Cruise Details

Cruise through Paterson Inlet to Foveaux Straits and to nearby islands. Look out for and view seabirds including majestic albatross, petrels, prion, shearwater, skua, penguins and cormorants. Enjoy some excellent photo opportunities.  Your Skipper / Guide will provide useful information and assist with bird identification.

Note

We recommend combining this cruise with our Ulva Island Birds & Forest or Ulva Island Birding and / or Evening Eco Watch / Kiwi Spotting.  Alternatively we can also offer a water taxi charter for independent walking on Ulva Island.

location

For small groups we use our vessel: Paterson Inlet and nearby Islands out from Halfmoon Bay, in Foveaux Straits.
For larger groups we charter a bigger vessel (as available): Nearby islands out from Halfmoon Bay, Foveaux Straits, Wreck Reef.

Birds Seen

Birds commonly seen in the area include:

Southern royal albatross, white-capped mollymawk, Buller's mollymawk, Salvin's mollymawk, northern giant petrel, skua, sooty shearwater, common diving petrel, cape pigeon, white-fronted tern, black-fronted tern, fairy prion, little blue penguin, yellow-eyed penguin, Fiordland crested penguin, Stewart Island shag, spotted shag, pied shag, little black shag, pied and variable oystercatchers.

Wildlife Seen

We see New Zealand fur seals and sea lions. Occasionally we may see bottle-nosed dolphins.

Special Offers

Please also see our Gift Vouchers & Special Offers page for combined tours that include our Ulva Island Birding tour.

Testimonial

"The pelagic trip was so spectacular with dozens of Royal, White-capped and Buller's Albatross right around the boat, that myself and another passenger immediately signed up to do the trip the following afternoon, which we later concluded was one of the best decisions either of us had made in our travels."

Itinerary

  • What we do

    Meet our Skipper at Golden Bay Wharf, 10 minutes prior to the tour departure time.

    Your skipper will make you comfortable, show you where we are going and take you on our leisurely and informative cruise. 

    We travel past Halfmoon Bay, towards nearby Whero Rock and Bench Island. Occasionally we may visit nearby Muttonbird Islands.

    We return to Golden Bay Wharf or Halfmoon Bay Wharf depending on schedules.

PELAGIC AlanPidgeonFiordlandC
Ruggedy Range™
Fiordland crested penguins

Pricing & Info

Adult

NZ $190.00 per person 

Child

NZ $150.00 per person

Includes

Pelagic birding

Extra

Transfers to and/or from Golden Bay Wharf: NZ $10.00 one-way or NZ $20.00 return per person.

Min persons

4 persons

Max persons

8 persons. 
Important: We can arrange a larger vessel for bigger groups.

Duration

3 hours

Time

Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar 
9.00 am to 12.00 noon or 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm

Apr, Sep
9.00 am to 12.00 noon or 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm

May, Jun, Jul, Aug
9.00 am to 12.00 noon.

Important: Times may vary for weather/sea conditions, tides and bookings.  Alternative times to fit in with your itinerary may be possible, subject to our availability.

Start/End

Golden Bay Wharf

Suitable for

Reasonable fitness and agility.
Not suitable for children below the age of 10 years.

Departure Dates

Departs subject to demand and suitable weather and sea conditions.
Prior bookings recommended.