Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula Tours

Combine top Dunedin experiences into a single day of sightseeing on a Port Chalmers shore excursion that includes a city tour, Larnach Castle Garden, and a 90-minute ride on a coastal train through the scenic Otago Peninsula. A flexible mix of guided and independent activities gives you the best of both worlds: you’ll get a fascinating, guided introduction to Dunedin highlights, but enjoy the freedom to explore on your own.

Travelers short on time in Dunedin who want a comprehensive overview of the city and the Otago Peninsula will love this five-hour small-group tour. After stopping at Dunedin city highlights like Baldwin Street, the University of Otago, and the Octagon, you’ll head out to the Otago Peninsula to enjoy nature. Learn more about penguins on a guided tour of the reserve.

See up to 200 blue penguins returning from sea in the evening. Extremely close viewing of these birds. Learn about the Maori history of this significant site. Tour includes a special "behind the scenes" look at the reserve and penguin habitat. Photography is allowed (but no flash photography)

Swap the cruise port for the Dunedin countryside on a half-day shore excursion that includes the Otago Peninsula. Your sightseeing tour covers highlights of the city center such as the Dunedin Railway Station, then travels to several village suburbs, stopping en route at scenic lookouts and for a beachside view of basking sea lions. Enjoy the personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 19 people.

Bird and wildlife enthusiasts shouldn’t miss this cruise in the Otago Harbour. You don’t have to travel far from the city to get out into the wilderness, as the Otago Peninsula is home to a vast array of wildlife. Spot royal albatross, fur seals, sea lions, blue penguins, cormorants, and more, and learn all about them and their habitat from the crew. Dress warm, as the weather is often cold and blustery here, but this is good wildlife-spotting weather, as the albatross in particular like the wind.

Join a small group for a full-day tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. During the city tour, see landmarks such as the University of Otago, Baldwin Street, and Scottish heritage sites. Next explore the Otago Peninsula, including Otago Harbour, Sandfly Bay, Tunnel Beach, and historic Larnach Castle. Your tour includes pickup and drop-off in central Dunedin or the port.

Book a shared arrival transfer from Dunedin Airport to your hotel doorstep, and enjoy a stress-free start to your trip. It’s a simple, cost-effective option that takes all the hassle out of arranging transportation after you land. Transport is by spacious minivan.

Visit New Zealand’s only castle with admission to Larnach Castle & Gardens, where you’ll find beautiful antiques, manicured gardens, and gorgeous views across the Otago Peninsula. Learn the story of the castle’s founding family through recorded commentary on a personal headset, and pause to explore a collection of New Zealand native plants before entering the castle. Pre-booking your tickets to Larnach Castle & Gardens ensures a smooth visit, with the flexibility to see the castle and grounds at your own pace.

Glimpse early 20th-century life in New Zealand during a 1-hour guided tour of the Olveston Historic Home in Dunedin. Follow a knowledgeable docent through the 35-room mansion as you learn about its Jacobean-style architectural design, fine art and furnishings. Discover the history of one of Dunedin’s most prominent families, and stroll through the elegant gardens with views of Otago Harbour.

End your trip to Dunedin the easy way with this shared departure transfer to Dunedin Airport. You will be picked up from your accommodation doorstep and transferred by spacious minivan to the airport. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the pricey private taxi rides.

Immerse yourself in the vivid natural beauty of the Catlins on this private day trip from Dunedin. See this South Island wonder through the eyes of a local guide who has access to public conservation lands. Set your gaze on remote vistas where waterfalls, golden beaches, coastal rainforest and rare New Zealand wildlife can be found. This personalized tour offers insight about early European settlers and the indigenous Maori inhabitants.

Benefit from clear views of the southern sky at night on a star-gazing tour on the Otago Peninsula. Depart from Dunedin and head to Sandfly Bay and a rural farm. Your guide shares Māori stories about the celestial bodies, and serves up a light supper with hot beverages. When the conditions are right, this part of the rural coast is ideal for viewing the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis).

Explore Dunedin highlights on a 3-hour, small-group tour that goes from the city's historic landmarks to the beaches of the Otago Peninsula. You'll see the University of Otago, the Dunedin Railway Station, and more, then continue to the beautiful Otago Peninsula, pausing for a walk on St. Clair beach and esplanade. Group size is limited to 13 people to ensure personalized service, and this tour includes pickup and drop-off at Port Chalmers, with departure times that are tailored to cruise ship arrivals.

Peer at rare yellow-eyed penguins and visit nesting grounds of the northern royal albatross during a full-day tour of the Otago Peninsula and Dunedin. Spend your morning sightseeing in Dunedin’s city center, including highlights of the Octagon, followed by a visit to the gardens of Larnach Castle, with the option to go inside and buy lunch. In the afternoon, immerse in the natural beauty of the Otago Peninsula and the scenic coast along Taiaroa Head. Numbers are limited to 19 people to allow for personalized attention from your informative guide.

Travel with a small group to explore the city of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. Get personalized attention from your guide and enjoy an intimate atmosphere with your fellow travelers as you hit all the highlights, such as Larnach Castle, Penguin Place, the Octagon, the Dunedin Rail Station, the University of Otago, and more. Along the way, listen to engaging commentary from your guide and enjoy the opportunity to ask questions.

Travel from Port Chalmers or Dunedin on a privately guided tour that introduces you to city attractions as well as points of interest on the Otago Peninsula. With a flexible itinerary you can spend as much time as you like at each site, including a stop at the Royal Albatross Centre. Drive past Baldwin Street, Signal Hill, Otago University, Dunedin Railway Station, and more.

Venture to Dunedin and escape the crowds when your ship pulls into port. You'll visit beaches on the scenic coastline and learn about the impressive architecture of New Zealand's oldest city on this shore excursion. Stop at several lookouts and search for wildlife in the Otago Peninsula.

With this tour you will enjoy a small group experience with a personalised attention while discovering the beauty of Dunedin City and Otago peninsula. You will avoid wasting time waiting for a bog group to get on and off the bus. You will be introduced to the city in the best way, optimising time to see the highlights of the city, enjoying the most breathtaking scenery of Otago Peninsula via Highcliff road where the road for bigger buses is not suitable. You will have a 1 hour guided tour of Albatross Centre and discover all about these huge seabirds.

Combine a city highlights tour of Dunedin with a wildlife-focused tour of the Otago Peninsula in a single day. Perfect for first-time visitors or those short on time, this tour covers both urban and natural highlights of the area. Landmarks in Dunedin include the Botanic Garden, Baldwin Street, the Dunedin Railway Station, and others. Get to know the Otago Peninsula's beaches and bays with scenic drives and a wildlife boat cruise from Taiaroa Head.

Be surprised by the rugged natural landscape that’s part of the Dunedin city boundaries on this tour of the Otago Peninsula. Start with a guided tour of New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle, and learn all about Dunedin’s early settler history from your guide. Continue further along the peninsula, hopping aboard a wildlife cruise of the Otago Harbour. Spot fur seals, albatross, and maybe even dolphins and penguins while admiring the views.

Small group tours, fast custom built vessel. Comfortable, warm, partially enclosed. On our tour..... -Approx 2 hours duration, if joining from Portobello, or 1.5 hours if joining from Port Chalmers. -Fully commentated. -Travel from the most scenic part of the harbour, pass by the historic Quarantine Stations and old hulks. -See and learn about the fishing boats, workboats, dredges and ships as we pass Port Chalmers and Careys Bay. -View wading birds and look for penguins and shags as we cruise past roosting and feeding areas. -See/learn about the historic pilots houses, search light and gun emplacements and the old whaling stations. -Take the time to cruise around Taiaroa Head, exploring the shallow bays to view fur seals and nesting colonies of shags, albatross and much more. -Sometimes we venture out to sea and we may view oceanic sea birds, marine mammals such as dolphins or sea lions. -Bicycle hire can be added by contacting us.

Let someone else take care of logistics while you experience the beauty and rich heritage of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. Spend the first part of the morning exploring parts of Dunedin, then take a scenic drive along the Otago Peninsula, stoping at one of the world’s only mainland colonies of Royal Albatross.

Get a comprehensive look at Dunedin, New Zealand's oldest city. This tour takes you by minivan to the Octagon in the city center, past impressive architecture such as the Dunedin Railway Station, and along the coastline of the Otago Peninsula to escape the crowds. Journey with your guide and a small group to stunning lookouts and other points of interest.

There’s a wildlife wonderland just a short distance from Dunedin city, and this morning or afternoon cruise is a great way to see these native birds and marine animals close-up. Instead of wearing yourself out on a tramp across the peninsula, cruise through the Otago Harbour and past Taiaroa Head in a custom-built boat with a heated cabin and open deck for scenic photos. Look out for cute blue penguins, charming fur seals and albatrosses from the nearby colonies.