Activities - New Zealand

Penguin Watch

There are three species of penguin around New Zealand.

The yellow-eyed penguin (Hoiho) appears on the New Zealand five dollar note has a beautiful yellow eye band sweeping back from each yellow eye. It is found on the Otago Peninsula, just out of Dunedin, and along the South Otago coast. Colonies on the Otago Peninsula are a popular tourist venue, where visitors may closely observe penguins from hides, trenches or tunnels.

The little blue penguin (Korora), is the smallest penguin in the world, standing only 25 centimetres tall, and weighing just over a kilogram. It is found in coastal waters and often comes ashore at night. The Marlborough Sounds, Akaroa Harbour, Oamaru and Stewart Island are the best places to see little blue penguins.

The Fiordland crested penguin is one of the world’s rarest. It is found in Fiordland and Stewart Island, in the deep south of the South Island.

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