City & Wildlife

🦉Covid update - Orokonui is currently only open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. As such we are only able to offer this tour on those days until further notice. Our hope is that hours will expand into summer as we see more visitors to our beautiful region but in the meantime if you are looking for a tour outside of these days please browse our other tours to see if something would suit you🦉

Join us for a wonderful stroll though Orokonui Ecosanctuary and take in all the highlights of beautiful Dunedin City

"What a treasured experience" - Vanessa on TripAdvisor

"13/10 cannot say enough good things" - Claudia on TripAdvisor

Description:

Departing promptly in the morning we will head straight up to Orokonui Ecosanctuary - A step back in time to a place where the birds song is deafening and the trees blow in the wind like yesteryear. Here you will learn about some of New Zealand's most endangered native birds and the difficulties they face today. An easy to moderate walk of approximately 1 hour on formed tracks allows us to see and experience native New Zealand. Highlights here will include the chance to see Takahe, Kaka, Tui, Bellbirds, Kereru and Fantails all the while supporting the maintenance of this predator-free habitat.

After this pleasant walk we will be ready for a cuppa, so coffees will be ordered 'to go' and we will slowly wind our way down to Dunedin City. Beautiful views of the Otago Harbour and Otago Peninsula await us on this stunning drive. Our first stop in Dunedin City will be Baldwin Street - The steepest street in the world. Here we will have a chance to wander (or rather climb) as desired and capture photos at this unique destination.

Next up to Signal Hill lookout to admire the city from above before descending to the University of Otago. One of the mainstays of the city, the University of Otago - New Zealand's oldest university, is home to 20,000 odd students every year. A short walk and a photo opportunity here.

Next we make our way through the centre of the city and towards Dunedin's octagon admiring the beautiful architecture of years past. Learn about the history of Dunedin, the early settlers and the gold rush that bought so much wealth to the area.

Finally a stop at the famous Dunedin Railway Station and an opportunity to capture some beautiful photos. The tour officially ends here and it is up to you how you spend the rest of the day. Stay in town and have a long lunch at one of the many cafe/restaurants in the central city, head back to Port Chalmers to pass the afternoon on the boat (if you are a cruise ship passenger) or perhaps have a chat to Mateo and have him take you out to St Clair beach for a walk...the option is yours.

*We cannot guarantee any or all of the wildlife will be seen on every tour - it is wild after all, and that's the way we want it to stay! But we are confident you will experience some special viewing moments whilst learning about and enjoying the best of what's on offer on the day of your tour*

Duration:

Half day - 4.5 hours (approx.)

What is included:

Transport (Hotel to Hotel, or to/from Port Chalmers Cruise Ship Terminal)
Mateo - your local guide offering expert commentary and keeping you comfortable all day
Entrance fee to Orokonui Ecosanctuary, guided tour and a cup of coffee or a cold drink

What to bring:

A warm, waterproof jacket
A sunhat and sunscreen
Your camera
Binoculars
Comfortable walking shoes
Money/Credit Card for gifts/souvenirs and lunch

Our promises to you:

untamedNZ pride ourselves on small group touring - we guarantee you will have 10 or fewer people in your tour group.
Cruise ship passengers have a 'back on the boat' guarantee.

Cancellations:

During these unprecedented times for global travel, we want you to feel confident in our cancellation policy. For any tours that are booked to depart on or before 30th June 2023, we will refund your money in full should you have to cancel your tour - No questions asked. This is a reflection of the uncertainty around COVID and our promise to you as valued visitors to Dunedin.

For tours booked to depart after 30th June 2023 our standard cancellation policy applies:

Cancellations more than 1 week before departure - 90% refund
Cancellations more than 48 hours before departure - 50% refund
Cancellations less than 48 hours before departure - no refund