This tour with 4 Nature Tours combines viewing the world's rarest penguin with the unique Moerki Boulders.

Travelling through scenic farmland and dramatic coastline  we reach an a breeding colony of the endangered yellow eyed penguins.

A stroll along gently sloping grass paths takes you to a breeding colony. Your tour guide's knowledge of these unique penguins and their habits will maximise your chances of magical encounter. As one of only two small tour operators permitted to guide groups at this site you can avoid the crowds, take your time and thoroughly enjoy meeting the world's third largest penguin.

Fur seals and Hooker sea lions, often haul out on the beaches below and can be watched frolicking in the surf whilst little blue penguins and over 50 different species of birds also frequent this stunning wildlife location.

From October the adult yellow eyed penguins begin to nest, from November through to early April chicks sit on their nest or on the beaches awaiting the return of their parents. In late autumn and winter the adults are only usually viewed when returning at the end of a days fishing.

A short drive then takes you to one of our stunning beaches and the fascinating Moeraki Boulders.

The soft mudstone containing the boulders was raised from the sea bed around 15 million years ago and sea erosion of the cliff is exposing the erosion resistant boulders. 

Emerging from the cliff, as if being born from the earth, the World famous Moeraki Boulders are septerian concretions formed some 65 million years ago. 

Crystallization of calcium and carbonates around charged particles in muddy undersea sediments gradually formed the boulders in a process taking as long as four million years.

According to Maori legend, the boulders are gourds washed ashore from the great voyaging canoe Araiteuru when it was wrecked upon landfall in New Zealand hundreds of years ago.

The viewing platform, just a few minutes walk through regenerating native forest, offers an excellent view of the boulders.

If you're lucky, you might also see Hector's dolphins playing in the waves.

A scenic drive through the prehistoric Trotters Gorge and along awesome coastal scenery allows for sweeping views of curving pristine beaches and dramatic coves as your tour returns to Dunedin or Port Chalmers.