Listings for: Waitaki District > Oamaru > Activities and Attractions

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony

Be captivated by nature!

The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is well known for its night viewing.  But it is much more than a viewing stand and ramp to watch penguins come ashore.  Interactive displays, a children''s play area, information panels and videos, and day tours into the breeding area await anyone interested in a close encounter with native New Zealand wildlife.

A combination of Forest and Bird, Waitaki District Council, DOC, and interested environmentalists established a way for tourists to experience, but not impact on, Blue Penguins.  "What makes us different," states colony manager Jason Gaskill, "is that we can open the Blue Penguin life cycle to visitors without impacting on the life cycle of the Blue Penguin."

"They are not pets", Mr Gaskill points out.  "The penguins are not tamed.  They are not captive, in a zoo.  The Blue Penguins in the colony live a natural life - the same life they would lead if we were not here.  The fact we are here simply allows them to live longer, safer, and more productive lives.  And people can come and watch."

A self-sustaining eco-tourism venture, the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is home to nearly 500 individual birds.  Each week these birds are monitored: their breeding success is gauged, their offspring are weighed, the local environment is protected, tourism''s impact is measured - all under the watchful eyes of thousands of visitors every year.

bookings@penguins.co.nz