Discover the Magical Experience: Watching Hundreds of Blue Penguins Return to Their Nests in New Zealand

It’s such a cute experience!
Hi, I’m Lina, who loves to travel and take my kids out for fun!
Before the trip, I came across a post on Xiaohongshu saying that you can also see penguins returning home in Dunedin. So, I did some research and finally chose Dunedin over Oamaru.
Here are my reasons, and for specific booking methods, please check the comments section.

1️⃣ Both Oamaru and Dunedin have blue penguins, but I heard that you can see more penguins in Dunedin. We saw about 200 that day. Later, I accidentally went to the Oamaru penguin viewing point, and indeed, the number was quite sparse.
2️⃣ In Dunedin, there is no distinction between VIP and regular seats; everyone is treated equally.

In Oamaru, tickets are divided into regular and VIP seats. Oamaru has tiered seating, while Dunedin has standing positions as shown in Figure 12. The staff will have everyone switch places to ensure everyone can see. You can move around freely to see the penguins from different angles.
3️⃣ In Dunedin, you can take photos but not with flash.

In Oamaru, photography is completely prohibited. I saw someone bring binoculars [Laughing with tears R]

There are also two drawbacks to watching penguins in Dunedin:
1️⃣ Dunedin is farther from the city, about a 40-minute drive. In summer, when the sun sets later, you might return at 11 or 12 at night.
2️⃣ The road to Dunedin is relatively difficult to drive. For the return trip, it’s recommended to take the road along the river, as shown in Figure 15.

3️⃣ In Dunedin, you must stand the whole time, and you can’t use an umbrella if it rains. It’s entirely outdoors, whereas Oamaru has seating and some shelter.

‼️Tips:
🌟 No matter the season, make sure to keep warm. It gets very cold by the seaside at night, even in summer.
🌟 Arrive on time, or you’ll miss the penguin education session.
🌟 Penguins appear in batches. Although positions are switched, the first batch is usually the largest. It’s recommended to stand in the left front facing the sea, which is the best viewing spot.

🌟 If you want to buy souvenirs, go early. Otherwise, the shop will close, and you’ll only be able to buy two sizes of penguin figurines.
🌟 Coffee and small penguin souvenirs are available at night, but only card payments are accepted.
🌟 Souvenirs at the Oamaru penguin viewing point are cheaper than in Dunedin.

🌟 Figure 9 shows a lost penguin. If you encounter one, please don’t block its path.

Except for Figure 1, all other photos were taken with a phone!
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