Elm Wildlife Tours is based in Dunedin and offers Nature and Wildlife Tours of the South-eastern Coast of New Zealand. Our tours guide visitors to some of the most spectacular wildlife spots in the area including our private conservation areas, where close-up viewing of some of the World's rarest wildlife is achieved. We have three main products, our daily sheduled wildlife tour to the Otago peninsula is known as Peninsula encounters, our two day nature adventure to the Catlins on the south east coast is known as Catlins encounters, and our multi-day exclusive private tours are known as Wild Coast Explorer.
Peninsula encounters is the ultimate Otago Peninsula tour - a memorable half day wildlife experience with a unique insight into some of the worlds rarest wildlife.
Tours leave from Dunedin city daily to travel the length and breadth of the Otago peninsula. This is one of the world's few untouched areas with amazing wildlife and spectacular scenery.
Participants require average fitness as some walking through amazing scenery is required to reach the isolated homes of some of the animals. The tour is a wildlife trek enabling close, secluded viewing of the unique and world-renowned wildlife living on the Otago Peninsula. In addition to the 15-20 species of marine and wading birds, the main ‘stars’ are the Royal Albatross, Hookers sealions, Blue Penguins, NZ fur seals and Yellow Eyed penguins.
We start our tour with a lagoon wildlife then a visit to Taiaroa headland to view Royal Albatross. We then go on to our private conservation area where the results of our strong conservation ethic are displayed. Here we see Hookers Sealions, Yellow Eyed Penguins and Fur Seals and occasionally Elephant seals, Leopard seals and dolphins in a truly unique environment.
If you want to see Yellow-eyed Penguins, Royal Albatross flying, Hooker's Sealions, Fur Seals and pups with expert guides but only have one afternoon, then this is the tour for you.
OPTIONS Our standard Peninsula Encounters tour (land-based albatros viewing) is $NZ69.00 (valid until 31/10/2006), but why not include this tour with one of our three options, a Monarch boat cruise, (one hour) for $NZ101.00 (valid until 31/10/2006), or with the Albatross centre tour (one hour including 30 minutes viewing of the breeding area ) for $NZ97.00 (valid until 31/10/2006).
Another option is a full day combination of an Ocean discovery Kayak tour and our award winning land based Elm Wildlife Tour, at $NZ149.00 (valid until 31/10/2006).
Peninsula Encounters tour departure times vary throughout the year (from 12:45pm mid winter to 3.35pm mid-summer) to coincide with changing animal activity and daylight hours. These can be confirmed when making reservations. Participants will be collected from, and returned to any City or Peninsula accommodation, the Dunedin Visitor centre or arranged points on route. Tour duration is 5.5 - 6.5 hours depending on animal behaviours and season.
A full day nature & wildlife adventure (16 people maximum) ( Group arrangements only - Tour operates on a charter basis subject to minimum of 6 persons )
Isolated beaches, lakes, waterfalls and fossilised forests combined with some of New Zealand's most amazing wildlife and scenery. Connections can be arranged with the "Foveaux express" Stewart Island ferry.
Organise a group and take time to experience the beauty and tranquility of this rugged and pristine coastal wilderness. The area abounds with amazing wildlife and native flora. It is the location of one of New Zealand's largest Fur Seal colonies, as well as the only place where Fur Seals, Hooker's Sealions and Elephant Seals coexist.
Walk along deserted beaches, forest tracks, beside rivers and absorb the feeling of isolation and solitude. Visit areas where Yellow-eyed Penguins and Blue Penguins can be seen as well as flocks of seabirds including Spotted Shags,Gannets and Shearwaters. There are also Royal Spoonbills nesting on one of the islands off the coast.
In the forest there is an abundance of birdlife - Fantails, Robins, Tuis, Bellbirds and Brown Creeper fill the air with their song. This is a wildlife watchers paradise.
Highlights of our tour can include:
Nugget Point - one of New Zeland's oldest lighthouses. Surat and Cannibal Bays - sandy beaches and ancient Maori sites. Tunnel Hill - New Zealand's most southerly railway tunnel. Catlins River Walk - beautiful walk through native forest. Jack's Blowhole - a two hundred metre deep hole excavated by the sea. Pounawea - walking track through native forest and saltmarsh. Purakaunui Scenic Reserve - bird sanctuary and famous waterfalls. Tahakopa Bay - fantastic beach with coastal dunes. Tautuku - some of the best views along the Catlins coast. Porpoise Bay - Hector's Dolphins playing in the surf and near the fossilised forest. Cathedral Caves - spectacular sea caves over 30 metres high. Catlins Lake and River - migratory and wading birds in their natural habitat.
If you wish to spend more than one day in the Catlins, you can do this by either camping out in this amazing corner of New Zealand or pre-arranging backpacker or B&B accommodation.
Tour departures from Dunedin or Invercargill by arrangement
Enjoy a full day nature experience in the rugged Catlins Rates from$NZ98.00 ( 11/14 persons ) $NZ118.00 ( 6/10 persons ) (valid until 30/09/2006 - Restricted to group bookings of six or more persons only: Requests for accommodation other than camping may be arranged at either Backpacker, Farmstay or B&B if advance notice is received. This will be at clients own expense.
Multiday - exclusive Paradise revisited (Exclusive - maximum group size: 6 people)
Build your own personlised tour of the Southern Coast. This tour goes where you want to go to see what you want to see.
Whether you have only a day to spare or a whole week, we can help you have an amazing southern coast experience. Base your itinerary around our explorer locations to build your own perfect guided nature holiday.
Wild North Coast A place of haunting beauty, idyllic fishing villages with seabirds and seals, turquoise blue sea with dolphins at play, Blue Penguins at Oamaru and a beach strewn with boulders larger than you.
Wild Peninsula ( Ideal choice as a one day cruise ship shore excursion ) Close encounters with nature. Coastal farms, small bays and inlets, rugged hills white sand beaches. Unique wildlife going about its daily routines. Witness one of the worlds rarest penguin species waddle up a beach after a long day’s feeding, Hooker's Sealions dozing in the sun and bedlam in a fur seal breeding colony. Royal albatross soaring above the famous Taiaroa headland. NOTE: Variations of this Wild Peninsula option make an excellent one day shore excursion package for visiting Cruise Ship passengers.
Wild South Coast Wild and rugged, serene and tranquil. Rugged coastline with breathtaking vistas of the ocean, meandering rivers, rolling farmlands and white sand beaches. A wetland wildlife reserve, sandy beaches with sealions, seals, and maybe an Elephant Seal. At dusk wait for the return of the Yellow-eyed Penguin.
Wild Catlins Coast A trip into our Jurrasic past. A region high in scenic and wildlife wonders and low in population. Glimpse the way New Zealand was, rich in flora and fauna. Tranquil rivers with waterfalls, petrified forest and native birdlife. Ocean beaches with sealions, penguins, dolphins and seals. Here the unique wildlife reigns supreme.
Wild Island Coast Paradise from a lost age. Imagine 700 Km of coast, 20 kilometres of road and just 390 people. View the flightless Kiwi in the wild, trees abounding with Kaka, Native Pigeon, Tui, Bellbirds and more. The seas are home to seals, penguins, sealions, dolphins This is paradise as it should be.
Wild Coast Explorer Wild Coast Explorer private tours depart as indicated in the pre-arranged personalised itinerary. "One-off" private tours from visiting cruise ships depart as soon as possible after docking.
Peninsula Encounters - Walking is required to access the private conservation area where Hookers Sea lions, a New Zealand Fur seal breeding colony and Yellow eyed Penguins are located. The walk requires basic fitness as the terrain is hilly farm land and sandy beaches.Generally the three separate sectors each require 15 minutes walking time
Catlins Encounters - This tour requires a good level of fitness as approximately 30% of the two day adventure is spent exploring beaches forests and other short walks to waterfalls, caves and other view points.
Wild Coast Explorer - This personalised tour can be tailored to suit clients individual fitness levels, it can be as hard or soft as you wish. Clothing Weather can change quickly on the Southern coast at any time of the year. Always take warm and waterproof clothes.
Footwear Walking shoes or boots with heavy tread are recommended and necessary if conditions are wet.
Food and Medicines For the Peninsula Encounters tour, although food and drink is available through the cafe at the Albatross centre, and shops in Portobello, participants are welcome to bring their own. For the Catlins Encounters tour a barbecue dinner is provided and we do stop for snacks on the way, but you are welcome to bring your own packed lunch. Personal medicines etc. should be carried if required on all tours. Any medical condition which could potentially be a problem should be conveyed to the guide at the commencment of a tour.
Sleeping Bags For Catlins Encounters Tour only, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag if you have opted for the camping option. If you don't have a sleeping bag, please email us. If you would rather not camp, let us know in advance to enable us to arrange other accommodation in the area but there will be an additional charge for alternative accommodation.
Photography
Flash We do not allow flash photography of penguins as this startles them. We recommend however that participants carry a range of film speeds to allow for the varied light encountered, 200 ASA up to 1600 ASA for dusk.
Film We usually carry some spare rolls of high ASA 35mm film for those who may require this. Need more details?
For more information fill in the form below with your query and click "send", or simply phone us at Activities-nz on + 64 4 972 0798.
