Clearwater Wildlife Tours (small group 10max) Otago Peninsula
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Fewer People - More Wildlife! The Clearwater Family's Farm is home to more wildlife per square meter than anywhere in Dunedin. The intimate small group tours offer the chance to see Yellow-eyed penguins, NZ sea lions, NZ fur seals, albatross plus a wide variety of birdlife, in the wild. Your professionally guided tour of no more than 10 people will take you to the private beach & wildlife reserves through our working farm at Cape Saunders on the Otago Peninsula. A wild and untamed, dramatic environment that we are lucky enough to share with some of New Zealand's rarest species. The aim is to give you a truly authentic wildlife experience and leave you with memories that will last for a lifetime. The Clearwater family has deep roots here and is devoted to preserving and enhancing its pristine beauty. Become a part of our shared commitment to protect its natural wildlife habitats.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
5 stars
Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
bethgB7309SB, 10/28/2025 1:43:47 PM
Yes, I heartily recommend this tour. Ben, our guide was knowledgeable and answered questions fully. Wildlife and especially penguins were amazing. Conservation efforts should definitely be made to save these endangered penguin.
Mohsena_B, 10/26/2025 3:23:28 AM
Amazing experience .Paula was our guide .She was fantastic.this is must do tour .Highly highly recommend.thanks Paula
Bill_B, 10/25/2025 10:41:25 PM
Wow! Great tour and Lisa was fantastic. We came to Dunedin on a cruise ship and this (non cruise ship excursion) tour was perfect. They ensured we got back to the ship in plenty of time. We saw birds, seals, sea lions, penguins whale and beautiful scenery. Lisa dropped us off at Kmart which allowed us to get much needed supplies. we ubered back to the ship. What a great day!
Passport27453453200, 10/21/2025 3:43:21 AM
This trip, through guide Ben, told us so much about the Otago Peninsular, its history and its flora and fauna. En route to Cape Saunders we saw a wide variety of bird life and fantastic landscapes. On the coast we watched NZ fur seals lazing, playing and snoozing. Moving on we got up close to sea lions but the piece de resistance was seeing 7 yellow eyed penguins either on the beach, climbing up to their nests or at their nest site. When there are only 1400 in the world this is amazing. So sad to think that they are in real danger of extinction. Overall an excellent trip with an amazingly knowledgeable guide.
janinemT846FB, 10/13/2025 8:36:47 PM
This small-group tour was absolutely amazing! Our guide’s passion and knowledge really brought the experience to life, and we loved how he gave us plenty of time to truly immerse ourselves in the environment. Walking right past seals relaxing on the beach was incredible — they were completely unfazed by us! The real highlight was spotting yellow-eyed penguins waddling up from the shore and watching through binoculars as they made their way over the hills to their nesting boxes. Knowing they’re an endangered species made it even more special. We felt so fortunate to witness it all up close. Highly recommend this tour — and if you can, choose the 4pm departure for the best experience! Janine & Celeste - Australia
Colleen_R, 10/9/2025 8:45:30 PM
Excellent tour. Ben was a very informative guide and very enthusiastic about the nature we saw. We saw seals, sea lions, yellow eyed Penguins and multiple different birds. The warm jackets made the tour more comfortable.
U5295BBhannahp, 10/4/2025 3:19:49 AM
We loved our tour with Paula and Rachel. They were very knowledgeable and friendly. We loved how personal and intimate the small group experience was. It allowed us to get to the farm which is not accessible to the public which was amazing. Got to see some beautiful native wildlife up close. Would 100% recommend this experience. The girls went above and beyond for us!
120alisonp, 10/3/2025 3:38:37 PM
Amazing tour with a fabulous, informative guide. Private beach to see seals and penguins so close. Got to spend quality time watching and getting close to seals on the beach as well as penguins. Highly recommend. Favourite tour we have ever done!!
Penelope J, 10/1/2025 8:49:41 PM
This is an absolutely incredible, bespoke experience. We completed this with our 20 something daughters. Our whole family loved the tour. It was made by the passion and enthusiasm of our guide, Ben. The access to wildlife is second to none! A must do for Dunedin.
178philll, 9/29/2025 11:28:29 PM
Hands down the best wildlife experience I’ve ever been on, Ben was so informative and passionate about the local wildlife. We were lucky enough to see 2 species of albatross, fur seals and sea lions as well as the stunning yellow eyed penguins. If you do one thing on your trip to Dunedin make sure it’s this!
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Level of fitness: This tour requires a moderate level of fitness. There are some hills to walk up and down and the beach walk also includes walking on sand and uneven ground. There are also several sets of steps and stairs therefore the terrain visited is not suitable for persons with walking disabilities.
- Clothing: Our tours are an outdoor activity in a land where maritime weather prevails, the weather can change very quickly, regardless of the season. Always bring warm and waterproof clothes. For those that are unprepared we provide wind and rain proof jackets.
- Footwear: Walking shoes/boots with good tread are recommended and necessary if conditions are wet or muddy.
- Food: Tours are 4 hours in duration, so guests are welcome to bring pre-packed food and drink as there are no opportunities to stop for food during our tours.
- Children: Small children might have difficulty keeping up on the trails. For safety reasons children are not able to sit on an adult's lap.
- Medicines: Personal medicines etc. should be carried if required on all tours. Any medical condition which could potentially be a problem should be communicated to your guide at the start of a tour.
- Photography: There will be some amazing photo opportunities during our tours so bring your best camera.
- Cancellation Policy: To receive a full refund, travelers may cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time in the local time zone. No refunds will be given after that time period.
- Cruise Ship Passengers - Please advise us of the name of the cruise ship you are arriving on.
- Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues.
Departure point
Please wait directly outside the Dunedin i-Site Visitor Information Centre, located at 50 The Octagon in Central Dunedin. Our white branded tour vehicle will arrive only a few minutes prior to the tour start time. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to the start time and allow plenty of time for parkingReturn details
Fewer People - More Wildlife! The Clearwater Family's Farm is home to more wildlife per square meter than anywhere in Dunedin. The intimate small group tours offer the chance to see Yellow-eyed penguins, NZ sea lions, NZ fur seals, albatross plus a wide variety of birdlife, in the wild. Your professionally guided tour of no more than 10 people will take you to the private beach & wildlife reserves through our working farm at Cape Saunders on the Otago Peninsula. A wild and untamed, dramatic environment that we are lucky enough to share with some of New Zealand's rarest species. The aim is to give you a truly authentic wildlife experience and leave you with memories that will last for a lifetime. The Clearwater family has deep roots here and is devoted to preserving and enhancing its pristine beauty. Become a part of our shared commitment to protect its natural wildlife habitats.Redemption
Health restrictions: Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues. Level of difficulty: Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level. There is approx. 1.5 kilometers of walking involved with plenty of stops to rest along the way. Level of fitness: There are some small hills to walk up and down. There are also several sets of steps and stairs therefore the terrain visited is not suitable for persons with walking disabilities and wheelchairs. There are areas to rest or sit out our steepest section of stairs if required. Clothing: Our tours are an outdoor activity in a land where maritime weather prevails, the weather can change very quickly, regardless of the season. Always bring warm and waterproof clothes. We supply good quality wind and rain proof jackets plus gloves for those that are unprepared. We also have sunscreen and sunhats on board! Summer temperatures can range from 5 to 25 degrees in December to March. Footwear: Walking shoes/boots with good tread are recommended and necessary if conditions are wet or muddy. There is also a sandy beach walk and occasionally animal poop so please don't wear your best white shoes! Food: Tours are 4 hours in duration, so guests are welcome to bring pre-packed food, snacks and drink as there are no opportunities to stop for food during our tours. We have complimentary water and cookies on board. Children: Our tours are not suitable for children under 5 years old. Small children might have difficulty keeping up on the trails. For safety reasons children are not able to sit on an adult's lap. Medicines: Personal medicines etc. should be carried if required on all tours. Any medical condition which could potentially be a problem should be communicated to your guide at the start of a tour. Photography: There will be some amazing photo opportunities during our tours so don't forget to bring your best camera! We have high quality Nikon binoculars on board for every passenger.24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund