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“See the world's smallest penguins, in their natural environment.”
Penguins began nesting in a rock quarry at the edge of Oamaru Harbour in the early 1990s. Today, it's Oamaru’s largest tourist attraction, with Blue Penguins nesting close to town under the cliffs along the Historic Harbour foreshore.
Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a one-day experience with lots of interaction, education and information on the colony's research and monitoring programmes. With day entry, visitors can also enter the day viewing room and explore the penguins breeding area where you may see the penguins up close in their burrows. Penguin numbers vary from day to day so just ask a staff member how many they can guarantee you will see.
Evening viewing is when you will get to see the penguins arrive home from their days fishing. With general and premium viewing stands, watch the penguins swim ashore and enter the colony right in front of you!
Opening times vary during the year depending upon the season and the activities of the blue penguins in their natural environment.
October - March: 10am until close of evening viewing which depends on when the sun sets and when the penguins come ashore (between 8.00pm - 11.00pm. April - September: 10.00am until close of evening viewing which depends on when the sun sets and when the penguins come ashore (between 5.00pm - 8.00pm).
Do I have to give it a star? I must say I did not pay the admission to this attraction. It was $30 a person to sit in a hard plastic seat for 30 min to see the penguins walk through to their... Read more
I came here during the day, so I did not do the nocturnal viewing of the actual penguins coming in. There is a $10 day use fee, which if it wasn't going to the preservation of the penguins would... Read more
Good, Bad and Poor Management, Read bottom Line! Good - because we got to see groups of Penguins arriving from the sea for a couple of minutes! We were in front row Premium seats only a metre... Read more
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
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