- Enjoy the Scenery around Otago Harbour with a Scenic Wildlife Cruise
Sit back and relax as you cruise around Otago Harbour seeing local maritime wildlife in their natural habitat. With Port To Port Cruises & Wildlife Tours you can get up close and personal with a huge variety of native animals, including albatross, penguins, seals, and much more. Our dedicated tour guides are passionate about showing you the best Dunedin has to offer, and provide full commentary during your tour.
Whether you're a local or visiting the area, make the most of this unique experience and book your Dunedin albatross, penguin and wildlife tour now.
Albatross Wildlife and Harbour Cruise
This extensive tour of the harbour and local wildlife is a must for locals and independent visitors. Experience for yourself the unique natural attractions that Dunedin offers, as we give you an in-depth insight into the rare and endangered wildlife, harbour history and the local maritime industry, on our popular Albatross, Wildlife and Harbour Cruise.
In our professionally commentated tour, our experienced wildlife tour operators can show you:
Northern Royal Albatross in their breeding area, Tairoa Head.
We look to their nesting and courting areas above us, on the headland. But also on the sea, as the sea is where they spend most of their lives. We are usually lucky enough to see more than just one species of albatross on the water, as other speciaes of albatross regularly visit the area too.
Historic Quarantine Stations and old hulks
Fishing boats, workboats, dredges and ships as we pass Port Chalmers and Carey's Bay.
Wading birds and look for penguins and shags as we cruise past roosting and feeding areas
Historic pilot's houses, searchlights, gun emplacements and old whaling stations
Taiaroa Head with its shallow bays where we look fur seals, nesting colonies of shags, albatross and much more
Sometimes we venture further out to sea where we may view oceanic sea birds and marine mammals such as dolphins, sea lions or whales.
This cruise is approximately 2 hours long if joining us from Portobello, or 1.5 hours if joining us from Port Chalmers. Book this cruise online here.
Key information:
Departure:
- Wildlife Tours leave from Portobello Wharf by default, or Port Chalmers by request.
- If you would like to be picked up in Port Chalmers, please specify in the booking notes when booking online.
Timetable:
- Tours leave at various times throughout the day. Please see our full timetable for upcoming departure times.
Other:
- Tour duration is approx 2 hours from Portobello
- Tour duration is approx 1.5 hours from Port Chalmers.
- There are toilet facilities onboard the boat
- Small tour groups of approx 12 people
Cruise Ship passengers-
We welcome you onboard to join our small group cruises!
You will find us a flat and easy 5-10 minute walk (past the logging yards) from the Cruise ship Terminal Building, Port Chalmers.
Please call us to book on the day 020 416 24250.
Or email or book online for prior bookings.
If you need to cancel, we usually require 36 hours notice by email or phone call. If your ship cannot make it into Port, please let us know as soon as possible by calling or email and we will do our best to help you with a refund or credit even within shorter notice periods, if possible. This is not guaranteed and will be at our discretion. If you have questions about this please feel free to get in touch. Typically we would refund you 80%. The rest withheld (20%) is for admin costs and staff costs in launching the boat in preparation to meet you!
We currently do not offer private cruise ship passenger experiences. You will be joining the locals and other travellers on our normal sailing times:
Albatross, Wildlife and Harbour Cruise
PRICES
Adults $130
Children $75
Infants $35
(Plus up to 3% in each booking and credit card fees)
TIMES
10:10am Peak Season or on demand
1:25pm Regular sailing summer and winter
4:10pm Peak Season or on demand
From 39 Peninsula Beach Road, Port Chalmers.
Please join us form outside the Port chalmers yacht club, at one of the floating pontoons, below the building.
FERRY to the OPERA (Otago Peninsula Eco-Restoration Alliance) for a eco experience on the land.
Departs by FERRY from Back Beach, Port Chalmers to go to Portobello. There The OPERA staff will meet you for land transport to their private eco reserve for a wildlife tour to see penguins, seals, forest birds and more. You may also see the rare Yellow Eyed Penguins who live here and are cared for here when sick or injured, to be released into the wild. Return to Port Chalmers by ferry at 1:15pm
Please contact the OPERA directly to book, as this the tour is an OPERA product. They will assist you and book the ferry with our company, for you.
Cycle Ferry
PRICES
Adults $35
Children $25 (ages 3-15 years)
Includes taking a manual or ebike, each person. Does NOT include the bike hire! Please see www.dunedincycleway.co.nz for options. Some will deliver to Port Chalmers (Dunedin Ibike Hire).
(Plus up to 3% in each booking and credit card fees)
TIMES
(Check with us or click BOOK NOW to view times as there are many options throughout the day.
BOOKINGS REQUIRED
From Port Chalmers or Portobello
Or contact us to book
info@porttoport.co.nz
Minimum numbers may be required to sail.
Please also see FERRY timetable for Ferry transfers to Otago Peninsula.
People love our wildlife cruises for the...
- Experience! Rachel has been conducting wildlife tours and working on the Otago Harbour for 19 years +.
- Small groups of around 12 - 14 people for wildife crusies. For ferry up to 20 people at a time
- Up close wildlife experiences
- Professional and high energy commentary.
- Variety of marine wildlife
- Modern bathroom facilities on board
- Quality PA system for broadcasted commentary.
- Sheltered boat with heated cabin
- Easily located departure points
- Extras, like having quality binoculars available to use. Wildlife sheets to keep and take home.
For an exclusive experience our boat can be booked as a private charter harbour cruise.