Premium wildlife tour on the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin
Experience the wild side of the Otago Peninsula on a small-group wildlife tour designed for travellers who want something real, not rushed.
Limited to just 10 guests, our fully guided four-hour journey takes you across private family farmland and conservation areas rarely seen by visitors, offering exceptional opportunities to encounter yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho), New Zealand sea lions, fur seals, royal albatross and other native wildlife in their natural habitat.
Unlike many wildlife experiences, our tour is entirely land-based. That means more time observing wildlife where it lives, breeds and rests, combined with expert interpretation, spectacular scenery and an authentic connection to one of New Zealand’s most remarkable coastal environments.
What you'll see
The Otago Peninsula is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most important wildlife destinations, home to species found in very few places anywhere in the world. Our tour offers outstanding opportunities to encounter yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho), New Zealand sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, several species of albatross, and a variety of coastal and wetland birdlife.
Every day in nature is different, which is part of what makes wildlife viewing so rewarding. Alongside wildlife encounters, you’ll travel through dramatic coastal landscapes, rolling farmland and wildlife-rich wetlands, and visit a secluded beach, all while learning about the ecology and conservation of the peninsula from your guide.
A small-group, land-based tour
Our tours are limited to a maximum of 10 guests, creating a quieter and more personal experience for both visitors and wildlife. Small groups allow greater flexibility, better opportunities for conversation with your guide, and more time to pause and appreciate unexpected wildlife encounters.
Being land-based also means you spend your time immersed in the landscape rather than simply passing by it. You’ll walk short distances, stop frequently for wildlife viewing, and enjoy unhurried opportunities to observe animals behaving naturally in their own environment.
Where the tour goes
Your journey takes you along the backroads of the Otago Peninsula to the Clearwater family farm; a working private sheep farm and conservation area at Cape Saunders. These locations are not accessible to the public and provide a unique perspective on a landscape shaped by wildlife, conservation and generations of family stewardship.
Along the way you’ll discover spectacular coastal scenery, secluded beaches, rugged shoreline habitats and wetlands teeming with birdlife, all while exploring a side of the peninsula that many visitors never experience.
Is wildlife viewing guaranteed?
No. Wildlife is wild, and no ethical operator can guarantee that every species will appear on every tour.
What we can guarantee is that our guides will use their local knowledge, experience and access to private conservation areas to give you the best possible opportunity to see wildlife in its natural habitat. Our small-group format, carefully planned route and access to areas unavailable to the public provide excellent viewing opportunities throughout the year.
Guided tour vs exploring on your own
The Otago Peninsula offers several public locations where visitors may experience wildlife independently. However, understanding where to go, when to visit and how to observe wildlife responsibly can be challenging, particularly for those with limited time in Dunedin.
Joining a guided wildlife tour provides access to private areas, expert local knowledge and insights that go far beyond simply spotting wildlife. You’ll learn about behaviour, breeding cycles, conservation challenges and the unique ecology that makes the peninsula one of New Zealand’s most important wildlife regions.
Penguins & albatross in one day
Many visitors arrive in Dunedin hoping to see both penguins and royal albatross during their stay. Our tour is one of the few experiences that offers the opportunity to encounter yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho) and other wildlife while watching albatross soaring above the peninsula coastline.
For a more in-depth experience, it’s possible to time our tour with a visit to the Royal Albatross Centre. Contact us to learn how this option can work for you.
How your tour supports conservation
Protecting wildlife lies at the heart of everything we do. Our tours operate within our private farm and conservation area where wildlife welfare always comes first. All wildlife encounters are guided by strict viewing practices designed to minimise disturbance and ensure animals can behave naturally in their environment.
By joining a tour, you are helping to support the ongoing protection of habitats used by yellow-eyed penguins and all the wildlife that call this place home. This work includes predator trapping, maintaining penguin pathways and nesting areas, replanting native vegetation, protecting waterways, and enhancing the habitats that support the diverse flora and fauna found throughout our farm. Just as importantly, your visit helps foster greater awareness and appreciation of the conservation challenges facing this environment and these remarkable species.
Award-winning tours
Clearwater Wildlife Tours is proud to hold Qualmark Gold accreditation and TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best recognition for 2025. These awards reflect the quality of the experience we offer and the consistently positive feedback we receive from guests from around the world.
For us, however, the greatest reward is sharing meaningful wildlife encounters and helping visitors connect with the landscapes, wildlife and conservation stories of the Otago Peninsula.
Tour Essentials
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Group Size: Maximum 10 guests
Departure Point: The Octagon, central Dunedin
Includes: Expert guide, binoculars, complimentary water, cookies and weather-proof jackets
Not included: There are no food stops on our tour. Guests are welcome to bring pre-packed food and drinks.
Tour Style: Small-group, land-based wildlife experience across private family farmland and conservation areas on the spectacular coastline of the Otago Peninsula
Clearwater Wildlife Tours & Elm Wildlife
While Clearwater Wildlife Tours share part of the same history, they are distinctly separate businesses. For many years, until 2020, Elm Wildlife operated tours across private family land owned by the Clearwater family on the wild side of the Otago Peninsula. Today, Clearwater Wildlife Tours provides exclusive access to that same remarkable landscape through a modern, conservation-led wildlife experience.
This article explains what changed and who operates on the property today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best wildlife tour in Dunedin?
Clearwater Wildlife Tours is rated among the best wildlife tours in Dunedin, holding Qualmark Gold and a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award for 2025. With a maximum of 10 guests and exclusive access to private conservation land, you get an intimate, land-based experience with hoiho, sea lions, fur seals and albatross.
Is wildlife viewing guaranteed?
No. The wildlife is wild and unpredictable, so we cannot guarantee you will see every species, but we do guarantee we will do everything we can to give you the best possible viewing. Our private land access and small groups give you some of the best odds of seeing rare wildlife in New Zealand.
Can you see Dunedin wildlife without going on a boat?
Yes. Our tours are entirely land-based, so you see Dunedin’s wildlife on foot across a private coastal farm with no boat involved. This is our point of difference: you watch penguins, sea lions and fur seals from hides on their own breeding coastline.
Is a wildlife cruise or a land-based tour better?
Both have their strengths. A wildlife cruise is good for seeing albatross and seabirds out on the harbour and open water, while a land-based tour like ours gets you quietly onto the coast where penguins, sea lions and fur seals breed. If you want close, unhurried views of shore wildlife without a boat, land-based is the better fit.
Is it better to see Dunedin wildlife on a guided tour or by yourself?
You can see some wildlife around Dunedin on your own, but access to the best breeding areas is limited and needs to be done carefully to protect the animals. A guided tour like ours adds exclusive access to private conservation land, an expert guide, and strict distance rules that protect the animals and improve what you see.
What is the best way to see penguins and albatross in one day?
The best way to see penguins and albatross in one day is on a single Otago Peninsula wildlife tour. Our land-based tour gives you the chance to see yellow-eyed penguins, sea lions and fur seals up close, with albatross often soaring along the coast, including royal albatross.
How long is the tour and what is included?
Our Wild One tour runs for around four hours with a maximum of 10 guests. It is fully guided and land-based across private conservation land, and includes high quality binoculars, spare wet weather jackets, and complimentary water and cookies. There are no food stops on the tour, so feel free to bring your own snacks.
What are the best small-group wildlife tours in New Zealand?
Our Wild One tour is one of New Zealand’s best small-group wildlife tours, taking a maximum of 10 guests onto a working family farm and private conservation land at Cape Saunders, on the Otago Peninsula. The small group means quiet, unhurried viewing of yellow-eyed penguins, sea lions, fur seals and albatross, with an expert guide and no crowds.
Ready to explore the wild side of the Otago Peninsula?
Join us for an unforgettable small-group wildlife tour and discover why Dunedin is known as New Zealand’s wildlife capital. Places are limited to 10 guests per departure, ensuring every tour remains personal, relaxed and focused on exceptional wildlife experiences.
Book your Dunedin Wildlife Tour today.