Peninsula Encounters

Standard Tour

This multi-award winning, scheduled, daily, 'small group' tour departs from Dunedin city in the mid-afternoon for the Otago Peninsula wildlife 'hotspots'. The tour combines tourism and conservation in a symbiotic relationship and provides absolutely unrivalled viewing of estuarine and marine wildlife. Our knowledgeable guides will inform you of activity being viewed and visit places where the best possible viewing of Hooker's Sea lions, Yellow-eyed Penguins, Blue Penguins, a breeding colony of New Zealand Fur Seals and Royal Albatross can be had. A further 25-30 other estuarine and marine bird species are seen during the experience. Close up unobtrusive viewing from beach locations and strategically placed observation hides is guaranteed .

Although all animals are generally seen on this tour, three available inclusion options, and a different format on the "Peninsula encounters LITE" tour can add diversity to the experience. These are a Taiaroa head boat cruise aboard the 'Monarch', an Albatross breeding area tour conducted by the Royal Albatross Centre or all of these combined into one "Total Wildlife" eight hour afternoon/evening package See descriptions of these options below ;

Forward bookings essential.

*Available to bona fide students, backpackers and families. Proof of qualification for discount will be required on tour day ie Student or backpacker ID card. Families can be either one or both parents and at least two children under 18 years. No charge for children three and under.

Check the tour requirements before you book.

Peninsula Encounters Tour including Royal Albatross Centre Tour

This tour combines the standard peninsula encounters above with a tour operated by the Royal Albatross centre at Taiaroa headland. If you want to see the world's biggest sea bird close-up, then this is as good as it gets. A unique opportunity to watch these magnificent birds on their nesting area at Taiaroa Head. Your tour guide will deliver you to the Royal Albatross centre to join the one hour tour, before rejoining with your Elm Wildlife tour guide for the remainder of our half day tour. This tour inclusion is a must for the Albatross enthusiast. NOTE: Not available during the Albatross nest building period from 16th September to 24th November each year.

Forward bookings essential.

*Available to bona fide students, backpackers and families. Proof of qualification for discount will be required on tour day ie Student or backpacker ID card. Families can be either one or both parents and at least two children under 18 years. No charge for children three and under.

Check the tour requirements before you book.

Peninsula Encounters Tour including Monarch Boat Cruise

This option combines your Elm wildlife tour with a cruise on the Monarch. Your Elm tour guide will drop you at Weller's Rock jetty to board the boat, 'Monarch', for a cruise on the ocean to a point below the Albatross Colony for a unique view of these birds from the water. This option views many other seabirds on the way and you'll be back off the boat one hour later and met by your guide to rejoin the Elm Wildlife tour for the highlight, the land based section to see Yellow-eyed and blue penguins, Hooker Sea lions and the breeding colony of New Zealand Fur seals all within our private conservation area, as described in 'standard tour' above. If you love to be on the water viewing seabirds then this is the tour option for you.

Forward bookings essential.

*Available to bona fide students, backpackers and families. Proof of qualification for discount will be required on tour day ie Student or backpacker ID card. Families can be either one or both parents and at least two children under 18 years. No charge for children three and under.

Check the tour requirements before you book.

Peninsula encounters LITE (also known as Twilight tour)

The Twilight option allows the less fit person access to viewing wildlife from an area adjacent to our Peninsula encounters conservation area. After visiting the Royal albatross centre and viewing 25-30 species of estuarine and marine birds we cross farm fields to park within 200 metres of our viewing hide Unobtrusive viewing of penguins reurning from the ocean, crossing the beach and climbing the hill to their nests and NZ fur seals lazing about nearby is seen from our strategically placed observation hide. Walking required for this option is 90% less than our other Peninsula encounter options. (Seasonal availability 24 November - 31 March)

Forward bookings essential.

Albatross option

*Available to bona fide students, backpackers and families. Proof of qualification for discount will be required on tour day ie Student or backpacker ID card. Families can be either one or both parents and at least two children under 18 years. No charge for children three and under.

Check the tour requirements before you book.

Peninsula encounters MAX

Features our award winning 'peninsula encounter' tour, a boat cruise aboard the 'Monarch', and the royal Albatross nesting area tour into one 'total wildlife' tour. This extreme option allows Wildlife enthusiasts a unique oportunity to combine the best possible viewing from land and sea. First the one hour Monarch cruise introduces the wildlife of Taiaroa head from the sea where occaisionally dolphins and whales are also seen before returning to the jetty where our guide will be waiting to transport you to the Royal Albatross centre. Here you join a one hour descriptive introduction and viewing of the Royal Albatross breeding area before finally travelling to Elm Wildlife’s private conservation reserve. Here you will meet and watch Hooker Sea lions, Yellow-eyed penguins, Blue penguins and a large breeding colony of NZ Fur seals.

If you love to be on the water and dream of seeing spectacular seabirds and long for close up viewing of penguins Sea lions and seals, then this is the tour for you. If you really want to see the world's biggest sea bird close-up, rare penguins, furseals and sea lions within a few metres then this is as good as it gets. A unique opportunity to saturate your day with wildlife. You will be collected from your accommodation and transported to the boat for your cruise, after which our guide delivers you to the Royal Albatross centre to join the one hour tour, before you re-join for the land based part of this tour. This option is a must for the dedicated wildlife enthusiast - Elm Wildlife Tour - Awarded "New Zealands best leisure activity" and achieving the qualmark Enviro-gold award in 2010. NOTE: Restricted availability - operates 24th November to 31 March

Forward bookings essential.

*Available to bona fide students, backpackers and families. Proof of qualification for discount will be required on tour day ie Student or backpacker ID card. Families can be either one or both parents and at least two children under 18 years. No charge for children three and under.

Check the tour requirements before you book.