours, for any reason, such as inclement weather, we will attempt to reschedule your tour to another suitable day (subject to availability). If this is not possible we will provide a full refund.
We reserve the right to cancel or alter any cruise, service or price.