South Island Wildlife Tours: Dolphins, Penguins and Kiwi

For dolphins, go to Akaroa; for penguins, Pōhatu near Akaroa; for kiwi and native birds, Stewart Island and Ulva Island. No wildlife tour can promise a sighting, and the listings say so; what they sell is a good chance in the right place.

Hector’s dolphins at Akaroa

DOC says New Zealand’s first marine mammal sanctuary was created around Banks Peninsula in 1988 for Hector’s dolphins, which it classes as Threatened, Nationally Vulnerable, and in September 2026 announced a 10-year moratorium on new marine mammal permits there. The harbour cruises take about 2 hours, from about $67 to $79. See Akaroa.

Little penguins at Pōhatu

DOC puts about 2,600 kororā, little penguins, at Pōhatu, the largest little penguin colony on the mainland, and says the road in is gravel and fit only for four-wheel drives, which is why the tours drive you. Pohatu Penguins runs a 2- or 4-hour tour and a 3-hour evening trip.

Kiwi and birds on Stewart Island

RealNZ’s Rakiura wild kiwi trip runs about 4 hours, rated 4.7 from 200 reviews; its listing gives the chance of a sighting, not a guarantee. DOC describes Ulva Island as an open, rat-free sanctuary and asks visitors to check bags and footwear for rats and seeds; RealNZ’s guided walk there takes about 2.5 hours. See Stewart Island.

On the fiords and lakes

DOC notes Doubtful Sound has one of the southernmost populations of bottlenose dolphins. On the West Coast, the Lake Mapourika cruise near Franz Josef lists the birds you may see. See Doubtful Sound and the West Coast glaciers.

Before you go

Follow the guide’s instructions around wildlife, and keep your distance. For the rest of a Christchurch-based trip, see day trips from Christchurch.