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Penguin Place


TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #4 of 26 attractions in Dunedin
Traveler Description:
Familiar with Penguin Place? Write your own description and share what you know with other travelers.
Attraction type: Nature reserve
Address: Harington Point Rd, RD 2
Otago Peninsula Dunedin
New Zealand
Tel: 64 3 478 0286
Fax: 64 3 478 0257

Reviews you can trust

[ Date ] [ Rating ]
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4 of 5 stars
IndiTravler   130 contributions
Lorton, Virginia
Aug 30, 2009
1
person found this review helpful

And you will wonder if this is how the WWI troops felt as you walk thru seemingly miles of covered trenches to do it. We were there in April during molting season for the last tour of the day – so we didn’t see that many penguins but we did see some and we saw some molting. It was great... more

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5 of 5 stars
YorkshireLass80   9 contributions
North Yorkshire
Apr 16, 2009
3
people found this review helpful

We booked for the last tour of the day, about 4.45pm which we were recommended as this is the time the penguins start coming ashore. We were met by a fantastic passionate guide who gave us a brief talk about penguins and what we could expect to see. We then were each given a green waterproof coat and driven to... more

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5 of 5 stars
ColletteLovesTravel   70 contributions
Tucson, Arizona
Feb 8, 2009
2
people found this review helpful

At the Penguin Place, you get to see yellow eyed penguins up close. They have a unique set of trenches so you can see the penguins, but the penguins cannot see you. Therefore, you get to see them really close and can get some really great photos. When we were there, many of the penguins we either setting on nests... more

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4 of 5 stars
DBE   13 contributions
UK
Feb 3, 2009
2
people found this review helpful

We went to Penguin Place in January and enjoyed our visit. We were underwhelmed by the number of penguins we saw (5 - 10) compared to the literally thousands of penguins we had seen at Phillip Island near Melbourne, but the advantage in Dundedin is you get up close via their trench system and you were allowed to use camcorders... more

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5 of 5 stars
sunnyshore   1 contribution
Hampshire
Sep 17, 2008
3
people found this review helpful

We were in Dunedin over Christmas and as this was one of the few places open on 25th we decided to do this trip. We booked directly with the Palace and drove ourselves out there in a hire car (about 30 mins from Dunedin centre). It was fantastic and one of the best experiences of our month in NZ. We... more

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5 of 5 stars
pjczech   6 contributions
NJ
Aug 19, 2008
2
people found this review helpful

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

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5 of 5 stars
StevePER   96 contributions
Perth, Australia
May 24, 2008
1
person found this review helpful

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

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5 of 5 stars
junodee   17 contributions
Washington DC, District of Columbia
May 3, 2008
1
person found this review helpful

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

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5 of 5 stars
gunnercade   60 contributions
Lubbock TX
Apr 21, 2007
7
people found this review helpful

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

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5 of 5 stars
sburns57   7 contributions
St. Paul, MN
Apr 11, 2007
9
people found this review helpful

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

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Penguin Place Address

Harington Point Rd, RD 2 | Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, New Zealand
Tel: 64 3 478 0286 Fax: 64 3 478 0257