Blue Penguins Pukekura — Attraction in South Island

Seeing the little blue penguins (Korora in the Maori language) was on my "bucket list" of things to do in New Zealand, and this experience did not disappoint! After all, how often do you get the chance to see rare wildlife in their natural habitat?

Since it was summer, we met for our tour at 8:30 pm (20:30)--just before dusk. We began in the building with a talk given by one of the guides about the little blue penguins (called fairy penguins in Australia) and learned several facts about them. They are only found in New Zealand and Australia and are the world's smallest penguins (averaging less than 10" tall) The talk also included great information about the Maori people, the native New Zealanders. Then, we were given safety info and instructions on what we would see and what we should/should not do once we went down to the platform on the beach from which we would see the little penguins.

After that, we were led down to the platform (there are quite a few steps but you can take your time going up and down and there are hand rails and lights along the flights of steps for safety) to watch the little blue penguins come out of the ocean and onto the beach and head to their nests/burrows. All in all, we saw about 40 penguins! They came in four groups (they are extremely social and there is safety in groups) It was amazing to see these little guys swim in from the water, and waddle onto the beach and then head to their burrows. Many of them stopped along the way to preen themselves (which we were informed they do to keep their feathers clean, well-oiled and waterproof, as they have an oil gland at the base of their tail, which they nip at to transfer the oil to their beak and then apply this oil to the rest of their body).

There were three guides with us down on the platform, and they were available and willing to answer any questions that we had. They also "rotated us" in groups around the platform in order to assure that everyone had views of the penguins coming out of the water and heading to their burrows.

Wow--what an amazing experience! I would wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone who is interested in wildlife or who wants an unusual experience! I don't see how anyone would be...

We visited this week and were initially sent an email explaining that the number of penguins seen this week was very low (much lower than usual) and offering us a refund there and then. We decided to go anyway as we would be happy just to see 1 or 2 penguins and we're lucky enough to see 10-12 on the night. It is nature so the numbers can't be predicted but I appreciated them offering the refund to reduce disappointment. They also offer a refund if you see less than 5 penguins on the night which is also a very kind offer.

Dani and Jonathan were great guides and sooooo knowledgable! They had a clear love of not only the penguins but the wildlife, the reserve and the area. We were fed an almost constant stream of facts and stories while waiting for the penguins to show up and they even stayed later with the group to watch the penguins that we could see if in the water to come in. It was very kind of them.

Would highly recommend this as it is worth the money to see even one penguin. It is isn't expensive and it is clear the money is used to help and protect the penguins and other wildlife on the reserve. There were trees planted all over the hillside and it was obvious the wildlife was truly cared for...

This week, my two kids and I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience, and it was an unforgettable adventure! The evening began with an engaging and informative talk at the nature center, which set the tone for a fascinating encounter with these adorable creatures.

As the sun began to set, we made our way down to the beach, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the penguins. And what a treat it was! Several rafts of penguins emerged from the ocean, followed by endearing hobbles making their way up the beach. The experience was nothing short of magical.

The staff were knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the penguins and their conservation. The whole experience was well-organized, and the facilities were excellent.

My kids were thrilled and enchanted by the penguins, and so was I! We left with beaming smiles, unforgettable memories, and a newfound appreciation for these incredible birds. If you're visiting with family or simply a nature lover, the Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience is a must-visit. We can't...