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Nearby sights

Fiordland National ParkAttraction in Fiordland, New Zealand

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Mount CookAttraction in MacKenzie District, New Zealand

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Tekapo LakeAttraction in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Akaroa: Pohatu Little Penguins 3-Hour Evening Experience

Top rated
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
79 reviews
Activity provider:
Pohatu Penguins and Sea Kayaking
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Akaroa: Pohatu Little Penguins 3-Hour Evening Experience
Top rated
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
79 reviews

Encounter White-flippered penguins in their natural habitat on this 3-hour guided experience from Akaroa. Discover how 30+ years of conservation saved the little penguins from extinction in the area.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Small group
Limited to 12 participants

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

5
5 out of 5 stars
S
Samantha – United States

This tour was hands down the best. Our guide Ben was amazing and very informative. There is no guarantee we would see penguins because of the time of year and nature. We got to see three penguins in their "homes" and out in the water. We also got to see seals lounging around. I was able to interact with the very friendly sheep. If you come to Akaroa check out this tour!

5
5 out of 5 stars
M
Marion – France

Awesome experience to see the Pohatu Penguins. Our guide Ben was really passionate about them and about Akaroa so you can feel it and it makes all the difference. Thank you for everything.

Select participants and date

Participants

Highlights

  • Marvel at wild penguins in their natural habitat at dusk
  • Enjoy a scenic 4WD drive to Pohatu/Flea Bay from Akaora
  • Gain great insight into the life of a penguin and local conservation efforts
  • Contribute to a 30-year conservation and monitoring project

Full description

Join the tour from Akaroa for a scenic drive by a 4WD minivan over the crater rim of the Akaroa volcano to Pohatu/Flea Bay. Listen as your guide shares with you the history and unique wildlife of the area.

Stop for photo opportunities where you can gaze across Akaroa harbor and enjoy stunning views of the endless Pacific Ocean. On arrival, walk around the colony to monitor nesting sites (small wooden houses), collect data, and make sure that the birds are doing well.

Spot the penguins undisturbed, socializing on the water, and with darkness falling, a likelihood of some returning to shore.
Binoculars and camouflage gear are provided to maximize viewing abilities. Darkness will signal the end of the activity, as artificial lighting disturbs the birds so is not used.

At certain times of the year, you may even see some of the rehabilitation efforts, such as supplemental feeding.

Note, our colony is very organised and there are times of the year when numbers are higher than others so here is what to expect throughout the year.
The colony breeds from mid-September to the end of December. Then, birds moult until mid/ end of February. There are generally no penguins from early March to mid-April. Over the winter months, penguins come and go and although it is rare to find a bird, there are times with less birds than others.

Includes

  • Scenic return transport by 4WD minivan
  • Experienced guide
  • Photo stops
  • Penguin monitoring and viewing
  • Camouflage gear
  • Use of binoculars

Not suitable for

  • Wheelchair users
  • People with mobility impairments

Meeting point

Before the St Peter's church

Open in Google Maps

Important information

What to bring

  • Hiking shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing

Not allowed

  • Smoking
  • Flash photography
  • Making noise

Know before you go

  • The departure time changes due to the sunset. The local tour operator communicate with you the departure time near the date of your tour
  • Photography welcomed, strictly no use of flash permitted
  • The main focus of this activity is monitoring nesting sites offering the opportunity to see penguins up close and watching them socializing on the water
  • Tours rely on natural viewing for this colony, no artificial lighting is used. Pending the weather and natural penguin behavior, there is usually a window of opportunity before it gets too dark to view penguins coming ashore. It cannot be guaranteed that the birds will come ashore before darkness
  • Due to the sensitive wildlife habitat, only guided groups can visit the breeding colony to view the White-flippered Penguins

From $64 per person

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5
4.7 out of 5 stars

based on 79 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    4.8/5
  • Value for money
    4.6/5

Customer photos

+3
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5
5 out of 5 stars
S
Samantha – United StatesJune 2, 2025 – Verified booking
This tour was hands down the best. Our guide Ben was amazing and very informative. There is no guarantee we would see penguins because of the time of year and nature. We got to see three penguins in their "homes" and out in the water. We also got to see seals lounging around. I was able to interact with the very friendly sheep. If you come to Akaroa check out this tour!
5
5 out of 5 stars
M
Marion – FranceMay 22, 2025 – Verified booking
Awesome experience to see the Pohatu Penguins. Our guide Ben was really passionate about them and about Akaroa so you can feel it and it makes all the difference. Thank you for everything.
5
5 out of 5 stars
S
Sam – United KingdomApril 22, 2025 – Verified booking
This is a fantastic tour, our guide was extremely knowledgable and gave us insights into penguin behaviour and information on classification as we made our way to the nest boxes where we had a chance to monitor a couple and see a some penguins up close, we then got to view penguins socialising on the water and a few even climbed up onto the rocks near sunset. The real bonus is that these people truly care about the animals and their welfare, everything is done with respect to them and their habitat, truly a great experience and highly recommended

Product ID: 191678

Activity provider:
Pohatu Penguins and Sea Kayaking
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