观赏野生动物游轮 Wildlife Cruises&Tours

As you cruise the length of the Otago Harbour, our skipper will show you Careys Bay historic fishing village, Port Chalmers’ busy wharves and the harbour’s beautiful bays, hills, farmland and forest. You’ll learn about the harbour’s volcanic geology and its Maori and European history. Take in surrounding sights with a hot or cold beverage or snack from our fully licensed galley. Enjoy Monarch’s fascinating wildlife cruises around Taiaroa Head and the surrounding coastline of dramatic cliffs. We will offer uninterrupted views of the only mainland nesting place of Northern Royal Albatross in the world.Our skipper will expertly maneuver the vessel whilst you watch the NZ Furseals play and swim near their breeding colonies, out at sea you can spot rarely seen ocean birds including other albatross species and petrels, and you may see penguins, dolphins and other marine mammals.

Summer:
8:30am – 12:30pm
3:30pm – 7:00pm
(bus out/boat back) 

Winter:
1:00pm – 5:00pm
(boat both ways) 

Hear stories of sea creatures and early settlers as you bus along the scenic roads of the Otago Peninsula.

Bus out early-afternoon along the scenic roads of the Otago Peninsula.

Enjoy a 90 min guided tour of the Penguin Place Conservation Reserve.
Their guides will explain why the beautiful, quirky Yellow Eyed Penguin is the most endangered in the world, found only on the South East Coast of New Zealand. This is a great chance of seeing them in the wild!

Hear about the conservation & volunteer work in place to ensure the survival of this special species, A portion of your ticket cost goes directly back into helping efforts continue on into the future.

A short bus ride over the farm takes small groups to the reserve, where your guide will lead you on foot through unique covered trenches into viewing hides. These allow close viewing and photography of the breeding behaviour and chicks of this shy penguin (Viewing is varied depending on the time of year).

Next you’ll board our Wildlife Cruise around Taiaroa Head, the worlds only mainland nesting place of Royal Albatross.

Whilst cruising you’ll watch as NZ Furseals play and swim near their breeding colonies, out at sea you can spot up to 20 species of rarely seen ocean birds including other albatross species and petrels, and you may see penguins, dolphins and other marine mammals.

Cruise the length of the Otago Harbour back to the city, our skipper will show you Careys Bay historic fishing village, the busy working wharves of Port Chalmers and Otago Harbour’s beautiful bays, hills and farmland.

Summer:
1:30pm – 7:00pm
(bus out/cruise back to city) 

Winter:
1:00pm – 6:00pm
(cruise out/bus back to city

Travel via the high road with scenic views down the Otago Harbour and on to Larnach Castle.
Take a wonderful journey back in time with our guide, for a tour of New Zealand’s only castle, built in 1871.

See the magnificent carved ceilings, antiques and craftsmanship. Learn the scandalous, exciting and tragic history of Larnach Castle and William Larnach who took his own life with a single shot to the head. Climb the parapets for 360° views, and enjoy the beauty of the gardens of international significance.

Following the guided tour you will have time to personally explore or re-visit areas of the castle before meeting back with the bus & guide and continuing along the scenic Otago Peninsula roads.

Join our invigorating Wildlife Cruise around Taiaroa Head, the world’s only mainland nesting place of Royal Albatross.

Cruise into the stunning Lighthouse Bay and watch as NZ Furseals play and swim near their breeding colonies, then head out to sea where you can spot up to 20 species of rarely seen ocean birds including other albatross species and petrels, and you may see penguins, dolphins and other marine mammals.

Summer:
9:00am – 2:00pm
(bus both ways) 

Winter:
11:30pm – 5:00pm
(bus out/boat back) 

Bus back to Dunedin City along the beautiful Otago Peninsula. (Harbour Cruise back to the city during Winter).

Larnach Castle
Travel by road along the scenic Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle. Journey back in time with our guide, for a tour of New Zealand’s only castle, built in 1871.

See the magnificent carved ceilings, antiques and craftsmanship. Learn the scandalous, exciting and tragic history of Larnach Castle and William Larnach who took his own life with a single shot to the head. Climb the parapets for 360° views, and enjoy the beauty of the gardens of international significance.

Following the guided tour you will have time to personally explore or re-visit areas of the castle before meeting back with the bus & guide and continuing along the scenic Otago Peninsula roads.

Wildlife Cruise
Join our invigorating, oceanic Monarch Wildlife Cruise around Taiaroa Head, the only mainland nesting place of Northern Royal Albatross in the world.

Watch as NZ Furseals play and swim near their breeding colonies, out at sea you can spot up to 20 species of rarely seen ocean birds including other albatross species and petrels, and you may see penguins, dolphins and other marine mammals.

Penguin Place Tour
Enjoy a 90 minute guided tour of the Penguin Place Conservation Reserve.

Discover why beautiful, quirky Yellow Eyed Penguins are the most endangered in the world, found only on the South East Coast of New Zealand. This is your best chance for seeing them in the wild.

Hear about the conservation & volunteer work in place to ensure the survival of this special species, your ticket cost goes directly back in to helping continue these efforts in the future.

A short bus ride over the farm takes small groups to the reserve, where your guide will lead you on foot through unique covered trenches into viewing hides. These allow close viewing and photography of the breeding behaviour and chicks of this shy penguin (Viewing is varied depending on the time of year).

Bus back to Dunedin City along the beautiful Otago Peninsula.

Summer:
(March 1st – April 14th)
9:00am – 3:15pm
(bus both ways) 

Winter:
11:30pm – 6:00pm
(bus both ways) 

Hear about and spot wading birds on the tidal flats and estuary systems and learn of intrepid early settlers as you bus along the scenic Otago peninsula.

Arrive at the Royal Albatross Centre and enjoy an Albatross Classic Land Tour. Watch from above the huge Northern Royal Albatross land at their nests and soar past the viewing room with their huge 3 metre wings.

You will then have time to purchase food from the Albatross Cafe or enjoy your personally pre packed lunch.

Discover at Penguin Place why beautiful, quirky Yellow Eyed Penguins are the most endangered in the world, found only on the South East Coast of New Zealand.

A short bus ride over the farm takes small groups to the reserve, where your guide will lead you on foot through unique covered trenches into viewing hides. These allow close viewing and photography of the breeding behaviour and chicks of this shy penguin.

Enjoy Monarch’s fascinating Wildlife Cruise around Taiaroa Head, the only mainland nesting place of Northern Royal Albatross in the world.

Watch as NZ Furseals play and swim near their breeding colonies, out at sea you can spot rarely seen ocean birds including other albatross species and petrels, and you may see penguins, dolphins and other marine mammals.

Relax on the cruise back to Dunedin along NZ’s most photogenic harbour.

Summer:
10:30am – 7:00pm

Winter:
10:30am – 6:00pm
(no harbour cruise)

See the magnificent carved ceilings, antiques and craftsmanship. Learn of the scandalous, exciting and tragic history of Larnach Castle and why William Larnach took his own life with a single shot to the head. Climb the parapets for 360° views, and enjoy the beauty of the gardens of international significance.

Hear about and spot wading birds on the tidal flats and estuary systems and learn of intrepid early settlers as you bus along the scenic Otago Peninsula.

Arrive at the Royal Albatross Centre and enjoy an Albatross Classic Land Tour. Watch from above the huge Northern Royal Albatross at their nests. Time here afterwards to purchase food from the Albatross Cafe or enjoy your personally pre packed lunch.

Discover at Penguin Place why beautiful, quirky Yellow Eyed Penguins are the most endangered in the world, found only on the South East Coast of New Zealand.

A short bus ride over the farm takes small groups to the reserve, where your guide will lead you on foot through unique covered trenches into viewing hides. These allow close viewing and photography of the breeding behaviour and chicks of this shy penguin.

Enjoy Monarch’s fascinating Wildlife Cruise around Taiaroa Head, the only mainland nesting place of Northern Royal Albatross in the world.

Watch as NZ Furseals play and swim near there breeding colonies, out at sea you can spot rarely seen ocean birds including other albatross species and petrels, and you may see penguins, dolphins and other marine mammals.

Relax on the cruise back to Dunedin along NZ’s most photogenic harbour.

Summer:
9:00am – 7:00pm

Winter:
9:00am – 6:00pm

Take our mid-afternoon bus from Dunedin out via the scenic roads of the Otago Peninsula.

Join the world renowned oceanic Monarch Wildlife Cruise around the rugged coastline cliffs.

During this one hour cruise we hope to see Royal Northern Albatross returning and soaring above their hillside nesting spots. NZ Fur-seal pups playing on rocky outcrops while the adults bask in the afternoon sun. You may also see other species of albatross and large ocean birds and on special occasions you might even come across NZ Sea-lions, Dolphins or perhaps a blue penguin swimming on the sea’s surface.

After the cruise you will then be taken up to a higher vantage point at the Royal Albatross Centre for their
Classic Albatross Tour, where you will learn more about these magnificent birds and have the opportunity
to view their nest sites and behaviour from above the world’s only mainland colony.

Following this tour a traditional hangi-style dinner will be prepared and served by the Albatross Cafe.
As you finish, the sun is setting over the Otago Harbour, offering fantastic landscape photo opportunites.

You will be taken on the Blue Penguin tour to watch these fascinating little creatures return to their burrows after a long day fishing out at sea. They will arrive at shore just after dusk in groups of 5 to 20+ which gives you special close-up views from a specially designed platform.

October 1 – March 21
3:30pm departs Dunedin

(Tour length is approx 7-8 hours)

Your long southern summer afternoon is ended by taking our bus back to your accommdation.