Did you know 15 of the 18 (or 19) species of penguins are found in New Zealand! But this doesn’t necessarily mean they are easy to find. Many of these are only found in the Sub Antarctic Islands. Fortunately for us, there are 3 species that are regularly seen from the main islands they are Yellow-Eyed Penguins, Little Penguins and Fiordland Crested Penguins. What is even more special about these species, 2 of these are some of the rarest in the world. With a little help, hopefully you will have an opportunity to see penguins in New Zealand. Firstly let’s learn a little about penguin lifecycles. Then we will look at each species and the different free and paid options to find each of these penguins. Penguins unfortunately are struggling to survive and visiting some of the wonderful facilities that assist with looking after them helps those working with them to keep doing the wonderful work they need to do. Consider supporting them or the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital to help these special species. If you do happen to see penguins in the wild, please respect it and stay at least 20 metres (60 feet from the birds)
Penguin Lifecycle
Penguins spend a lot of their lives at sea, some migrating down to Southern Oceans while others stay closer to the coast such as the Little Penguins. Our best chance then to see the penguins is when they are coming ashore to breed and feeding their young chicks which for Yellow Eyed Penguins starts in November/December through to February/March While the chicks are growing, penguins are regularly moving up and down the beach daily heading back out to sea to find food for themselves, their partners and their chicks. For different species, this happens at slightly different times of the year. Not only are their lots of penguin movements at this time of year, in some locations these nests may be visible such as at the OPERA in Dunedin or along the coast of Stewart Island by boat giving you a greater chance to see penguins. After the penguin chicks have shed their fluffy baby feathers they leave the nest to go out to sea and so do the parents who remain at sea for about a month to fatten up before they moult. Penguins do a catastrophic moult meaning they replace all their feathers at once. They come back to shore and find a nest or cave, or other shelter (depending on the species) while they lose and replace all their feathers at once. This takes 2-4 weeks. While they are on land, they are hidden in their nests and this is not a good time to see them as they are not leaving the nest and they are at their most vulnerable at this time. Vulnerable to predation, starvation and other disturbances. Penguins will lose half their body weight through this process. After their catastrophic moult penguins head out to sea until they return to breed again next summer.
Yellow Eye Penguin/Hoiho
A fabulous penguin whose name means ‘noise maker’! The yellow-eyed penguin is the oldest species of penguin surviving and the remaining species of the Megadyptes genus. The other Megadyptes being Waitaha and Richdale’s both went extinct shortly after humans arrived in New Zealand. Unfortunately, they have recently claimed the unenviable title of The World’s Rarest Penguin. There is an estimated 3,000 birds. Their rapid decline in numbers is a result of food shortages, competition for food, predation particularly on the nest, by-catch from fishing boats and disease including avian malaria, diptheria stomatis and raspatory viruses. In the wild, a Yellow-eyed penguin chick has less than 25% chance of surviving to one year old. So now every chick is taken from the nest and treated for disease at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital before being put back with the parents. The hospital is run entirely on donations. While you cannot visit the hospital, they share adorable content on their social media and NZ Geo wrote this fantastic article about the work they are doing with Yellow-eyed penguins. They treat over 200 penguins a year, any support you can give them is greatly appreciated.
Hear Yellow-Eyed Penguins at the OPERA Dunedin
The recently rebranded Otago Peninsula Ecological Restoration Alliance is a wonderful place to support penguin conservation and potentially see Yellow-Eyed Penguin and Little Penguin in the wild or in their rehabilitation facility. Located on the Taiaroa Peninsula in Dunedin they are nearby to the Royal Albatross Centre, another fantastic wildlife viewing opportunity – either via a tour or drive out and try your luck searching for Northern Royal Albatross in the sky near the carpark. They have a network of viewing hides and tunnels as well as nesting boxes for Little Penguins who are often seen on their wildlife tours. It is often possible to see other animals including New Zealand Fur Seals and New Zealand Sea Lions here too. Perhaps the best reason other than supporting the non-profit restoration work they are doing is that they also boast a rehabilitation centre for penguins that starts to fill up from December until March or April. In early 2024 I saw 5 species of penguin up close in their rehabilitation centre and dozens of birds as they were nourished back to health before being released back into the wild.
Kātiki Point Moeraki
Kātiki Point has been a favourite location and one of the most successful locations for Yellow-Eyed Penguins for many years. Sadly their numbers here have greatly decreases as a result of disturbance by human visitors. This season they have a 10% decrease in nests from last summer. While it is free to visit, if you do try your luck visiting here, please look at supporting Penguin Rescue who monitor and care for the birds here. They also have a live stream of the beach so you can watch penguins from your own home. Please if you do visit here or any other wild locations obey any signage and give the birds plenty of space. The bonus of going here, you are nearby to the iconic Moeraki Boulders. Great spherical rocks that keep appearing out of the ground that look almost alien? A wonderful sunrise walk along the beach if you happen to be there at low tide.
The Catlins Coast: see penguins, waterfalls and forests
The Catlins is a coastal region in the South East Corner of New Zealand. Known for it’s dramatic coastline, waterfalls. forst and wildlife. There are a few locations in this area where Yellow-Eyed Penguins live. There numbers however are very few. These locations are worth visiting in their own right, and you never know, you might just get lucky and see penguins while you are there. Nugget Point is an iconic picturesque lighthouse. A must visit at sunrise or sunset for any budding photographers. Curio Bay boasts a campsite and a petrified forest, where you can walk along the coast and see forest that has been encased forever during a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. In late summer it also a popular spot for Hector’s Dolphin to reside. Keep an eye out for their unique dark round dorsal fin in the bay. Long Point is a 12km stretch of coastline of significant natural values. Home to New Zealand fur seals, New Zealand sea lions, seabirds, coastal plants and more.
Little Penguins
Formerly known as Little Blue Penguins, in Australia as Fairy Penguins or in Maori as Kororaa. Little Penguins are found throughout New Zealand particularly on the East Coast of Canterbury and Otago. I have seen them as far South as Stewart Island and as far North as Whangarei. A great colony exist particularly in Oamaru in North Otago where hundreds can run up past a viewing stand every evening. Perhaps they most social penguin, they form rafts at sea before coming up to land together just after sunset.
See penguins in their hundreds at the Blue Penguin Colony Oamaru
Perhaps the best penguin spectacle in New Zealand would have to be the Blue Penguin Colony in Oamaru. Every night from about September through February the birds come shore. In peak season this means hundreds. The viewing centre here is the perfect place to see penguins and learn more about them. If you cannot make it to the viewing centre there are also birds coming ashore all along the waterfront often nesting under houses and shops in Oamaru. I consider Oamaru the most under visited place in New Zealand with its historic precinct and Steam Punk museum.
A Unique Subspecies Pohatu in Akaroa
Visiting Pohatu Penguins and hearing about their conservation works is one of my favourite penguin experiences. Akaroa is a quaint French settlement in New Zealand with wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities. The best part, the penguins here are a unique subspecies ‘White Flippered’ Little Penguins. A distinctive white leading edge on the flipper with a lighter blue colour makes these their own variety.
Today, Tomorrow, Timaru
My home town has put a lot of work into restoring and protecting the little penguins nesting on Caroline Bay. As a result, young people of Timaru are now more aware of the need for conservation by being able to see the benefits up close. It is free to pop down to Caroline Bay in the summer and look out for Little Penguins. Please follow the guidance of volunteers and stay off the beach and on the footpath after dusk to ensure the birds are free from human disturbance. Keen birders visiting Timaru will also want to visit the South Canterbury Eco Centre for The Raptor Experience, where they do demonstrations and you can meet our raptors up close and personal. Nearby restored wetland area Saltwater Creek is increasingly a must visit stop for bird watchers to Timaru.
Stewart Island to see penguins, Kiwi and other endangered birds
A popular spot for Little Penguin Viewing on Stewart Island is the Ferry Terminal in Oban. Pop down after dusk and watch along the rocks carefully as little penguins return after dusk in the summer months. Not far from the only pub on the island, an after dinner walk down to the water front is often rewarded with little penguins. Keep an eye also for Kaka, Tui, Fantail and New Zealand Pigeon and try not to trip over a kiwi on your way home afterwards! You can read my guide on looking for kiwi or looking out for the Southern Lights on Stewart Island to be fully prepared for your trip to Stewart Island.
Fiordland Crested Penguin/Tawaiki
The world’s 3rd rarest penguin behind the Galapagos Penguin who comes in 2nd behind our Yellow-Eyed Penguin. Tawaiki are found around the South West of the South Island and Stewart Island. They are best seen in October through November while they are regularly coming ashore to raise their chicks. They are on occasion seen in December through February, but by this time your chances are certainly slimmer. Living in the rainforest makes these a very unique bird to see indeed. Conservationist Gerry McSweeney has been monitoring the local population on the West Coast for 30 years and reports that there is a gradual increase in the population of birds he is monitoring. There are many variety of crested penguins, this one in particular looks very similar to the Snares Crested Penguin although they typically live in different locations.
Learn and See Penguins at Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge
This Lodge located on the remote Lake Moeraki on the West Coast was established over 30 years ago to prove that tourism was a viable future for the region. The alternative, logging the forest and turning it all into farm land. Fortunately Gerry and Anne McSweeney had the vision to make it work and established an accomodation facility from the local illegal bar! Previously Gerry has campaigned as head of Forest and Bird to protect New Zealand’s forests and this enterprise is part of that project. From October to early December Gerry runs guided tours in hope to see Fiordland Crested Penguins running up the beach at a nearby colony. While sightings are never guaranteed, you may be treated to some of the closest encounters possible with wild penguins and excellent photography opportunities with some of the most informed wildlife guides you will meet in the world.
Milford Sound – you were going here anyway!
Called the 8th Wonder of the World, boat cruises in Milford Sound during October through December often encounter Fiordland Crested Penguins. Although I have seen them here in January and February on the odd occasion. Birds may be seen in the water at any time during the cruise, however your best chance is a river near the colony as the boat nears the Tasman Sea and the turn around point. Most boats the captain (or at least crew) are accessible to talk to. Let them know you are keen to see them and they will do their best to point them out when the time comes. Be at the front on the left (port) side of the boat for best viewing opportunities and keep an eye out in the water throughout the cruise. The flat water of the fiord makes spotting birds in the water possible. Also keep an eye for White Fronted Terns, White Heron, New Zealand Fur Seals, Weka and if you are lucky, Dolphins.
Stewart Island, again…
If you have the opportunity for any boat trip off Stewart Island let the skipper know you want to see penguins and they will know doubt have a few spots they know of to look out for Fiordland Crested Penguins. Boats such as The Mana that take guests fishing, diving or on wildlife cruises will be able to help you here. There are some caves where the chicks can be seen in the cave for long periods of summer. If you get out to sea there are a myriad of other birds to keep an eye out for including Sooty Shearwater, Skua, Albatross and penguins. Its also not uncommon to see rafts of little penguins while at sea. The bonus of visiting Stewart Island, it boasts the largest population of kiwi birds with almost a third of the population. I love looking for kiwi with Beaks and Feathers. If you are looking for wildlife a trip to Ulva Island is also a must, just watch out for the New Zealand Sea Lions!
Munro Beach Rainforest Walk
Did we mention these were rainforest penguins. So a walk down to Munro Beach through the rainforest is a fantastic way to explore the West Coast of New Zealand. Sadly due to human disturbance the population of Fiordland Crested Penguins at Munro Beach is diminishing, but there are still some seen here. You never know you may also find a small piece of Greenstone washed up on the beach here as a souvenir! Keep an eye out for smooth rocks while you are on the beach. Just be careful of the waves and never swim on the West Coast. Even if there are no penguins on your visit, the 1 hour rainforest walk down to the beach here is well worth the stop.
We can see penguins, but can you say penguin?
Finally for a little bit of fun, have a watch of this clip from The Graham Norton show with guest Benedict Cumberbatch. Benedict was narrating a nature documentary about the South Pacific and commentating on the Fiordland Crested Penguin and unfortunately things went from bad to worse…
Let me know if I have missed any of your favourite penguin viewing locations!
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