We were driving up from Invercargill and had to drive like crazy on the waterside road to get here in time, but it was totally worth it! Be patient and the penguins will come. We got lucky and a new, untagged penguin came a few feet from us. Lots of fun. Staff was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot... more

This was the highlight of our brief holiday in New Zealand. The guides are excellent - really enthusiastic about the penguins and very knowledgeable too. There were lots of penguins coming ashore while we were there, we had some great photo opportunities, and we stayed until it was almost dark. It was a fantastic experience. more

We visited Penguin Place in July 2006 with our 7 year old daughter. After 3 weeks on both the North and South Island, this was the highlight of our trip. Our guide was kind and enthusiastic. We met him at 4 pm and stayed out watching penguins until it was so dark that we were almost in danger of stumbling.... more

This is not a trip for you unless you are reasonably fit: there is quite a bit of walking, sometimes at a brisk pace, and uphill. It is also not a trip for people with young children, unless the kids are superdisciplined. You have to stand quietly in the huts for quite a bit, and this may not work for... more

Penguin Place is not easy to get to, but is so very much worth the journey. My husband and I spent 3 glorious weeks traveling in the North and South Islands, and this was by far the highlight of the trip. I've never been an "eco-tourist" before, but I am now. During our 2 hour guided tour we observed these... more

Penguin Place is a marvelous experience for all ages. After an introductory lecture, guests are conducted through a series of tunnels to the penguin nests in the hills overlooking the beach. The parents and the young can be observed and photographed at close range. It is a really wonderful look at nature and conservation in action. It is best to... more