New Zealand · WILDLIFE & NATURE TOURS
Yellow-eyed penguins, royal albatross, kiwi in the dark and a takahē that was declared extinct twice. These 15 cover the sanctuaries and the boats, priced, with the seasons each species actually shows up in.
Review the Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Eco-Safari Cruise, with wildlife tips, itinerary details, value, comfort, and booking advice.
“Enjoyed dolphins , glimpses of penguins but no whales despite valiant attempt by crew. Great education!”
Review Auckland’s 4.5-hour whale and dolphin eco-cruise, with practical tips on wildlife, boat comfort, price, weather, and conservation.
“We had an amazing time! The crew was fantastic—friendly, knowledgeable, and really made the experience enjoyable. While we didn’t spot any whales, the dolphins more than made up for it! We watched them for about 30 minutes, and they were absolutely incredible—such a joy to see them up close. It was also awesome to see the gannets diving from the sky—such a spectacular sight to witness in action!”
Review of Gannet Safaris Overland to Cape Kidnappers, with close gannet viewing, Hawke's Bay scenery, guide tips, price, and practical details.
“This was an excellent and enjoyable tour, and the tour guides were very knowledgeable -- not only about the gannets but about Cape Kidnappers and Hawke's Bay as well as the history of the property we had to drive through to reach the gannet colony. The sheer number of birds was incredible (so was the smell :O), and it was so cool to see the eggs and newly hatched chicks. If you take this tour, be sure to read the signs surrounding the colony and beside the lighthouse as they contain interesting facts about the birds and nearby rock formations.”
See kiwi conservation in action at Rotorua’s National Kiwi Hatchery, with expert guidance, live birds, chicks in season, and direct support for the program.
“Theresa was a great guide! We even got to see a chicken Kiwi. It was sooo cute”
Review of Clearwater Wildlife Tours on Otago Peninsula, with private habitats, seals, penguins, sea lions, practical tips, and honest value advice.
“Very informative and a nice change of pace on the peninsula during our stay in Dunedin Quinn guided us thru the valleys and there were lots of stops along the way to take in the views Very lucky to see penguins seals and native birds in their natural environment”
Review of RealNZ’s 2-hour Milford Sound cruise, with waterfalls, wildlife, expert guides, practical tips, pricing, parking, and weather advice.
“We toured Milford Sound onboard the Milford Haven. The boat was great with lots of space indoors and outdoors. Drinks and food onboard was at a reasonable price. The cruise of the Sound was one of our highlights of our New Zealand trip. Gorgeous scenery everywhere and we were blessed with great weather.”
See little blue penguins return to the Otago Peninsula, learn from conservation guides, and watch from a close, low-impact viewing platform.
“Best experience of watching penguin ever. I love how the guildes so passionate about their job and I hope they might help out more penguins. I will definitely tell my friends to visit here.”
Review of Kaikoura’s 3-hour wildlife sea kayaking tour, with seals, dolphins, guides, gear, weather tips, price, and practical advice.
“This is an excellent paddling adventure with knowledgeable friendly guides. We paddled with Holt and Finn who had the answers to our questions about NZ history and Māori culture as well as many details about the various bird species that Read more”
Cruise Akaroa Harbour for rare Hector’s dolphins, seals, penguins, volcanic cliffs, local stories, wine, cookies, and expert guiding.
“Outstanding. One of our favourite activities in the entire trip. We went out further and saw more than I expected! Amazing value, these guys are top notch. Must do.”
Pedal a kayak along Kaikoura’s coast, spot fur seals and dolphins, and enjoy a friendly three-hour wildlife tour for $83.78.
“Great kayaking trip! Saw a bunch of seals and overall had a really nice time on the water in Kaikōura.”
Paddle Kaikoura’s coast with fur seals, dramatic cliffs, and possible dolphins or penguins on this friendly 3-hour wildlife kayak tour.
“Transportation was clean and comfortable, safety/instructions were thorough, and the kayaks were in very good condition. Guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. Although there wasn’t as much sealife as I’d hope to see on the day I went, it was still a great outing!”
Review of Rotorua Canopy Tours, with six ziplines, swing bridges, native birds, safety tips, conservation value, pricing, and booking advice.
“Amazing experience with all the six zipline. Must do when you are in Rotorua.”
Get close to 20,000 gannets at Cape Kidnappers on a scenic, guide-led 4WD tour with wildlife, Maori stories, and no required walking.
“It was a terrific tour! Marcus was a great guide and very knowledgeable. We learned much and enjoyed the stuffing landscape and magnificent birds. A must do!”
See kiwi, tuatara, kea, and 20 native bird species at Queenstown’s Kiwi Park with all-day entry, keeper talks, and an audio guide.
“Our family visited Kiwi Park Queenstown on 20Dec2023. It was a lovely experience. We saw Kiwi actively searching for food in the dark room (Kiwi Encouter) and learned about the program to save young Kiwi and then to release them back in to the wild when they reach adult age. There are many other bird species we met in the park as well. It was very interesting and knowledgeable for our 3 children age between 11-16.”
Review of Barefoot Sailing Adventures’ six-hour Bay of Islands cruise, with wildlife sanctuary stop, lunch, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and practical tips.
“Nice day great crew. Be sure to hike over the hill to the other cove. It is 10 x more beautiful that the cove they are able to dock in. And the walk is challenging but really nice.”
Pick a coast, a crater or a cellar door.
