Little blue penguins, known in New Zealand as kororā, are the smallest penguin in the world, standing around 30 centimetres tall and weighing roughly a kilogram. At Pukekura, the Māori name for Taiaroa Head, a colony of them nests in the rocks beside the Otago Peninsula’s tip, and in the evening the birds come ashore after a day fishing at sea. The Blue Penguins Pukekura experience gives visitors a chance to watch this from a tiered viewing platform that has been designed to keep disturbance to a minimum. Guides explain how the penguins live, how they raise chicks in burrows and nest boxes, and why they are threatened by predators and habitat loss. The viewing is timed to dusk, so the exact start varies through the year, and arrivals can be anywhere from a handful of birds to many dozens depending on the season. Because the birds are wild, there are no guarantees, but the colony is established and sightings are usually good. The experience can be booked on its own or as part of a combined tour that includes a peninsula drive, so it is easy to fit into a day on the peninsula.
How to visit
The colony is at the end of the Otago Peninsula, roughly an hour from central Dunedin by road, so most visitors either join a tour that includes transport or drive themselves. Arrive in good time before the viewing starts, since you will be asked to check in and listen to a short briefing. Evening visits mean a drive home after dark on a winding coastal road, so a guided option with transport removes that worry.
What to expect
You sit on a raised platform looking over the landing area while penguins come in from the sea in small groups called rafts. They wait in the shallows, then dash up the beach and across to their burrows, often calling noisily. Flash photography is not allowed and lights are kept low, so photographs are best taken with a phone or camera on high ISO.
Expect cool evening air and wind, particularly outside summer. In breeding months you may hear chicks calling from the burrows, and in the moulting months fewer birds come ashore, so the experience varies with the season.
Making the most of it
Dress warmly in layers, wear soft-soled shoes and bring a small torch with a red filter if you have one, though lights are generally restricted. Book ahead in peak summer, as viewing numbers are limited to protect the colony. Combine the evening viewing with an afternoon at the albatross observatory or a wildlife cruise, so you see several species in a single trip. Keep quiet and stay seated during the viewing so the penguins are not disturbed.
Good to know
Little blue penguins face many threats, including dogs, stoats, cats and ferrets, vehicle strikes and changes to the fish stocks they feed on, so the viewing experience is part of a wider conservation effort. The money you spend supports habitat work and nest boxes. Penguins moult once a year, when they stay ashore for a couple of weeks and do not feed, which is why numbers vary through the calendar.
If you visit at a quiet time, the guides will still explain the birds and show nest boxes. Bring cash or a card for the small shop on site, and remember that the headland can be dramatically colder after dark than it was at midday, so a hat and gloves are useful outside summer.
What to expect
The experience
A guided evening viewing from a platform at Taiaroa Head to watch little blue penguins come ashore at dusk.
Best time
Evenings from late spring through summer, when days are long and the colony is active.
How long
1-2 hours
Tips
Dress warmly, keep quiet, switch off flash and book ahead in peak season.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who wants to see penguins in the wild without a long walk.
- Families
- A hit with children, who love the tiny penguins, though late summer sunsets can mean a late finish.
- Couples
- A quiet dusk on the headland watching one of nature’s nicest routines.
- Pair with
- The albatross observatory by day, then penguins at dusk on the same headland.
- Time needed
- 1-2 hours
Good questions
What are little blue penguins?+
They are the smallest penguin species, about 30 centimetres tall. In New Zealand they are called kororā and nest along the coast.
When do the penguins come ashore?+
They return from fishing around dusk, so viewing times shift with the season. Arrival numbers vary through the year.
Can I take photographs?+
Yes, but flash and bright lights are not allowed. Use a phone or camera on a high setting without flash.
Do I need a car?+
The colony is about an hour from the city, so a tour with transport is the easiest way. If you drive, expect a winding road home in the dark.
Is it guaranteed I will see penguins?+
Penguins are wild, so no sighting is guaranteed, but the colony is established and sightings are usually good.