Dunedin Tours
Private Guided Tour of Dunedin City Heritage and Unique Wildlife and Scenery
5

Private Guided Tour of Dunedin City Heritage and Unique Wildlife and Scenery

By Fantail Tours
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 0-99
Duration: 5–7 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Driver/guide
  • Bottled water
  • Transport by private vehicle/ air-conditioned minivan
  • Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
  • Private tour
  • Fuel surcharge
  • Entry/Admission - Dunedin Botanic Garden
What's not included
  • Lunch
  • Entry/Admission - Olveston Historic Home
  • Entry/Admission - Larnach Castle & Gardens
  • Entry/Admission - The Royal Albatross Centre
  • Entry/Admission - The Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance


Start:Multiple meeting point options.
  • Option 1
    Dunedin isite Visitor Information Centre, 50 The Octagon, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
    Independent travelers, not cruise ship passengers.
  • Option 2
    Port Chalmers Cruise Terminal, 21 Beach Street, Port Chalmers 9023, New Zealand
    Cruise ship passengers are meeting Fantail Tours guide at Port Chalmers cruise terminal, private tour waiting area, between door 1 and 2 at 9am.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Infant seats available
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 57853P4

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
    • A maximum of 6 people per booking or a bigger group of 11
    • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
    • Comfortable walking shoes, wind and water proof jacket are recommended
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 57853P4

    From
    C$1,245.77
    per group (up to 6)
    Select date and travellers

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Fantail Tours
      191
      Dunedin, New Zealand
      Joined in August 2017
    • _ttotaylor
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Theresa is the best!
      Wow, wow, wow! What a great tour. Theresa was absolutely amazing! Such a wealth of knowledge! She took us everywhere! We went to the botanical garden, the train station, the steepest street in the world, Otago university, Pukekara headlands, and the Royal Albatross colony. She gave us so much information and we had a really delightful day with her. Outstanding tour guide and outstanding tour! Thank you, Thank you! We even got to see a little blue penguin when we got back to our ship. A great day!
      Written February 8, 2025
    • Brian M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lovely tour
      We joined the 2 hour Dunedin city tour. Our guide Asta picked us up from our hotel and took us to a number of sights in Dunedin including Baldwin Street, the botanic gardens, signal hill and the train station. Asta was very knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoyed the tour as there were only 4 of us in our group and we would not have been able to visit all these venues without the guide.
      Written February 7, 2025
    • jonfF6639NX
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      BOOK THIS TOUR!
      This was a fantastic tour. Our guide, Asta was everything we could want. We let her set most of the agenda, and were glad we did; she covered a variety of points of interest, She was highly knowledgeable about all aspects related to Dunedin: geography, history, botany, native birds, etc. She was highly personable and cheerful, and a good driver as well
      Written January 14, 2025
    • claudia r
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic!
      Could not have been more pleased. Asta spent the day showing us all the best spots. She was so kind, funny, and knowledgeable. One of the best day tours we have taken in many years!! Thank you Asta!
      Written January 12, 2025
    • Susan D
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful city and peninsula tour
      Our time with Asta was wonderful! She showed us the many beautiful places throughout the city and on the peninsula. She was a delight to spend time with.
      Written December 28, 2024
    • BKTulsa
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Royal Albatross & city tour
      Our cruise ship was arriving in Port Chalmers / Dunedin, New Zealand on Boxing Day. Our shore excursion had been cancelled as many places were closed for Boxing Day. And the remaining cruise ship shore excursions did not include a visit to the Royal Albatross Center, home to the world's only mainland breeding colony of Royal Albatross. While the ship offered a small boat cruise to the cliff below the Center, you were still hundreds of feet away from the nests & subject to the weather & rough seas. We wanted front row seats that were not weather dependent. From tour companies in other ports, we were fortunate enough to be referred to Fantail Tours. Not only would Fantail Tours take us to the Royal Albatross Center, they would coordinate a guided tour & lunch. And since the scenic drive to & from (it's 40 minutes drive from Dunedin), the Center tour & lunch took just 3+ hours, Fantail could custom design the rest of our tour to see all the historic sites & anything else we wanted to do. The entire tour was perfect. Asta the guide was friendly & informative. Their vehicle clean & safely driven. Places we wished to linger, we could. Very flexible. The Botantical Gardens are beautiful. The mild climate allows plants & shrubs to prosper. Their rhondendrons grow to the size of trees! We also saw the steepest street in the world and the beautiful Railway Station, the second most photographed building in the Southern Hemisphere. All narrated & wonderful. But the highlight was the Royal Albatross Center. What magnificent birds! Their wingspan can reach 3 meters (9'6") and can fly at speeds up to 120 kph (75mph). They fly from Dunedin to the seas offshore of Chile nonstop for a year before returning to Dunedin to breed. We received a guided tour & presentation at the Center and we're escorted to the enclosed observation building of the Colony Nesting site observation building; just 100 feet from away from the colony! I highly recommend Fantail!
      Written December 27, 2024
    • LeeceLouLou
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Small tours win again!
      This was the perfect tour! With only five of us in the van, two separate families, our tour guide was able to adjust the schedule to suit everyone's interests. 2 hours might have initially felt like a short time, but we saw so much and learned so much. It never felt rushed. My mum had been to Dunedin twice before and was delighted to see and learn things she hadn't already on other tours. Asta's local knowledge and passion for Dunedin were obvious. I loved hearing about Munuka honey and Dunedin's core industry, the university. I personally loved the time taken in the Botanic gardens and the university. The stop at the stadium was clearly a highlight for our other tour family and something we may have missed otherwise. Brilliant! If you have any special requests, I truly believe Fantail Tours will accommodate. Please don't hesitate to ask.
      Written December 20, 2024
    • musicalmskitty
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect tour for a family!
      Asta was a fantastic guide for our family - professional, friendly and very considerate of our smallest traveller, a very exuberant 2 year old. This was a brilliant tour for those with just a day in port, we were collected from the cruise terminal and treated to the sights of Dunedin before being brought right back to the ship - and with a car seat for our daughter! We had lots of flexibility to stop for as long or as short as we wanted, which was perfect for our needs.
      Written December 8, 2024
    • rongn2022
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Ms Rong Ning
      The scenery is picturesque but the fog is too thick to see. This is the only regret. The castle and the ancient house are well preserved and worth seeing. The tour guide was very nice and enthusiastic. Overall we were very satisfied. Especially the 10-person group was more comfortable than the larger group.
      Written November 27, 2024
    • Mark_Bath_UK
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very enjoyable tour of Dunedin and surrounding area
      A very enjoyable tour and overview of the area with Asta, our tour guide. We visited all of the places in the itinerary and some more besides. The highlights were the Botanic Gardens, the drives to and from the albatross centre and just talking with Asta who is just a natural at her job. This is an ideal tour if you need an introduction to the area or if you just want to take some great photos.
      Written September 29, 2024
    • B2124KUnatalias
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      If you are limited with time, and don't want to drive!
      I had very limited time and wanted to get an idea of Dunedin. Booking was easy: I reserved my spot several hours before the tour. I was lucky to be the only tourist on this tour. Asta, my guide was ready to tailor the experience for me, acting as my photographer since I was traveling solo. Thanks to her, I now have some great photos to memorize my experience. Asta took me to all the advertised places. our stops were short, but that's the point - just to familiarize myself with the city and to get an idea of where I want to return and spend more time. Thank you!
      Written September 21, 2024
    • 636marilynh
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A Great Tour of Dunedin and the Otago peninsula
      Asta was a superb tour guide. She was very knowledable of the history, scenery, and birds, The visit to the Royal Albatross Centre was very informative. She read the interests of our group and planned our tour to meet those needs. We would have loved to spend an extra day with Asta learning about the area, but our ship was leaving!
      Written April 30, 2024
    • Gill H
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Due partial refund still
      Not giving full refund when we didn't cancel trip but ship unable to dock due to high winds & couldn't get into port for us to do trip
      Written April 29, 2024
    • Lisa S
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Loved the OPERA
      Theresa was a great guide! She showed us the best of Dunedin, got us to the penguin reserve where we were in great hands, and even got to spot a couple of penguins! We had a great day in Dunedin thanks to Fantail Tours and Theresa.
      Written April 6, 2024
    • TammyL463
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Definitely would recommend for scenery and the guide
      The bus driver was easy to find at the meeting point. She did a great job showing us around the area. You could tell from her enthusiasm that she really loved her job and the area. I am sorry I cannot remember her name but her husband does tours through the company as well. During our 2 week cruise she was by far the best tour guide that we had. She even extended the time of the tour to ensure that we were able to see everything that she wanted to show us and gave us a flower that she made herself when we left. The penguin reserve was nice. There is a lot of walking over uneven surfaces. I don't think they really see the yellow eyed penguins very much because there are only a few. We did though see one small blue penguin in his house. The guides that showed us around were very good and knowledgeable. The scenery was breathtaking.
      Written April 6, 2024
    See all 191 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles13 reviews
    Excellent
    13
    Very good
    0
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    0

    Wander02759492955
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2024 • Friends
    We are a group from USA and Taiwan that traveled via cruise to Dunedin. We arranged a private tour via emails with Asta while we were on the ship. She was very prompt in answering and working with us to make the excursion possible. There was some payment challenges which almost ruined the tour and I will get to that later.

    Keith was our guide and he was absolutely wonderful and a delight to be with. With his knowledge, time management and flexibility, we hit pretty much all major city highlights and points of interests including castle garden & its lunch cafe during a 5 hours span.

    Concerning payment, I would recommend Fantail Tours to have an alternate payment method in addition to just the “invoice page website”, because for two days we couldn’t figure out why the payment website shows as blank on mobile phones, iPad and laptops with our cruise ship Internet package. We almost cancelled the tour. Eventually we had to upgrade to premium Internet package to make the payment page showed up correctly. While ship was cruising, we can’t make voice calls and email was insecure to give credit card info. So this is one area for improvement.
    Written February 15, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank your for your feedback. Sorry to hear there were issues with paying online. Unfortunately, it is out of our control what kind of internet service is offered on the ship. During cruise ship season we tend to get booked out a few months in advance so it is a good idea to book the tour before boarding the ship in order to avoid any disappointment. We are glad you could join us for the tour in the end and enjoy our gorgeous area.
    Written February 16, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    John W
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a fabulous day of touring Dunedin. Our guide, Asta, was very knowledgeable of the area and showed us all of the sites including the Albatross rookery and OPERA penguin conservation center. Of course, we saw all of the famous sites like the botanical garden, the railroad station and the steepest street in the world. Asta organized our tour in a very efficient manner that enabled us to see everything in a short period of time. Her van was very comfortable and equipped with a speaker system that enabled everyone to hear her informative commentary. To top it off, she is very charming. We could not have asked for a better one day visit to Dunedin.
    Written January 28, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! It was a pleasure to show you around all the iconic sites, from the botanical gardens to Baldwin Street and beyond. I’m glad you found the tour well-organized and that the van was comfortable for the journey. I always try to ensure that everyone gets to experience as much as possible in a relaxed and enjoyable way. Your kind words mean a lot to me, and it was fantastic having you all on board. Thank you again for choosing to tour with us, and I hope you have many more wonderful adventures ahead!
    Written January 29, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    downinglemur24
    Greater Adelaide, Australia41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023 • Friends
    A group of five of us did a private shore excursion of Dunedin with Claudia as our tour guide. Claudia was fantastic and showed us some amazing sights. She was fun and very informative and we managed to beat the crowds at all the locations which included the steepest street and the botanic gardens and Lannarch castle and the Penguin place and Dunedin sights and the railway station. We were back at the ship in a timely manner. All our tickets were organised for us.
    A bag was left in the mini van and Claudia promptly answered the call and was able to return the backpack before boarding of the ship.
    Can highly recommend this tour company
    Written March 29, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your feedback. We are very happy to hear you enjoyed your experience with Fantail Tours while visiting Dunedin & Otago Peninsula. We will pass onto Claudie your lovely comments.
    Written April 3, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Lyn P
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2024 • Family
    Asta was a friendly and knowledgeable guide who provided our small family group of 6 with a great schedule for our day tour around Dunedin and the peninsula. She ensured we were back well before our cruise boarding time
    I would recommend this tour to others.
    Written November 22, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for your kind review! We're thrilled to hear that Asta provided such a memorable experience for your family during your tour around Dunedin and the peninsula. It's great to know she was able to balance a fun, informative day with a well-timed schedule to ensure you made it back to your cruise without any stress. We really appreciate your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you and your family back for another tour in the future!
    Written November 23, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Nasus2
    United Kingdom93 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2022
    We ( 10 friends , american, British and Australian) took this tour with Teii I booked tour over the net from GB but the tour was amazing. We toured around Dunedin and saw and learnt so much it was amazing. Teii ( sorry for spelling) was probably the most amazing guide I have ever had, she was so knowledgeable she was amazing. We were somewhat disappointed by Otagon peninsula albatross preserve because it was nesting season and all we saw were two birds sat huddled , unmoving , on a nest. Now exactly the amazing spectacle we were expecting . So don’t hesitate to book this toor but think about the timing re the nesting season.
    Written December 5, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear you enjoyed Teresa's (Trii) guiding. Albatrosses rely on the wind for flying and on calmer days you might not see them fly. A good thing is they chose the end of Otago Peninsula to nest which is windy enough for them to fly most of the time. Viewing during their nesting time is usually very good, it is usually a good time to see parents coming back to their nests to swap over and going to the sea to feed. Wildlife viewing is different every day, and that's what makes it so unique. You never know what might surprise you. There is a live royal web cam that you can access any time from anywhere in the world to catch up on what's happening on the nest and follow the progress of the chick growing.
    Written December 9, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Trip Advisor from Dallas
    Dallas, TX252 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Just completed full day private tour with Teresa - wonderful guide. We began with a quick highlights of Dunedin then off to Penguin Place to see rehabbed yellow eyed penguins as well as seeing little blue & yellow eyed penguins in the wild. Very lovely!

    Then on to Albatross Center to see nesting albatross up close. So amazing to be able to see this!

    We also saw kingfisher, spoonbills, black swans, plover, oyster catcher and ducks.

    Great day for wildlife viewing.

    Thank you Teresa for a delightful day !
    Written January 15, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your feedback, it sounds like you had a wonderful day viewing wildlife on Otago Peninsula. Private tours are great for customizing itinerary to suit you and pack in lots of viewing when you have only a day in Dunedin.
    Written January 16, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Arunachalam A
    Sydney, Australia41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Found rare wildlife in Dunedin and thrilled to see them live. Wow! They are calm and easy to watch. Travel guides explained geography, geology and ecosystems of these species.
    Lovely trip to see them. Weather and nature also helped me to explore these wonderful opportunities.
    A great trip to New Zealand 😁👍
    My tour operator took care of everything on transportation, foods and commentary.
    It was enjoyable to see and enjoy cultures, history and heritage, nature all in one go.
    Fantastic New Zealand
    Written November 4, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you!
    Written November 13, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    HKI
    Storrington, UK29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2018 • Couples
    We booked a half day private guide and had Asta for our guide who drove us around Dunedin town and up to the Peninsula in a very comfortable Mercedes people carrier. Asta was superb, very knowledgeable, passionate and a real pleasure to be with for the day. She was flexible regarding starting time which was really appreciated, and very accomodating regarding the itinerary. After a brief visit around town, we visited the lovely botanical gardens, and then headed up to the Peninsula where we were in for a real treat. As a last minute request, we asked to visit a beach in an attempt to spot a Sea Lion, and we were treated with a close up view of several of these amazing creatures. Thank you Asta for a wonderful day.
    Written November 30, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    walkerrita27
    Tampa, FL7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2019 • Couples
    Spent the day with Asta seeing some fantastic scenery before stopping for the best Fish and Chips we've ever had. She navigated the roads like an expert while filling our heads with history of Dunedin. Recommend the boat ride.
    Written January 20, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you. It makes us so happy to hear you had a good time while touring with us!
    Written March 25, 2019
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    5Traveler5
    Estes Park, CO53 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2018 • Couples
    I contacted Fantail because we needed to be sure that we could be met at the cruise ship with a vehicle that could accommodate my husband's knee rover, and could be flexible to deal with whatever mobility issues he still faced at the time of the tour. Asta really delivered--we saw the City Highlights, but because we were especially interested in wildlife we concentrated on the Peninsula and fitting in the wildlife cruise. We had a lovely time and saw a lot-- fur seals, dolphins blue penquins, albatross and many other birds. She even did an extra stop so we could get the New Zealand Wine for a gift since this was our last port of call. Full Service! We especially appreciate her informed commentary and ease of conversation. Comfortable and fun!
    Written January 9, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Sara thank you for a such a lovely feedback. It was lovely to have you and your husband on a tour and what a great wildlife viewing we had!
    Written January 15, 2019
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    Private Guided Tour of Dunedin City Heritage and Unique Wildlife and Scenery provided by Fantail Tours

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