Penguin Tours_old

Pohatu is the largest Australasian Little Penguin colony on mainland New Zealand. Francis and Shireen Helps have worked over the last three decades protecting White-flippered Penguins (Eudyptula minor albosignata), Canterbury's own variant of Australasian Little Penguin, from introduced predators. Because of the sensitive wildlife habitat only guided groups are taken into the breeding colony to view the White-flippered Penguins.

The best time for penguin viewing is the breeding season between end of August to December. You can see moulting penguins in January and February, but starting the end of February through early April we do NOT have penguins. There are also some windows of excellent viewing opportunities from mid April to September when the birds return periodically from sea.

This is a wonderful option for people who wish to take part in our monitoring program and learn more, in depth, about our conservation efforts. This gives you great insight into the life of a penguin and an opportunity to see the birds up-close.

First, you will set off with a walk around the colony to monitor nesting sites and make sure that our Little Penguins are doing well. Then, you will have the opportunity to spot the penguins undisturbed from our hides , socializing on the water with our binoculars and our telescope and at dusk a very high likelihood of some returning to shore, we depart before it gets to dark and leave it for the penguins to do their thing without us in their way.

Binoculars and camouflage gear is provided to maximize viewing abilities.

Time of the year	Viewing probability	Viewing expectation
September - Mid October	Guaranteed	Nesting sites (Adults)
September - Mid October	High Likelihood	Socializing on the water
Mid October - Mid December	Guaranteed	Nesting sites (Adults, chicks and eggs)
Mid October - Mid December	High Likelihood	Socializing on the water
Mid December - Mid February	High Likelihood	Rehabilitation
	Likelihood	Nesting sites Adults moulting (losing their feathers)
	Likelihood	Some socializing on the water
Mid-February - Mid April	None	Maybe late moulters early returners
Mid-April - end of May	High Likelihood	Nesting sites (Adults)
Mid-April - end of May	High Likelihood	Socializing on the water
June - August	50/50 (although it is rare not to have a single penguin in the bay, winter is very sporadic, call ahead to check if there are penguins)	Returning adults socializing on the water and in nesting sites

$75 adult
$55 child (under 15 years)
$30 infant (3 to 5 years old)

Note that prices will changed on the 1st of September.

In addition, tours booked late November to February may have the opportunity to see up-close rehabilitation efforts such as feedings and swim therapy. (Call ahead to see if we have penguins in rehab.)

Please note:

We are not a Penguin parade and rely on natural viewing for this colony, (we don’t use lighting), we usually have a window of opportunity just before it gets too dark to view penguins coming ashore below our hides, but depending on Mother nature and how the penguins feel we can’t always guarantee they will come ashore before the cut off time we run the tours in. The hours of darkness are for penguins only as this is the time they have to walk home to feed their chicks. Saying that, it is still highly likely penguins come ashore below our hides on the rocks to preen before heading home.
Monitoring nesting sites (opportunity to see penguins up close) and watching them socialize on the water with binoculars is our main focus.
The Evening penguin tour departure changes due to lengthening or shortening days so please check on the day our current departure time.In summer it is advisable to either eat before you come on an evening tour or bring some food with you as often restaurants will be closed on our return to Akaroa.
Over the winter months, booking available on enquiry only. This is because the penguins are not always there.

Photography welcomed but strictly no use of flash.

Things to bring:

Good walking shoes or boots with good grip soles that can cope with a bit of mud in wet conditions.
The track can be demanding for some and can be slippery in wet conditions. We do our best to have a well formed track in good condition as far as the viewing hides that most people can cope with.
Bring warm clothing (some additional camouflage clothing will be provided).

*Self-drive option is available. Please note that you must have a 4WD vehicle and are comfortable driving on narrow, steep, windy gravel roads in the dark. Self-drives may either meet us in the bay or follow one of our vans. Please indicate on our booking where you will meet us when driving yourself.

Pohatu Penguins pohatu.co.nz - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

Only in Akaroa for the day?

If you do not have the time to stay late or overnight in Akaroa, consider our Scenic Nature tours that would allow you to see penguins up close in nesting sites.

Check out also our 24 hour Pohatu package

Experience a night right in the middle of the largest Australasian Little Penguin colony on mainland New Zealand! Our cosy units are available to enable you to spend more time at Pohatu Bay and free time to relax and explore Pohatu´s many secret places. The accommodation is located within easy walking distance of our beautiful safe sandy beach.