Penguin & Albatross tour in Dunedin
| country: | New Zealand |
| location: | South Island |
| departures: | Departures can be arranged at anytime throughout the year |
| price: | From NZ $79 (1 day) excluding flights |
the amazing things you'll be doing
We are a NZ Tourism award winner in 1999, 2000 & 2005 offering inspiring wildlife experiences to small groups by sharing a unique insight into some of the worlds rarest wildlife within a tour funded conservation area. Daily tours leave from Dunedin city to visit the Otago peninsula, viewing not only the wildlife, but also the impressive scenery. Participants require average fitness as some walking is required to reach isolated areas. The tour focuses mainly on birdlife but also includes hooker sealions, fur seals and elephant seals (Oct/Nov). We usually see 18-25 interesting bird species, the main 'stars' are the Royal Albatross and Blue Penguins at Taiaroa headland and Yellow Eyed penguins in our conservation reserve.
The first stage of each tour includes lagoon wildlife and Taiaroa headland sea birds, the second stage is the true highlight. This is conducted solely within our private conservation area where the results of our conservation ethic are displayed. It is here that we view hooker sealions, yellow-eyed penguins and fur seals and occasionally other pinipeds in a truly unique environment. Tours leave late afternoon and return 5/6 hours later.
The tour is a "hands off" wildlife trek enabling close, secluded viewing of the unique and world renowned wildlife living on the Otago peninsula. The tour operation is a mix of tourism and conservation, part of the tour is conducted solely within our private conservation area where the results of our strong conservation ethic are displayed. We provide viewing hides from where tour participants can observe and photograph the extremely shy Yellow Eyed penguins without disturbing them.
The first stage of each tour includes lagoon wildlife and Taiaroa headland sea birds, the second stage is the true highlight. This is conducted solely within our private conservation area where the results of our conservation ethic are displayed. It is here that we view hooker sealions, yellow-eyed penguins and fur seals and occasionally other pinipeds in a truly unique environment. Tours leave late afternoon and return 5/6 hours later.
The tour is a "hands off" wildlife trek enabling close, secluded viewing of the unique and world renowned wildlife living on the Otago peninsula. The tour operation is a mix of tourism and conservation, part of the tour is conducted solely within our private conservation area where the results of our strong conservation ethic are displayed. We provide viewing hides from where tour participants can observe and photograph the extremely shy Yellow Eyed penguins without disturbing them.
how this holiday makes a difference
|
We recognise the importance of conducting our business with a responsibility towards the environment and in the communities in which we operate. The nature of our business means that we must ensure our activities have the least possible negative impact on the environment, now and in the future. We will endeavour to provide a sustainable, high quality eco-tour experience, which meets customer expectations. We are committed to working with other tour operators to raise awareness in the environment and to develop and demonstrate good practice by operating in a sensitive and considered manner. We have clear policies for responsible tourism.
We commit to reducing our energy consumption (fossil fuels) by introducing a range of vehicle sizes in our fleet allowing a selection of vehicles to suit the size of the tour groups. We will endeavor to use diesel fuel only and limit fuel purchase to companies who demonstrate they operate in an environmentally friendly manner. We maintain clean safe beach areas for the animals by removing seabourne rubbish and encourage local boaties and fishermen not to throw any rubbish in the ocean. We continue to post plastic rubbish, where the manufacturing address is visible, back to the manufacturer with a letter outlining where it was found and the dangers it could cause wildlife, in the hope that they and their customers may become more environmentally informed and aware. Yellow Eyed Penguins: We financially fund this project of many years to assist the local population of yellow eyed penguins viewed by our customers. This has been extremely successful with the population slowly growing. The project is one of only two funded and managed by commercial operators. Others are funded by government and other organisations such as the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust. We are pleased to work along side conservation aware land owners towards the preservation of Yellow Eyed Penguins, which are considered to be the world's rarest penguin species, with a little over 5000 remaining in the world. In the effort to save the Yellow Eyed Penguin, we have carried out extensive habitat planting, construction of nest sites and predator control, all of which are crucial to the survival of the penguins. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |