Our tour touched on a variety of interests of the participants from bird watching to wildlife to ecology. The guides were incredibly well versed and went above and beyond to make sure everyone saw what they came for and enjoyed themselves. The day flew by and everyone was exhilarated by the unique experience. Access to private property set this tour apart and assured the best opportunities for a successful day of viewing yellow Eyed Penguins, sea lions and seals with pups playing in water pools along the shore. This was a highlight of our four month stay in New Zealand. We saw and learned so much.

Had amazing day on our Elm Wildlife Tour. It was a beautiful day & within 40 mins we were out on the tip of otago peninsula at the Albatross colony. Despite there being little breeze, a large albatross flew low over us from the tip of one headland to the other. Next stop after some bird spotting in the mudflats was a remote beach, home to Hoiho and Sealions. As we descended toward the beach we watched penguins swimming out through the breakers & Seslions returning from hunting to rest on the beach. The tour guide took us on the beach itself, just a few metres from a male Sealion, sitting upright. He didn’t seem to mind as we watched and took photos in awe. We moved on to see hoiho navigate their way up the beach & then hop up steep cliffs to their nests. At another beach we watched fur seals & their pups playing in shallow rock pools just metres below our observation platform. The day culminated in a drive through the inner estuaries of the peninsula and amazing chance to stand next to and watch young juvenile Sealions, play fighting & swimming in the shallow inlet pools of the mudflats, as we stood just a couple of metres away. I was left amazed and with some great pics & vids to take away. recommended.

Do this tour when in Dunedin! I was extremely lucky to be the only person in shoulder season on this tour, yet my fantastic guide Tony took all afternoon driving me to places, doing detours and pointing out wildlife. Otago Peninsula is beautiful. Saw plenty of birds incl. the Royal Spoonbill and Albatross before heading to see some fur seals. Next came the highlight of the tour. A private property and secluded beach, nice walk down and sealions everywhere and up close! These mammals are massive and weigh up to 400 kg and kept chasing each other, not bothered by us standing right next to them. Great photos! Further down the beach was the viewing area for the yellow-eyed penguin and I was lucky to see four of them over a period of 60-80 min one by one returning to shore. Very cool to see this rare species in the wild. A very professional, environment friendly tour, thanks Tony and Elm Wildlife for an amazing day.