New Zealand · DUNEDIN TOURS

The 15 Best Dunedin & Otago Peninsula Tours

77 tours  ·  from $14

The wildlife is the reason to come: albatross on the headland, yellow-eyed penguins coming ashore at dusk, sea lions on the beach. These 15 sort the peninsula trips, the castle and the brewery by price, timing and how much walking is involved.

Clearwater Wildlife Tours (small group 10max) Otago Peninsula - Cape Saunders and the private fur seal colony
Dunedin Tours, Otago Peninsula Wildlife Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife, Wildlife Tours in Dunedin

Clearwater Wildlife Tours (small group 10max) Otago Peninsula

1.Clearwater Wildlife Tours (small group 10max) Otago Peninsula

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 531 reviews · from $139Our pick

Travel from Dunedin to Cape Saunders in a van shared by no more than 10 people. Walk private beaches, farm trails, and conservation areas with guides such as Adrian, Ben, Kelly, Quinn, or Paula. Binoculars, weatherproof jackets, water, cookies, and return transport are included.

“An absolutely fabulous excursion with our guide Ben. The trip along the Otago peninsula was beautiful & we saw so many birds. Ben’s knowledge was second to none & his enthusiasm was infectious. The hide provided to look at the seal Read more”

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Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting - Walking through old and modern brewery floors
Breweries, Drinking Tours, Dunedin Tours, Food & Drink, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours

Speight’s Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting

2.Speight’s Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 508 reviews · from $16Best value

Walk through Speight’s historic and modern brewery floors in central Dunedin with a guide such as Tom, Thomas, Israel, or Sophia. The 75-minute visit ends with up to 20 minutes of beer tasting, pouring advice, and samples of Speight’s beers and cider.

“This was a great tour, very interesting. Thomas our tour guide was excellent. Beer tasting was great at the end would highly recommend this tour.”

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Guided Evening Penguin Viewing Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, New Zealand - Walking the 300 metres to the viewing platform
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Guided Evening Penguin Viewing Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, New Zealand

3.Guided Evening Penguin Viewing Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 471 reviews · from $34

Meet at Blue Penguins Pukekura on Otago Peninsula for a 90-minute evening walk, talk, and close-up viewing session. Guides such as Leon and Shane explain penguin life and local history before you watch little blue penguins return from sea. Bring your own car, warm layers, and a rain jacket.

“Make sure you rug up. Very chilly, but well worth the wait. Very cute little penguins. Something everyone must do.”

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Larnach Castle and Gardens Admission Ticket - Arriving from Dunedin to the hilltop property
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Larnach Castle and Gardens Admission Ticket

4.Larnach Castle and Gardens Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 279 reviews · from $29

Visit New Zealand’s only castle at your own pace with admission to Larnach Castle and its gardens. Use the written castle guide, grounds map, and native plant trail map, then climb to the rooftop lookout and pause at the Ballroom Cafe. Allow two to four hours.

“Well worth the trip. House is interesting and the gardens very well kept. Map of the grounds could have been better. The tea and scone at the on site restaurant also added to the experience.”

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Dunedin Shore Excursion: Small-Group Tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula - Dunedin Railway Station is the architectural centerpiece
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Dunedin Shore Excursion: Small-Group Tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula

5.Dunedin Shore Excursion: Small-Group Tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 270 reviews · from $86

Join a small group of up to 15 for a 3.5-hour shore tour from Port Chalmers with guide Chris or another local driver. See Baldwin Street and Dunedin Railway Station, then follow scenic Otago Peninsula roads to a beach where New Zealand sea lions may be resting.

“It was ok not too much excitement. Drive around and made some short stops. The beach stop was the highlight.”

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Dunedin: Wildlife and Penguin Tour - The rehabilitation centre: your best chance for close penguin views
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Dunedin: Wildlife and Penguin Tour

6.Wildlife and Penguin Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 239 reviews · 1h 30m · from $44

Explore a private Otago Peninsula eco-reserve with guides such as Emma and Eden. The 90-minute tour combines a conservation film, rehabilitation-centre visit, bus ride, and 2-kilometre nature walk, with chances to see Yellow-eyed and little penguins, seals, sea lions, and native birds.

“Seeing the fur seals and blue penguins in the wild was amazing. Tour guide interesting and knowledgeable.”

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Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise with Monarch - What happens at Taiaroa Head
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Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise with Monarch

7.Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise with Monarch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 227 reviews · from $43

Join Monarch Wildlife Cruises at Wellers Rock Wharf for a one-hour Otago Harbour trip to Taiaroa Head. Crew members point out royal albatross, fur seals, sea lions, blue penguins, dolphins, and seabirds, with binoculars, warm jackets, commentary, and Wi-Fi included.

“Albatross, sea lions, seals, penguins and beautiful scenery. Guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable”

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Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour - Crossing toward the Otago Peninsula
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Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour

8.Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 207 reviews · from $86

Join Andrew from Experience Dunedin for a one-hour V8 trike ride from the Octagon through central Dunedin, St Clair, and the Otago Peninsula. Expect open-air views, running commentary, a five-minute photo stop, provided jackets and sunglasses, and a maximum of four people.

“No helmets required which was great. Extremely comfy seats Could have done it for hours, lots of fun.”

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Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour - Jacobean design and Edwardian comfort
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Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour

9.Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 205 reviews · from $16

Step into Olveston Historic Home with a small group of up to 15. A guide leads you through more than 13 rooms filled with original furnishings, Japanese ceramics, Italian paintings, and clever Edwardian details. Then explore the one-acre garden and see the family’s 1922 Fiat.

“A relic of the upstairs/downstairs days. Beautifully preserved. The guide was great. A bit of a hike to get there but well worth it”

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Garden and City tour - Baldwin Street: a famous slope with an optional workout
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Garden and City tour

10.Garden and City tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 197 reviews · from $37

This 4 to 5 hour Dunedin tour starts and ends at Port Chalmers. Ride an air-conditioned bus with local commentary, then explore Baldwin Street, Signal Hill, the Botanic Garden, the Railway Station, the Octagon, and Toitu Museum. Guides may include Craig, Damon, Andrew, Rob, Pam, or Sean.

“Rob the guide was great and provided good local information about what we visited. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would recommend the tour.”

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Albatross, seals, and sea birds-Wildlife Cruise - Searching for albatross near Taiaroa Head
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Albatross, seals, and sea birds-Wildlife Cruise

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

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

Join Captain Rachel McGregor aboard the small vessel Sootychaser for a 1.5 to 2-hour wildlife cruise from Port Chalmers or Portobello. Expect Otago Harbour views, albatross, fur seals, sea lions, penguins, seabirds, historic sites, binoculars, and clear onboard commentary.

“This was an awesome experience made even more awesome. By our tour guide Rachel, her knowledge of the wildlife, and the birds all around the waterway that she took us through a second to none. I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to learn about the unique wildlife in around Port Chalmers especially those with young children. Thank you Rachel for an enjoyable time.”

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Dunedin: Speight's Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting - From Dunedin story to brewing floor
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Dunedin: Speight’s Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting

12.Speight’s Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 170 reviews · 1h 15m · from $28

Tour Dunedin’s Speight’s Brewery for 75 minutes with an English-speaking guide, including historic brewing areas, modern production, ingredient and process stories, and a beer tasting. Guides such as Tess, Tom, Annika, and Rosie have helped make the visit lively, though more than 200 stairs require good mobility and covered shoes.

“Fun tour, interesting to hear the history, see the old parts of the brewery—giant tanks and the like. Very nice people and a great scene in the tasting room at the end—they pass out flights/samplers of the various beers, I went back for 2nds and 3rds…everybody was rolling and having a great time!”

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Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience - Dunedin to Taiaroa Head, with the city as a prologue
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Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience

13.Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 163 reviews · from $102

Travel from Dunedin across the Otago Peninsula with guides such as Jonathan, Danni, James, and Sian. Learn about geology, Māori culture, plants, birds, and wildlife before watching little blue penguins come ashore at Pukekura. The van holds up to 11, but the penguin viewing is shared with up to 75 people.

“Absolutely amazing trip, the team are friendly, knowledgeable and professional, from hotel pick up to drop of the trip was well organised, lovely clean and comfortable transport The platform to I see the penguins is fantastic they come so close and everybody gets a chance to see them. We were fortunate to all see a sea lion”

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Cruise Dunedin City and Castle Tour - From Port Chalmers to Dunedin’s city center
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Cruise Dunedin City and Castle Tour

14.Cruise Dunedin City and Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 142 reviews · from $121

Explore Dunedin with guides James, Kylie, or Oli on a small-group tour from Port Chalmers. See Baldwin Street, the Octagon, Dunedin Railway Station, and Otago Peninsula views before touring Larnach Castle and its gardens. Round-trip cruise transfers are included.

“We had the best time with Kylie and James! Kylie was our driver and she is super knowledgeable and went above and beyond to bring Maori culture into our tour and make the whole experience very meaningful. We did so much in a short time yet it didn’t feel rushed at all. Very comfy van that they make sure not to overcrowd. This is a great way to spend the day if you’re visiting on a cruise ship- it would also be a nice way to acquaint yourself with the city if you’re just arriving. Highly recommend- awesome people, and great itinerary!”

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Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour - Signal Hill opens with the best city view
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Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

15.Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · from $61

See Dunedin’s top sights in about four hours with a local guide such as Kim, Alan, Ann, or Ken. The small-group van visits Signal Hill, Baldwin Street, the University of Otago, Olveston, the Octagon, Dunedin Railway Station, and possibly St Clair Beach. Cruise-port pickup and return are included.

“Easy going knowledgeable guide Accommodating to needs Good tour content and enjoyable points of interest”

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New in Dunedin Tours

★ 5.0Clearwater Private Penguin & Wildlife Tour from Port Otago (5hrs)7 reviews
★ 4.5Otago Peninsula Scenery and Dunedin City Highlights TourFrom $14833 reviews
★ 5.0Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston TourFrom $17981 reviews
★ 4.5Dunedin Nature & City Tour – Full Day Cruise ExcursionFrom $5887 reviews
★ 4.5Harbour, Albatross and Wildlife Cruise on Otago HarbourFrom $8022 reviews
★ 4.5Iconic Wildlife Tour with Yellow Eyed Penguins & Royal AlbatrossFrom $24533 reviews
★ 4.0Dunedin Shore Excursion City Sightseeing & Tour of Larnach CastleFrom $10866 reviews
★ 5.0City Highlights, Larnach Castle & Peninsula ViewsFrom $15277 reviews
★ 3.5Dunedin Shore Excursion – Sightseeing, Larnach Castle, Chinese Garden & MuseumFrom $12413 reviews
★ 4.5Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & a Guided Penguin Reserve TourFrom $19877 reviews
★ 5.0Totally Local Wildscene Private Shore Excursion With 8 travelersFrom $1084 reviews
★ 4.5Otago Harbour Wildlife Cruise (Dunedin Shore Excursion)From $8616 reviews
★ 5.0Larnach Castle Tour & Wildlife Cruise (Dunedin Shore Excursion)From $12125 reviews
★ 5.0Wildlife and Penguin TourFrom $4627 reviews
★ 5.0Larnach Castle & Otago Wildlife Cruise from DunedinFrom $10866 reviews

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