Discover Kororā, the Little Blue Penguin, the world's smallest penguin.

BEHIND THE SCENES + BLUE PENGUINS PUKEKURA EXPERIENCE TOUR (2 Hours 45 minutes)

2 hours 45 minutes — our most intimate and knowledge‑rich penguin experience

Kia ora — step inside the heart of the largest blue penguin colony on the Otago Peninsula.

This is our most immersive penguin and conservation experience, taking you behind the scenes into the largest penguin colony on the Otago Peninsula.

It combines exclusive access, expert guidance, and a two‑part experience that connects our daytime conservation work with the magic of watching penguins return at dusk.

This extended tour begins earlier than our standard Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Tour, allowing you to be guided to restricted areas of the reserve during daylight with the very people who care for the penguins, the habitat, and the wider ecosystem.

The reserve walk is adult‑only, designed for guests who want a deeper, more intimate, and more informative behind‑the‑scenes encounter.

For guests with children, sorry but due to natural hazards present you will need to book the Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience instead of this extended tour.

WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE

• Guided walk into areas of the reserve not open to the general public.

• Visit penguin nesting zones and learn how we monitor underground burrows (we generally do not see penguins during daylight hours but will see where they nest and we see penguins after dusk later).

• See signs of nesting behaviour and understand how our team protects the colony.

• Hear cultural stories connected to this special site.

• Learn about penguin biology, behaviour, and evolution directly from conservation staff. This is a true success story, from 6 pairs in the 1980’s to over 250 pairs now!

• Understand our reforestation work, predator control, and the wider restoration of this unique ecosystem.

• Chance encounters with fur seals, sea lions, forest birds, and ancient insects like the endemic wētā.

• After the guided reserve walk we return back uphill to the Royal Albatross Centre to start the Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Tour (included in this Behind The Scenes + Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Tour). Another chance for a bathroom break again.

Evening Penguin Arrival

After your behind‑the‑scenes exploration, you’ll join the main Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Tour at dusk:

• Join others are we sit down for the introductory talk.

• Watch Little Blue Penguins return from the sea and scurry up the beach just metres away.

• Enjoy exceptional viewing from our purpose‑built platform overlooking the beach.

• Observe penguins socialising on the “Penguin Highway” — their main route into the reserve.

• Photography welcome (non‑flash).

• You will have a much greater understanding of their biology of these birds having seen their nesting locations earlier.

• This is the most meaningful way to experience blue penguins: highly-rated experiences, educational, and unforgettable.

FOOD & DRINK

• There are very limited food options on the Otago Peninsula in the evenings.

• Your check in location for your penguin tour is within the Royal Albatross Centre. The Royal Albatross Centre is open 364 days a year and offers reasonable-priced lunch and dinner options. Consider arriving early and enjoying dinner here before your penguin tour.

• Our coffee cart at the penguin viewing platform is also available for hot drinks (no food) during the second part of this extended tour.

OUR MISSION

Your visit directly supports the conservation work of the Blue Penguins Pukekura Charitable Trust. Every tour helps protect the land, restore native habitat, and safeguard the wildlife that calls this reserve home — guided by the principles of kaitiaki (guardianship) and manaakitanga (care for visitors).

PENGUIN NUMBERS

• Sept–Feb: typically 50–300 penguins each night

• Mar–Aug: typically 10–80 penguins each night

• Penguin viewing guaranteed — 50% refunds apply if fewer than 5 penguins are seen (direct bookings only) or 100% refund if no penguins are seen (very rare for this to happen).

WHAT TO BRING

• Warm clothing — evenings can be cold. You are outside longer than our standard Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Tour WE RECOMMEND FOUR LAYERS OF CLOTHING (including wind breaker/jacket)

• Camera (non‑flash)

• Sturdy footwear suitable for walking on uneven ground (you must have a moderate level of fitness and be able to walk unaided to participate on this tour)

• Curiosity — our guides love your questions

• Allow 1 hour travel time from Dunedin

ACCESS & CHECK‑IN

• Meeting point: Royal Albatross Centre, Taiaroa Head

• Check in 15 minutes before start time

• THIS TOUR DEPARTS SHARPLY FROM THE ROYAL ALBATROSS AT THE SET TIME. If you are late you will miss the daytime walk through the reserve.

• Moderate fitness required; this is a guided walk through a reserve, we are walking on uneven ground and participants of this tour walk up and down between the Royal Albatross Centre and our reserve TWICE.

• There is ample parking available

• • Click HERE for walking access between the Albatross Centre and the viewing platform and see the lead photo above

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL WE ARE OFTEN SOLD OUT (Sometimes several weeks in advance).

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BOOKING BELOW

If the date you require is not highlighted it means it is already fully booked.

Sorry we do not have a waitlist, any cancellations for a sold-out future date will show up as free spaces on this website automatically.

If sold out, the only other availability might be on our Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour or the Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Tour.