Experience for yourself the unique natural attractions that Dunedin has to offer by joining our world class Otago Harbour and Taiaroa Head Wildlife Cruise

Departs from 39 Peninsula Beach Road, Port Chalmers. (See map.)

Walking/cycling distance from Cruise Ship Terminal Building, Port Chalmers.

(Notes at bottom of page for details.)

Wildlife

• Albatross – See up to 10 different species at sea, and one species breeding on land
• Fur Seals – Adults and pups in breeding rookeries all year round.
• Shags – Nesting or feeding at sea
• Penguins – Most commonly, Blue Penguins, can be seen feeding at sea or on rocks along the coast. Very rarely, Yellow -Eyed.
• Dolphins – Up to three species can seen at certain times of the year, feeding and frolicking
• Sea Lions – Can be seen feeding at sea or sleeping on beaches in the area, all year round
• Sea birds – Such as shearwaters, petrels, prions, gannets, skuas, terns and much more
• Wading birds – Such as spoonbills, oystercatchers, herons, godwits and much more.

Otago Harbour

• Taiaroa Head Lighthouse – 1864
• Former Cannon and Search Light Fortifications – From 1880s, WW1 and WW2
• Port Chalmers – Container Port and Cruise Ship Terminal
• Working Vessels – Such as Pilot Boats, Dredger, Tug Boats and Ships.
• Carey’s Bay – Boat Builders Yard and Local Fishing Port
• Quarantine Island – Historic Buildings and Former Quarantine Hospital
• Whaling Station – Weller Rock Former Whaling Station
• Historic Pilot’s Houses – History from the 1840’s to present day
• Research Vessels – Of The University of Otago
• Shipwrecks – Learn the dramatic history and see up to three derelict wrecks abandoned on the shoreline
• Geology – Of Dunedin’s Extinct Volcano 
• History – Human settlement and industry, including Maritime.

What to bring

• You only need to bring yourself, your camera and your enthusiasm. Binoculars are provided for your use and wildlife information sheets are yours to take home, all free of charge.
• Jackets are available.
• Please dress warmly to ensure you will be comfortable throughout the duration of the cruise, however the cabin is heated. 
• Your rented bike, to chain up before the cruise in Port Chalmers, then we pick it back up before the cruise is finished to get you over to the other side.

Extra info:

We DO NOT provide shuttle transport. The wharf is approx 400 metres walk to the Port Chalmers Yacht Club, from Cruise Ship Terminal Building.

You must organize your own bike hire, either though us, at extra charge, or privately.

To get to the wharf from the cruise ship terminal building, leave the building and go to the left. Look and cross the road to the footpath (if walking).

Start walking/cycling TOWARDS the Port logging area. You will have pine logs on your left and a steep clay/grassy bank to your right.

After around 5-8 minutes walking on the flat, easy paved footpath, or a couple of minutes cycling, you will come to the Port Chalmers Yacht Club.

The boat leaves from one of the 2 the floating pontoons.

The vessel is usually exactly on time, arriving at either 10:10am or 1:25pm to pick you up. Please do not panic if you do not see it immediately, we usually run right on time.

Arriving and dropping you off at Portobello (837 Portobello Road) at 12:00pm or 3:15pm. This is where you start your self guided cycle experience. Allow 2 hours cycling, minimum.

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR BIKE CHAINED UP ON A RAIL BY THE WHARF. WE WILL BE BACK TO GET IN BEFORE THE CRUISE ENDS.

Please call us if are concerned about anything 020 416 24250.

If your cruise ship is delayed or needs to leave early, we will do our best to accommodate you with perhaps utilizing another timeslot.

If your cruise ship visit in cancelled and you can give us some notice we may be able to refund you.

The usually cancellation periods are 36 hours by written message, or 24 hours by phone call during NZ business hours (8:30am-6:00pm, every day). This can be adapted on consultation with and at the discretion of the owner.

However, we must also meet our costs for sailing, so should we not get enough notice of changes, and we have been advised OUTSIDE the cancellation period, we may need to charge to cover our running costs. This may be the case if we have accepted others to join the cruise on the basis that the combined number of people were going to meet those.

However, we are not a bunch of meanies, so we'll do our best to help you and to be fair in all cases:)

We DO NOT provide food, please bring your own if you wish.

We do not provide cycle hire unless previously arranged and at extra cost.

See www.dunedincycleway.co.nz