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Penguin + Seal Viewing. Time: From 20 mins to 1 hour
At dusk, this is the big show around Moeraki. Located at the end of Lighthouse Road, the lighthouse dates back to 1876 and is still in use.
The gate shuts a little before dusk.
The coastline boasts fur seals, shags and Yellow-eyed penguins (Hoiho). Keep a respectful distance from the wildlife, seals can move pretty quickly when they want to!
Feature | Value | Info |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Oamaru |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Track Duration |
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Track DurationHow long does it take to walk this track on average? 30 mins to 1 hour |
Track Difficulty |
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Track DifficultyConsidering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easy walk |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Track Length |
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Track LengthWhat is the physical length of this track? From 500m to 1km |
DOC Track Category |
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DOC Track CategoryWhat type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Short walk Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. There may be steps or slopes. Suitable for people of most abilities and fitness. Stream and rivers crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required. |
Track Managing Organisation |
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Track Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. |
Yellow Eyed Penguins!
Great for seal viewing.
Super nice place!
What a disappointing place!
This area is worth the visit, stunning views.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 35 |
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65% |
9/10 | 13 |
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24% |
8/10 | 5 |
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9% |
7/10 | 0 |
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0% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 1 |
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2% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5.0/5
Amazing views and more fur seals than you can count.
We visited in the early afternoon and stayed for around an hour just watching the seals play on the rocks.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
5.0/5
Incredible- saw sea lions and many yellow eyed penguins!!
Went at approx 5-5:30 pm and walked past the lighthouse and cownpaddocks to the end of the walkway- could’ve touched a baby sea lion and walked through at least 20 adults. Saw a group of penguins come up on land- so close! Do not miss- we were sceptical but are now very impressed.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
5.0/5
Super nice place!
Saw three penguins and loved every moment of that.
Lots of seals, some chilling in the grass like 5 meters from the path. Keep your distance though.
Easy walk, not too full.
We went at around seven PM.
Note: the area is being closed around 7:30 so don't come too late.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
4.0/5
An easy walk and nice views, but the lighthouse is fenced off.
What’s up with that? :(
Reviewed over 6 years ago
5.0/5
Well worth the detour.
Easily accessible in giant 6 berth camper. Good parking, short walk to see seals all over the place, on the beach and in the fields. Didn’t see penguins today.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
5.0/5
Amazing experience!
We saw penguins and seals. It was easy to go around and you really get the chance to see the animals in the wild.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
4.5/5
Easy drive out along a well maintained dirt road.
The view was nice but the opportunity to see wildlife was awesome! Please keep to the track and be quiet and respect the wildlife...keep your distance!
Reviewed about 7 years ago
5.0/5
Great place to see wild penguins up close for free, also many seals.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
5.0/5
Nice short walk.
A lot of seals and yellow-eyed penguins!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
Easily accessible, free, great!!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
We missed the turn off to our campsite and turned to a lighthouse driveway.
At the far end, a beautiful free and wild reserve where you can walk to seals and penguins 'home'. Magic!!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in December 2015
5.0/5
Amazing views and more fur seals than you can count.
We visited in the early afternoon and stayed for around an hour just watching the seals play on the rocks.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
5.0/5
Incredible- saw sea lions and many yellow eyed penguins!!
Went at approx 5-5:30 pm and walked past the lighthouse and cownpaddocks to the end of the walkway- could’ve touched a baby sea lion and walked through at least 20 adults. Saw a group of penguins come up on land- so close! Do not miss- we were sceptical but are now very impressed.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
5.0/5
Super nice place!
Saw three penguins and loved every moment of that.
Lots of seals, some chilling in the grass like 5 meters from the path. Keep your distance though.
Easy walk, not too full.
We went at around seven PM.
Note: the area is being closed around 7:30 so don't come too late.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
4.0/5
An easy walk and nice views, but the lighthouse is fenced off.
What’s up with that? :(
Reviewed over 6 years ago
5.0/5
Well worth the detour.
Easily accessible in giant 6 berth camper. Good parking, short walk to see seals all over the place, on the beach and in the fields. Didn’t see penguins today.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
5.0/5
Amazing experience!
We saw penguins and seals. It was easy to go around and you really get the chance to see the animals in the wild.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
4.5/5
Easy drive out along a well maintained dirt road.
The view was nice but the opportunity to see wildlife was awesome! Please keep to the track and be quiet and respect the wildlife...keep your distance!
Reviewed about 7 years ago
5.0/5
Great place to see wild penguins up close for free, also many seals.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
5.0/5
Nice short walk.
A lot of seals and yellow-eyed penguins!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
Easily accessible, free, great!!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
We missed the turn off to our campsite and turned to a lighthouse driveway.
At the far end, a beautiful free and wild reserve where you can walk to seals and penguins 'home'. Magic!!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in December 2015
5.0/5
More than a hundred seals swimming, playing and lying around.
You can see them from above (20-30 metres), but some of them were lying in the grass and you could walk along side them. Also four penguins, fantastic! Very windy at some places.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
1.5/5
What a disappointing place!
The description says it's lesser known than the Moeraki Boulders. In the end it was totally crowded with much more people than at the Boulders. Lots of people and families. Was there at 5:30pm... Fences everywhere so you can't really get close to whatever you want to see. Another sign that too many people are visiting this place. The hidden penguin lookout was also closed. For me it was a 1/10, because I went there for seeing penguins, but rated with 3 because at least you can see seals there (which you can see at several other places in the Otago area with fewer people). Would not recommend this place, what a waste of time.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
5.0/5
It was a short DOC walk to a lighthouse and a location with many sealions, penguins and seabirds.
You could go to the sealions (seals?) up to 4-5 metres away! It was great!
Reviewed over 8 years ago
5.0/5
Penguins and seals.
Very nice place but it was sooo windy.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.5/5
This area is worth the visit, stunning views.
Many seals around!!
Reviewed over 9 years ago
5.0/5
Free watching of the penguins (yellow eyed), in wildlife, exciting, gravel road to get there.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in November 2014
5.0/5
This is a magical place with seals and a yellow eyed penguin colony.
You can get very close to the penguins but please: do not disturb them and please leave at least a small donation!
Reviewed over 9 years ago
5.0/5
Yellow Eyed Penguins!
A lot of them, also a very beautiful spot.
Reviewed over 9 years ago
4.5/5
Drive to the end of the gravel road and walk down the hill.
They try to reafforest the area whith native plants and trees. Maybe it is the second best place to spot yellow-eyed pinguins. And you con spot other Birds and sea-lions on the rocks and beaches. The Lighthous itself is not worth to be mentioned.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015
5.0/5
Nice spot to see yellow-eyed penguins for free.
There is a little track and some hides to observe them, thanks to volunteers. They did a great job looking after the penguins.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
5.0/5
Lots of yellow eyed penguins near the lighthouse at 5pm.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
5.0/5
This was by far THE BEST place to see penguins and seals up close.
I can't believe it's free. We were able to come within a meter of wild penguin chicks and lounging seals in their natural environment. The hideaway hut provided an excellent shelter from the rain and wind while we watched yellow-eyed adult penguins (we saw five) pop out of the surf, waddle through a gauntlet of lounging seals and disappear into the brush to the chicks. The trails and hut are well-maintained and allow for a wonderful viewing experience with little effort.
Reviewed over 10 years ago
5.0/5
A beautiful place where you can see penquins and sea lions really close to you.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in December 2013
5.0/5
Great to see the Yellow-eyed penquins in their natural habitat.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in December 2013
5.0/5
The best spot to see yellow eyed penguins, give the hide a miss and walk the track out to the point(if the gate isn't locked) Be careful you don't trip over seals in the grass and watch for the penguins
thay can climb high up through the grass. What an experience!
Reviewed almost 11 years ago
5.0/5
see Penguins very very close !!!
Just before Moeraki Boulders if you drive to CHCH. I love this place. Don't forget to donate.I have talked to someone there. They need money for penguins. ^_^ cheers
Reviewed about 11 years ago
5.0/5
Lots of penguins and babies with good views around.
Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013
4.5/5
It is a nice place.
Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013