Wildlife Cruise

with Transport

BOOK NOW

PRICES $NZD

Adult: $105
Child (5-14yrs): $45

DEPARTS FROM:

20 Fryatt Street,
Dunedin

SUMMER (Oct-Mar):

12:00pm to 3:30pm
4:00pm to 7:30pm

Explore New Zealand’s most picturesque harbour and discover it’s rare wildlife.
Bus out from Dunedin, mid-afternoon, with an expert local guide. Travel along the beautiful Otago Peninsula roads and enjoy an interactive commentary as you go. Hear stories of sea creatures and early settlers as you pass quaint little townships and rolling farmland. Keep an eye out your window for great views of the harbour and rugged coastline.*
Your driver will drop you at Wellers Rock Wharf and you’ll hop aboard the MV Monarch.
The boat will cruise out of the Otago Harbour, to Taiaroa Head. Enjoy uninterrupted views of the world’s only mainland nesting place of royal albatross. Watch as these huge birds glide in from the ocean and soar high above their hillside nest sites.
Your skipper will guide the boat close to the base of dramatic volcanic cliffs, with a historic lighthouse perched high above. Beneath the cliffs you’ll see fur seals play on rocky outcrops and swim in tidal pools. A short cruise out at sea and you’ll spot rarely seen ocean birds including other albatross species, cormorants and petrels. We sometimes spot sea lions, blue penguins, dolphins and other marine mammals.
Continuing back down the Otago Harbour, you’ll go past Careys Bay, a historic fishing village and then see the busy wharves of Port Chalmers. The boat will cruise through the Quarantine Islands and past the beautiful bays, hills, farmland and forests that surround the harbour. Our crew will tell interesting stories about the harbour’s volcanic geology and its Maori and European history. Take in the sights with a drink or snack from our fully licensed galley.
We ask our passengers to check-in 15-minutes prior to departure at our 20 Fryatt Street, Dunedin office.
Accommodation pickups are available on request. We collect from central Dunedin hotels, motels, backpackers, holiday parks and the iSite Visitor Centre. No Airbnbs or private residences. Pickups can be requested when making your booking.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Yes, you can bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks on tour with you.
We have a fully licensed bar onboard which stocks a range of alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages and a selection of snack items.
We serve complimentary tea and coffee during the harbour cruise.
It is rare for us to cancel our trips, we are lucky to travel in fairly sheltered areas. The windy, cool “bad weather” days are often the best conditions for watching albatross soar. They love a cold southerly wind and don’t stop for rain! If we do cancel, you’ll be refunded or rescheduled.
The number one thing to remember is a camera! We also suggest bringing a warm jacket and sturdy footwear. During your trip you will be offered a warm jacket, info sheet and binoculars. Wifi is available during the trip.
There are no guarantees with wildlife - however, we do travel in very abundant waters! We generally always see albatross, petrels, cormorants and fur seals. We sometimes see dolphins, sealions, and blue penguins. We also have infrequent visits from orca and migrating whales.
Yes, we can pickup from central Dunedin hotels, motels, backpacker hostels, holiday parks and the iSite Visitor Centre. We unfortunately can’t pickup from AirBnb’s or private residences.
Please request a pickup when you make a booking and we’ll reply by email to confirm if it’s possible.