The 12 Best Seabird Tours in New Zealand

1.Gannet Safaris Overland tour to Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 942 reviews · from $61Our pick

Drive across private Cape Kidnappers Station in a rugged, air-conditioned minivan, stopping at viewpoints before reaching the gannet plateau. Guides such as Marcus, Jan, Mick, and Tony add stories about farming, wildlife, and local history. The three-hour tour includes tea or coffee and very little walking.

“Fabulous trip. The guides were so knowledgeable….we learnt so much about the gannets but also about farming in the area. To see so many birds together in one place was amazing.”

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2.Napier: Cape Kidnappers Gannet, Nature & Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 317 reviews · 3 hours · from $59Best value

Ride across Cape Kidnappers in a comfortable 4x4 with guides such as Jan, Marcus, or Trevor, then stand a few feet from thousands of gannets. Expect striking cliffs, Maori stories, forest and conservation stops, light refreshments, and no required walking.

“excellent tour. Our guide grew up on the farm and was full of fascinating stories of the past as well as interesting facts about the present - the wildlife, the lodge, the pest control and of course, the gannets”

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3.Albatross, seals, and sea birds-Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 189 reviews · from $105

Join Rachel on a small-group wildlife cruise from Port Chalmers, or Portobello for a longer outing. The custom-built Sootychaser has a heated cabin, open deck, binoculars, and identification sheets. Expect harbor history, sea birds, fur seals, possible penguins, dolphins, and royal albatross.

“The captain- Rachael, was very friendly and knowledgeable. Even though the seas were a bit bumpy, she tried very hard to identify the wildlife while trying to make it as comfortable for the passengers as she could, while we bounced around”

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4.Dunedin Wildlife Cruise-Albatross, seals and harbour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · from $105

Join Rachel of Port To Port Cruises for a 90 to 120 minute wildlife cruise on Otago Harbour. From Port Chalmers or Portobello, you’ll look for albatross, seals, sea lions, penguins, shags, dolphins, and other sea birds, with binoculars, warm jackets, and live commentary provided.

“The arrangement via viator was well organized. Rachel, the captain, was on time and very personable and gave a great tour. She also provided us with a great photo sheet with all the possible birds and animals that could be observed in the area and we were able to check off quite a few of them seeing them first hand. We really appreciated the attention to detail by Rachel who contacted us and provided us better planning options for us to meet her at a better location which saved us considerable time and money.”

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5.Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & Albatross Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · from $198

Spend six hours with a local guide such as Theresa, Asta, John, or Scott, combining Dunedin’s Botanic Garden, Baldwin Street, railway station, and viewpoints with a scenic Otago Peninsula drive and a guided Royal Albatross Centre visit.

“Great tour with Teresa (Tri) given us a comprehensive and enthusiastic introduction to New Zealand and the Otago area in particular. Variety of stops from quick visit to Botanical Gardens to Dunedin railway station, Baldwin Street and the excellent Royal Albatross Centre, with variety of birds plus seals and sea lions.”

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6.From Dunedin: City, Otago Peninsula & Albatross Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 35 reviews · 6 hours · from $191

Join Fantail Tours for a six-hour Dunedin and Otago Peninsula outing with city viewpoints, a botanical garden stroll, Highcliff Road scenery, and a one-hour guided Royal Albatross Centre visit. Guides such as Teresa, Asta, and Scott add local insight, while cruise pickup and return are timed carefully.

“Enjoyed the Otago Peninsula and City Tour. Tour guide was friendly and professional. Tour was well organised and co-ordinated, on the fly, with our cruise ship arrival and departure time, so we didn't have to worry about arriving late for the tour, nor missing our ship departure time.”

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7.Iconic Wildlife Tour with Yellow Eyed Penguins & Royal Albatross

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 33 reviews · from $245

Spend about seven hours exploring Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula with guides such as Kim, Jo, Greg, or Alan. Visit a private wildlife reserve for yellow-eyed penguins and fur seals, stop at the Royal Albatross Centre, and see Baldwin Street and Dunedin Railway Station. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

“Small tour bus from Viator for wildlife tour which picked us up from the cruise terminal, we drove through town on the way towards the Penguins. We learned about the endangered yellow eyed blue penguins and got to see their program to shelter injured penguins and the process of reintegrating them into natural environment. There is a moderate amount of walking in various places during the day. We walked by the coast to see some of the fur seals basking in the sun. I would have liked to go to the Lamach castle but the guide stated we didn't have time. We did however, spend time at the Albatross center…”

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8.Harbour, Albatross and Wildlife Cruise on Otago Harbour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · from $80

You’ll cruise Otago Harbour in a small group of up to 18, with skipper Rob or Holly pointing out albatross, seals, seabirds, shipwrecks, and peninsula history. The boat leaves from Back Beach, visits Carey’s Bay and Taiaroa Head, and can finish near the historic Carey’s Bay Hotel.

“Great for a small boat ride on big ocean waves, escorted by an Albatross. Rob is an excellent boatman. Holly is a free Maori spirit. They are polite, puctual & professional.”

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9.Private tour to Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews

Ride across a private working farm to Cape Kidnappers with a local guide such as Jo, Richard, David, Tony, or Lesleigh. You will see roughly 20,000 gannets from just a few feet away, hear local stories, stop for Pacific views, and return to Te Awanga after about three hours.

“An idyllic day spent with Lesleigh our driver and guide extraordinaire!!”

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10.Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 3 hours

Ride across the 2,500-acre Cape Kidnappers Station on a private three-hour tour with an English-speaking guide. See sheep and beef farming, native bush, Kiwi and tuatara, then stand a few feet from nesting gannets. Guides include Richard, Lesleigh, and Jo.

“Our Gannet Colony Private tour was great. Our guide, Lesleigh, was excellent. The tour was fun and informative. Lesleigh shared her knowledge of and love for the flora and fauna of New Zealand. She answered all of our questions. I would recommend Lesleigh and this tour to anyone.”

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11.Cape Kidnappers: Gannet Colony Exclusive Sunrise Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 3 hours

Set out before sunrise from Te Awanga in a private Range Rover with an English-speaking guide. Cross a working farm, pause for Hawke’s Bay views, then reach Cape Kidnappers’ gannet colony as adults and chicks stir for the day.

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12.Kaikoura Albatross Encounter Tour from Christchurch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · from $229

Leave Christchurch at 7:00 am for a 2.5-hour drive to Kaikoura, then join a narrated boat ride for albatross, petrels, shearwaters, terns, shags, gulls, and fur seals. Guide Tracey has earned special praise for her friendly, informative approach. The boat is small, so consider your comfort at sea.

“A very informative and enjoyable experience, well run by knowledgeable staff , would highly recommend. A special mention to our guide Tracey.”

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